THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IS A NONPARTISAN, GRASSROOTS NONPROFIT

DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING EVERYONE TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY.

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Questions: contact membership@lwvsrq.org


PRESIDENT'S MESSSAGE


This month, our Chapter will host three candidate forums:


  • Hospital Board Primary
  • School Board Final Election
  • County Commission Primary (Districts 1 & 3)


We invite you to attend these forums and to use Vote411.org to learn more about the candidates appearing on your ballot.  The full schedule follows this article.


Every year Leagues across the country hold hundreds of candidate forums and distribute printed local voters’ guides.


We do this to ensure that all voters understand where the candidates stand on the issues that impact their communities.


We conduct our forums in an egalitarian manner, with all candidates being asked the same questions, all questions being vetted to assure a nonpartisan viewpoint.


Additionally, VOTE411.org , our one-stop shop for non partisan information, allows candidates to provide voters with the information they need to make informed choices.


The Sarasota League thanks the many candidates who have indicated their willingness to participate in our upcoming forums. 


We are disappointed, however, that several candidates have not yet responded or declined our invitation. When candidates refuse to participate, it is a lost opportunity for the voters and themselves.


We have posted their contact information HERE. Please reach out to them. Voice your concerns and ask them to reconsider.


Thank you,


Shawn Bartelt, president

League of Women Voters of Sarasota County

VOTER EDUCATION

AUGUST ELECTION

CANDIDATE FORUM SCHEDULE



HOSPITAL BOARD REPUBLICAN PRIMARY 

THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2024 - 5:30pm

JACARANDA LIBRARY

attend in person or watch virtually

more info view live on YouTube

 

SARASOTA SCHOOL BOARD FINAL ELECTION 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2024 - 5:30pm

JACARANDA LIBRARY

attend in person or watch virtually

more info view live on YouTube



COUNTY COMMISSION REPUBLICAN PRIMARY

(DISTRICTS 1 & 3)

MONDAY, JULY 22, 2024 - 5:30pm

VIRTUAL ONLY

more info  view live on YouTube


SUBMIT A QUESTION FOR THE CANDIDATES 


REVIEW RECORDED FORUMS HERE


Your Vote is Your Voice

Request Your Vote-By-Mail Ballot

Election Specific Voter Guides

Sarasota County School Board Report Cards

Our dedicated Observer Corps has been monitoring School Board meetings to objectively evaluate them for ethical, legal and professional conduct on the part of the board and chairperson. We share this evaluation with the School Board and the public following each meeting. This is the report from May 7th. You can view all of the previous report cards on our website.

ADVOCACY

OPEN PRIMARIES: LET ALL VOTERS VOTE


The June 15th Herald Tribune headline, “Write-in bid closes GOP primary,” is a perfect example of why Florida’s partisan primary election system needs to be reformed.


Under closed primaries, primary elections are only open to voters who are members of a party. In Florida, closed primaries prevent 3.8 million independent voters from participating in the primary process.


In Sarasota County Commission, District 1, over 50% of voters are either independents or Democrats, and they will be prevented from voting in this closed primary due to the write-in candidate. So a relatively small number of voters will select the nominee that in Sarasota County typically goes on to win the general election. Party primary voters who determine these winners tend to be more extreme in their views.


Independent voters pay taxes that fund the elections, but they cannot vote. In the recent primaries, 27 million independent U.S. voters were denied their constitutional right to vote by partisan primaries. That is voter suppression!


The League of Women Voters of Florida supports open primaries. Abolishing partisan primaries offers several benefits:

  • All voters vote.
  • Elections are decided by a majority of voters.
  • Outcomes are less ideologically extreme.
  • Incumbents can be representative and responsive without fear of being "primaried".


Florida is one of 14 states that still has closed primaries.


It’s time to correct that and let all voters vote.


In League,

Shawn Bartelt, President

As published on June 21, 2024 in the Sarasota Herald Tribune

UPCOMING EVENTS

LUNCH AND CONVERSATION

A way for our members to catch up on latest League news and get to know one another. Please join us!

NORTH/CENTRAL COUNTY


We're taking a summer break!

SOUTH COUNTY


Lunch and Conversation

Tuesday, August 27th, 12:00 noon

To find out more and/or to register

Click Here

NONE OF THE ABOVE

August 28th 7:00-8pm Via Zoom

Analyzing who is most or least likely to vote and why do some voters take the time to go to the polls to vote and leave their ballot blank? Does your vote really make a difference and what can be done to improve voter turnout?

Our speaker, John Scibak, will cover:



  • How have U.S. voting practices changed over time?
  • Who is most or least likely to vote in the next presidential election?
  • Protest votes (e.g., "None of the Above", third-party votes, abstentions, blank and spoiled ballots) in the United States and other countries.
  • The impact of compulsory voting and enforcement on turnout and protest votes.
  • Do incentives or fines make a difference in voter turnout?
  • Can a ballot or voting machine affect whether someone casts a vote or not?

And more...

Register Here

"SAFE AND SECURE"

Learn What Guardrails are in Place for a

Smooth November Election

Thursday, September 12, 2024 5:30-6:30pm

Gelbart Auditorium Selby Library

1331 First Street

Sarasota, FL 34236

Our Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections, Ron Turner, will describe the measures his team has put in place to ensure a smooth, safe and secure November Election.


Live-stream available on our Facebook Channel. Register for in person attendence.

Register Here

CHARTING SUCCESS IN SARASOTA COUNTY'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2024-2025

Thursday, September 19, 2024, 6:00 - 7:00 PM

Gelbart Auditorium, Selby Library

1331 First Street

Sarasota, FL 34236

Superintendent Connor will discuss the significant impact of referendum funding on crucial initiatives dedicated to supporting student academic excellence. He will share how these funds have been strategically utilized to enhance educational programs, improve school infrastructure, and provide essential resources, ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed.


 

Register Here

EVENTS RECAP

DELEGATE REPORT

by Brenda Griffith



The 2024 LWVUS convention opened with tributes to the late board president,

Dr. Deborah Turner who died in January.  Over 1200 members attended in person and on line from 50 states, D.C. and the Virgin Islands.  Florida co-presidents Cecile Scoon and Debbie Chandler led the Florida delegation of 63 people, including several from Sarasota.


The daily schedule included sessions on various topics; best practices for nominating committees, engaging young voters, book banning and much more. The convention offered opportunities to meet people and discover new ways to engage voters. The meetings offered opportunities for the exchange of ideas. Many of the sessions were recorded and will be made available on LWV.org


The new board of LWVUS was announced and Celina Stewart, the current counsel, was appointed CEO.


The newly elected president, Dianna Wynn, closed the 2024 convention. She said the League of Women Voters is the #1 trusted voice in politics. She emphasized we must remain on the frontlines of democracy. She called on the League to courageously stand against authoritarianism as we empower voters and defend our democracy.

  


VOTER SERVICES IN ACTION

VOTER SERVICES MEETS MONTHLY VIA ZOOM. FIND CURRENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ON OUR WEBSITE. CONTACT KATHY McEACHRAN FOR MORE INFORMATION.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!


WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HAND OUT FLYERS AT FOOD BANKS AND ADDRESS POSTCARDS TO RETURNING CITIZENS. (CERTIFICATION NOT REQUIRED!) YOU DON'T EVEN NEED TO BE A MEMBER!

SIGN UP! BRING A FRIEND!

Join Our Team!

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

June New Members:


Judith Barnhart

Aref Bsisu,

Camille Chapman

Gregory Duncan

Joy Goodspeed

Dr. Steve Hefler MD

Debra Karlin

Kyle Kerbawy

Margaret (Meg) Mcquire

Cheryl Openshaw

Robin Pickett

Ruth Reiter

ACTION TEAM MEETINGS

Education Action Team  

   

Meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday; 5:30-7:00pm EDT

Currently meeting via Zoom

Team Leader: Jill Lewis-Spector

email: Education@lwvsrq.org


You must be a member of the League to participate.


Join LWVSRQ

HealthCare and Reproductive Health Action Team  


Meets monthly on the 1st Tuesday; 10:30am-11:30am

Currently meeting via Zoom

Team Leader: Ruth Brandwein 

email: HealthCare@lwvsrq.org


You must be a member of the League to participate.

Join LWVSRQ

Natural Resources Action Team

Meets monthly on the 3rd Tuesday

2:00pm-4pm

No meetings July and August

Location: The Fruitville Library Conference Room and Zoom

Team Leader: Joyce Fitzpatrick

email: joyfitz@verizon.net


You must be a member of the League to participate.


CHECK OUT OUR CURRENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES!

Join LWVSRQ

Voter Services


Meets monthly on the 1st Thursday; 5:30pm-6:30pm

Currently meeting via Zoom

Team Leader: Kathy McEachran

email: kathmceachran@gmail.com


You must be a member of the League to participate.


Join LWVSRQ

The LWVSRQ Board meets on the second Tuesday of every month. 

Locations and times may vary.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, July 9th at 1pm via Zoom.

Contact Shawn Bartelt for more information.


Become a Member!
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EMPOWERING VOTERS.

DEFENDING DEMOCRACY.

League of Women Voters of Sarasota County (LWVSRQ)

PO Box 18884, Sarasota, FL 34276-1884

email@lwvsrq.org