Menu
Immigrant parents deserve the right to vote in school board elections.
Measure S is a proposed ordinance, which if passed, would authorize voting in school board elections by immigrants that are parents, legal guardians, or legally recognized caregivers of a child in Oakland.
Allow over 13,000 immigrant parents in Oakland to have a vote in school board elections.
Include immigrant parents in decisions about curriculum, staff, and language used in class, leading to better outcomes.
Support students' academic performance as a result of more parents having involvement in their children's school.
Give all parents the increased ability to advocate for their children's educational needs.
There are over 3,000 newcomer students enrolled in OUSD alone.
These students come from dozens of countries from around the world and speak a multitude of languages.
immigrant parents send
their children to school in Oakland.
By voting YES on Measure S, you will be supporting an ordinance that will give over 13,000 parents in Oakland a political VOICE on matters that impact their children’s education.
A. Every parent deserves the right to vote for the elected leaders whose decisions will directly impact their children. If passed, Measure S will allow the City of Oakland to pass an ordinance to extend voting rights in Oakland school board elections to immigrants who are city residents and parents, legal guardians, or legal caregivers to qualifying children.
A. Right now, more than 13,000 immigrant parents in Oakland are disenfranchised. These individuals are your neighbors, your friends, and local small business owners. Most importantly, these individuals are part of the diverse cultural fabric of Oakland and are parents of children in our Oakland schools. They deserve to be heard – not penalized just because the U.S. immigration system is outdated and backlogged.
A. Consistent with national voter suppression efforts and attacks on voting rights, we anticipate legal action against our effort to expand the right to vote to immigrant families here in Oakland. City officials in San Francisco have been working hard to appeal the recent ruling against non-citizen voting. In late August, these city officials and the community gained a small win as a state appeals court voted to restore voting to non-citizens for the November election while the case is on appeal. A similar lawsuit was filed against Oakland’s Measure S, but was dismissed by an Alameda County Superior Court judge.
A. Logistics will be important, and Oakland can look to learn from other cities where non-citizen voting has been implemented. In San Francisco, for example, non-citizens were given a separate ballot to vote for school board candidates and access to free or low-cost legal support.
A. Local jurisdictions in Maryland, New York, and Vermont to name a few. Non-citizen voting is not a new concept. Throughout history, the U.S. allowed non-citizens to vote. Over 40 states from 1776 to 1926 permitted non-citizens to vote in state and federal elections as well as the ability to hold public office.
A. Measure S was passed by a unanimous vote at City Council. Dozens of other elected officials, candidates for public office, community organizations, and Oaklanders have joined the coalition. If you are interested in joining the coalition or volunteering in our efforts to elevate the voices of immigrant families in Oakland, click here to fill out a form. We will reach out to you with ways to get involved!
Alameda County Democratic Party, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Brotherhood of Elders, Ed Trust West, Families In Action, GO Public Schools Advocates, Latino Education Network, Oakland Education Association, Oakland Literacy Coalition, Oakland Rising, Parent Voices Oakland, Planned Parenthood, Priority Africa Network, San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association, Unity Council, Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club
City Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas, Assemblymember Mia Bonta, OUSD Board Candidate Jennifer Brouhard, Keith Carson, OUSD School Board Member Sam Davis, OUSD School Board Member Aimee Eng, Student Board Director Natalie Gallegos, City Councilmember Noel Gallo, City Councilmember Dan Kalb, City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, Nicole Knight, OUSD Board Candidate Pecolia Manigo, Stephen Menedelin, OUSD School Board Member Kyra Mungia, OUSD Board Candidate Max Orozco, City Councilmember Treva Reid, OUSD Board Candidate Nick Resnick, Student Board Director, Linh Le, Mayor Libby Schaaf, California State Senator Nancy Skinner, OUSD School Board Member Gary Yee, City Councilmember Loren Taylor, City Councilmember Sheng Thao, OUSD School Board Member Clifford Thompson, OUSD School Board Member Van Cedric Williams
ON OR BEFORE
BALLOTS GO OUT IN THE MAIL
OCTOBER 10TH
VOTE CENTERS OPEN
OCTOBER 29TH
VOTE AT ANY VOTE CENTER
IN THE COUNTY
