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Bonnie Cox, LWVIL President |
 From the President:
Dear LWVIL Members and Supporters,
We previewed in the June eNews, the role LWVIL committees and their chairpersons, local league delegates, and volunteers would be playing in the LWVUS Convention. Now that the convention can be seen in our rearview mirror, we can all be so proud!
Kudos to Sarah Bury
, LWV-Chicago and Lake Michigan ILO, for representing us well in being part of the Convention's Saturday plenary session panel discussion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Being a More Inclusive League.
Congratulations, LWV-Naperville, who left the convention with the "Empowering Voters/Defending Democracy Community Connection Award," a lot of pride in a job well done, and a $500.00 check to advance their work. I encourage every local LWV to look at their project, "Stroll to the Polls" (their toolkit is linked here) and think about how your LWV might adapt it for your voter registration and voter engagement efforts this summer and fall.
One of the Stroll to the Polls features is the great use of data that helps us quantify the LWV's work. First, LWV-Naperville identified four precincts where voter turnout was lowest. They engaged local high school students to go door to door to encourage voting and educate residents about early voting and same-day registration. Turnout in those precincts doubled over the previous primary election! Email Kathleen Kenny at
[email protected] with questions.
LWV-Naperville, way to go!
An essential part of each LWV convention on a state or national level is determining program planning for the coming biennium.
The "will" of the 2017 LWVIL Convention was to "bring to the 2018 LWVUS Convention a proposed program item to abolish the Electoral College." We did just that convinced that an action focus on this already well established position would complement the continuing focus on the LWVUS Campaign to Make Democracy
Work®.
We are very happy and proud to announce that the LWVUS 2018 Convention adopted a resolution that "urgently reaffirms its long-held position that the Electoral College should be abolished."
Kudos, respect, and praise goes to Leaguer Rosemary Heilemann and her hardworking, dedicated committee for the year's work that went into making this resolution happen. See the entire resolution here.
What's next? Engaging our LWVs and fellow citizens in understanding the issue, what needs to done, and why. The LWVIL ECC (Electoral College Committee) would love to work with you and your LWV. Check out their great brochure.
Contact them at
[email protected]
Here's one more round of applause for a stellar performance by all!
Bonnie Cox
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Introducing
Illinois Voter Guide!
LWVIL is excited to announce the statewide launch of the Illinois Voter Guide, an
online tool that provides Illinois voters information about what's on the ballot in national, state and local elections. The guide, available at
www.IllinoisVoterGuide.org
, empowers voters across the state to access candidate information up and down the ballot. Voters can find their ballot, learn about candidates, and print out their choices so they are prepared when they vote.
The guide aggregates information from candidate websites, endorsements, local League questionnaires and media publications. It also allows voters to save online ballots, either to a smartphone or print, and to opt-in for emailed election reminders and updates.
In order to aid with the rollout of the guide, LWVIL has created an "Illinois Voter Guide Toolkit" for the local Leagues that will provide information on how to use, brand, and promote the guide to individuals and communities. Start enrolling voters today at
www.IllinoisVoterGuide.org
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Voter Service
ABC7, Univision and LWVIL are jointly cosponsoring a gubernatorial debate on October 3. More information will be forthcoming.
Another gubernatorial candidate debate invitation has been extended for a Peoria debate, but there has been no response thus far.
In addition to the October 3 debate, invitations have been sent to the Democratic and Republican Attorney General candidates to participate in debates in Rockford and Peoria. As of July 16, neither candidate has responded to the invitations.
LWVIL applied for and received a Forefront grant for voter service. Both Sharon Alter and Jan Dorner as LWVIL voter service co-chairs will participate in the July all day training session. A total of 20 organizations received the same grant as LWVIL.
Don't forget to sign up for
National Voter Registration Day!
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State of the State 2018: Save the Date
Saturday, September 29 - 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Arlington Park Race Course, Arlington Heights, IL
The 2018 State of the State Committee promises to take LWVIL's biggest fundraiser of the year to the next level...and we're going to the suburbs!
Mark your calendars...more details to follow soon!
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History of the League
This is the sixth in our series. See all of these articles on our website:
http://www.lwvil.org/history-of-the-league.html
Notice:
Woman's Rights Convention,
July 1848
The influences that shaped the League of Women Voters began in the early 1800s. Changes were slowly proceeding to "transform the status and role of women...in society." Women were working both individually and together to contribute their positions on the political issues of the time. They sought ways to influence public policy through questions and debate.
"A Convention to discuss the social, civic, and religious condition and rights of woman, will be held in the Wesleyan Chapel, at Seneca Falls, N.Y., on Wednesday and Thursday the 19th and 20th concurrent. 1st day women - second day - open to the public" READ MORE.
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