The Committee. The CAPS Political Action Committee (PAC) is responsible for allocating CAPS’ political action funds (or $5.50 from your dues each month) for the purposes of furthering CAPS’ legislative objectives. In general, the PAC allocates funds to causes or candidates that can help ensure the protection and betterment of members’ pay, pension, healthcare benefits, and any other terms and conditions of employment. The CAPS PAC has historically not involved itself in issues not immediately germane to members’ terms and conditions of employment. If you’d like to learn how you can get involved in campaigns that support CAPS members, click here.  The password is Fall2020 – it is case-sensitive.

Today’s Update: Volunteer as a Poll Worker. Due to the ongoing pandemic, polling places are experiencing worker shortages. Which means fewer polling locations and longer lines at the ones that are open. Not everyone can afford to wait in long lines to cast their vote. The areas hardest hit by the nation-wide poll worker shortage are those in impoverished communities throughout the State. CAPS supports and encourages our members who are able to volunteer as poll workers as an important step to ensure every voice is heard this election.

CAPS MOU, Section 3.18 (for Rank-and-File), or CalHR Manual 2121 (for Supervisors and Managers) provides CAPS members time off without loss of compensation, otherwise known as Administrative Time Off (ATO), with supervisor approval, in order to serve as a member of a Precinct Election Board, or poll worker. In order to receive this leave benefit, employees should provide as much notice to their Department as possible, to ensure departmental operational needs are met. Departments may require members to provide verification of service from the Registrar of Voters, including their name and the date of the election. Time off will be recorded as ATO for time keeping purposes, and members should note “Precinct Election Board” in the comments section of their timesheet.

Members who serve as poll workers will receive their regular pay and any fee paid by the Registrar of Voters for such service, pursuant to Government Code Section 19844.7. If you are interested in serving as a poll worker in the upcoming election, find more information, including eligibility requirements here. If you are ready to sign up to be a Poll Worker you can do so here. If you do serve, please be safe, and adhere to state and local guidelines with respect to reducing the spread of COVID-19. Thank you for your willingness to serve and affect positive change.