How does voting in federal elections impact child care?
Voting in federal elections directly impacts childcare funding, primarily through the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), which Congress reauthorizes annually. In recent years, there has been strong support for expanding this program, and electing candidates who advocate for its growth is key. Other important programs like the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, Head Start, and Early Head Start also rely on congressional support. Additionally, the President plays a vital role by approving budgets and overseeing childcare regulations. Voting for leaders who prioritize early childhood education can significantly improve access to affordable childcare.
Voting in state elections can significantly impact childcare policy. California legislators introduce bills addressing early childhood education (ECE) and budget proposals that increase childcare funding. For example, recent legislation extended the California Alternative Payment Program (CAPP) recertification to 24 months. Electing childcare advocates ensures support for these efforts and protection against budget cuts, like when legislators opposed the Governor’s proposed cuts to the Foster Care Bridge Program. These actions highlight the importance of voting for candidates who prioritize childcare, helping safeguard essential programs that support families and providers across the state.
Where do I find information about the candidates’ opinions on ECE?
Candidates generally outline their opinions about issues like child care on their websites. Likewise, if someone has held office, you can check their voting record (US Congress and California Legislature). Candidates will also often engage in forums where you can specifically ask about their opinions on child care.
How to Vote
Unsure if you’re registered to vote? Visit this link:
https://registertovote.ca.gov/
Here, you can check your voter registration status, register to vote, and update your contact information.
Do Your Homework
Take a little time to examine the candidates and the propositions. Below are some great resources to make voting easier:
CalMatters Voter Guide: https://calmatters.org/california-voter-guide-2024/
Its tabs allow you to view who’s running for US Senate, US House, State Senate and State Assembly.
For the US Senate race, check out candidates’ opinions on various. If you’d like to find out a candidate’s opinion on child care, check out their Economy and Inflation section.
Regarding the US House, State Senate, and State Assembly races, entering your address will pull up the candidates running for your district. If the candidate is an incumbent legislator, then you can look up information like the bills they’ve introduced. You can search for your legislators here: https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/legislators
Additionally, there are many local elections taking place. To find a complete list of the elections in which you can vote, use the Sacramento County voter portal “Look Up My Districts” page: https://myvoterportal.saccounty.gov/LookupDistrict or Vote411 Personalized Ballot | VOTE411
Remember to vote on ballot propositions. Ballot propositions are new laws, constitutional amendments, or approvals of laws made by state legislatures. Check out their page that provides an overview and videos for each ballot measure: https://calmatters.org/california-voter-guide-2024/propositions/