A program of Americans for the Arts, the Arts Action Fund is at the forefront of advancing the arts in America. They are the only national arts advocacy organization dedicating 100% of their time, money, and political clout to advancing the arts in America.

Californians for the Arts is an arts advocacy organization that increases public awareness of the importance of the arts, ensures that the arts are an ongoing part of the public dialogue, and encourages Californians to care about the arts as a critical component of their own lives and the lives of their communities.

genARTS Silicon Valley empowers creative individuals and emerging arts leaders through professional development, advocacy, and networking opportunities.

Through a year–long training program, MALI develops local multicultural arts practitioners by giving them the technical skills, philosophical underpinnings, and networking opportunities necessary to grow and sustain their individual work, organizations, and arts sector in Silicon Valley.

The Office of Cultural Affairs is the City of San José’s lead agency for supporting the development of a rich arts and cultural environment for this diverse city’s one million residents and its many visitors.

As part of our mission to build public will and support for arts and culture, San José Arts Advocates is excited to provide you with these resources to help flex your arts vote. We encourage you to share this information with your family, your colleagues, and your coworkers. And most importantly, we urge you to VOTE.

Please note that SJAA does not (currently) endorse or advocate for candidates or ballot measures. Our aim is to educate the local creative community on the policies and issues that impact their lives and wellbeing. How you vote and who you vote for is entirely up to you.

Get registered

The first and most important step in voting is getting registered. Not sure if you’re registered? Visit the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters. You can also register at any Vote Center when you cast a ballot.

Get the facts

Get the facts before you vote! Vote411 is a project of the League of Women Voters that provides a comprehensive, unbiased, nonpartisan online guide to elections at the federal, state, and local level. You can use Vote411 to:

• Learn what’s on your ballot based on your address
• Get in-depth information on candidates, ballot measures, who supports them, and who’s spending money for and against them
• Read objective explanations and watch quick informational videos
• Find out where, when, and how to vote, including local polling locations and vote centers
• Keep track of your choices and save them for Election Day

Visit Vote411 to educate yourself today!

Get acquainted

San José operates on a Council-Manager form of government. This means that, while the mayor sets the course for city policy, they lack executive authority and must build consensus to support their agenda. The City Manager serves as the city’s CEO, with the council functioning like a Board of Directors.

Every two years, voters elect city councilmembers in 5 of 10 districts, and every four years, we vote on who should be mayor. Both the mayor and councilmembers are eligible for up to two four-year terms. Primary elections are generally held on the first Tuesday in June. Runoff elections between the top two candidates are held on the first Tuesday in November if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote.

Elections are our chance to have an impact on who makes the decisions on arts and culture policy for the city. With that in mind, SJAA seeks to engage with local candidates through questionnaires, forums, and other opportunities to help our creative community make more informed decisions with their votes.

Learn more about San José elections here.

Get engaged

Every election cycle, every voter in California is sent a ballot in the mail at the address where they’re registered. In order to make sure your vote counts, we encourage you to complete your ballot and return it as soon as possible. You can postmark it all the way up to Election Day, but why wait? Plus, you get to wear a cool sticker!

Three easy ways to return your completed ballot:

1. Mail it and track it
2. Drop it off at a convenient location in your neighborhood
3. Find a Vote Center

Follow the money

Want to know more about who’s contributing to city council candidates, how they’re spending the money, and how much is being spent by outside groups like PACs, business groups, and labor unions? Visit the city’s public campaign finance portal to download detailed reports and sign up for notifications.