Michael Polhamus argues that Santa Cruz County’s strong tradition of high voter turnout — largely driven by vote-by-mail and same-day registration — is at risk due to proposed federal Republican legislation that would require proof of citizenship and photo ID to register and vote. He contends these measures, framed as election security, would disproportionately disenfranchise groups common in Santa Cruz County, including young voters, students, low-income residents and people without easy access to legal documents. He urges residents to prepare now by registering early and securing documents such as birth certificates, passports and state-issued photo ID to ensure their votes can still be counted in November.
Michael Polhamus
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
PublicSquare – an ‘anti-woke Amazon’ and MAGA brainchild – includes 30 Santa Cruz County businesses: Do you support these values?
Michael Polhamus believes the public needs to know about PublicSquare, an online marketplace created by MAGA supporters featuring businesses that are against diversity, equity and inclusion, and environmental protection and abortion. The site has 30 Santa Cruz County businesses signed up. Polhamus thinks the public is not aware of what PublicSquare is, that it calls itself the “anti-woke Amazon” or that local businesses are part of it. He suggests consumers get more information about where their money is going locally, what it is supporting and the choices they have in the marketplace.