FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2026

Contact: Karina Martinez  |  [email protected]

Five Weeks To Election Day: CNC Education Fund Prepares Community Election Observers

Poll watchers will be present at Merced and Fresno voting centers in the Central Valley. 

Central Valley, California — With five weeks until California’s November 3 General Election, Communities for a New California Education Fund (CNC EF) is preparing nonpartisan teams to observe the election process and help strengthen public confidence in our elections.

CNC EF Executive Director, Hatzune Aguilar, issued the following statement: 

“We are here to show our families that our elections are safe and secure. Our teams will monitor the process with their own eyes and report dutifully on what they observe. Recent political narratives have sparked cynicism in our neighborhoods by suggesting that we have widespread election fraud despite all evidence disproving these false ideas. When the integrity of our elections is cast into doubt, it creates an opening for bad actors, spreads distrust, and can discourage people from voting. 

“We urge Central Valley residents to rise above disproven rumors and exercise their right to vote. We are proud of what CNC EF is doing to protect and defend our democracy.”

The CNC EF team will have poll watchers present in both Fresno and Merced, with ten assigned to each location. 

California allows members of the public to observe election activities, including at polling locations, provided observers follow election officials’ rules and do not interfere with voters or election workers. CNC EF teams will observe the process, document what they see, and report concerns through the appropriate channels.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with polls open statewide from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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Communities for a New California Education Fund (CNC Ed Fund) is committed to empowering California’s underserved communities through grassroots efforts, advocacy, and public education. CNC addresses critical issues, including environmental justice, voter engagement, and equitable access to resources.