, Your June Sarasota Voter is Here!

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IS A NONPARTISAN, GRASSROOTS NONPROFIT

DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING EVERYONE TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY.

PRESIDENTS' MESSAGE

UNITE & RISE TO DEFEND DEMOCRACY!

On April 17th, the League of Women Voters declared a constitutional crisis. On May 1st the League launched Unite and Rise 8.5, a nation-wide campaign to defend democracy. Unite and Rise 8.5 will engage and mobilize 8.5 million voters to protect and preserve our democracy.

As a result, our chapter has held two workshops to revise our 2025 Program Plan and organize our activism on the local level. We have determined that by focusing on the Fundamentals of Democracy and Voting Rights we will reach the broadest audience possible.

Our plan has two main objectives:

INFORM - Help the community understand what is happening, why it matters and what we must do.

MOBILIZE - Drive change through advocacy, activism, alliances and outreach.

OUR CAMPAIGN WILL ONLY SUCCEED IF WE ALL UNITE AND RISE!

Click here to find a volunteer opportunity that's right for you!

In League,

Vilia Johnson and Rhonda Peters

Co-Presidents LWVSRQ

LEAGUE IN ACTION

LWVFL Challenges Florida Law Undermining First Amendment Rights

"The citizen process must be protected because it is one of the only ways that citizens can ban together to make law that the legislators have refused to pass...We are taking this step because we are one of the few Florida organizations that can show that we have standing in this case."

Cecile M. Scoon, Esq.

LWVFL Co-President

Read full press release here

LWV Urges Congress Not to Drastically Cut Medicaid

On May 12th Jessica Jones Capparell, LWV Director of Government Affairs sent a letter to members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce urging them to minimize Medicaid cuts. Now the House of Representatives has voted in favor of a budget bill that includes major cuts to Medicaid.

The League believes that every US resident should have access to a basic level of quality health care at an affordable cost.

A Senate vote on this bill is rapidly approaching. It's urgent that you remind our senators that Medicaid has broad bipartisan support and that cutting off millions of people from needed healthcare will destroy lives and local economies.

YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED!

Tell your senators to oppose the SAVE Act.

The House and Senate introduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require citizenship documentation to register to vote even though voters in every state are already required to affirm or verify their citizenship status when registering. The House has already passed it. But we can still stop it from passing in the Senate!

Click here to easily send a message to your senators regarding the SAVE Act.

Oppose Drastic Cuts to Medicaid

Tell Your Senators You Oppose Steep Cuts to Medicaid!

Senator Rick Scott 202-224-5274

Senator Ashley Moody 202-224-3041

Concerned about other actions taken by this administration that violate our laws and constitution?

Call or email all your elected representatives.

Download the 5 Calls App (Check it our here!)

Start following LWVSRQ and LWV on Bluesky!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Unitarian Universalists of Sarasota

Know Your Rights Campaign

Wednesday, Jun 18, 2025 9:30am - 12pm EDT

Unitarian Universalists of Sarasota

3975 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota, FL, 34232

Participants will meet at the Unitarian Universalist campus to distribute printed material and review our plan. We will be engaging with community members at Latino businesses to inform them of their legal rights if approached or detained by immigration officials.

Dress comfortably. Bring water and a hat. Spanish fluency not required.

For more information and to sign up click here.

Lunch and Conversation

We will continue to meet throughout the summer in South County. All are welcome to attend. Our next get together will be on Tuesday, June 24th at noon. Please join us!

Unite and Rise 8.5:

Defending Democracy Rally

Downtown Sarasota League Rally

July 5, 2025 10 to 11 am

South Bayfront Drive between Ringling Blvd and Selby Gardens.

We are gathering to protest

The current administration’s flagrant abuse of power.
Congress’s failure to uphold their oath of office to support and defend the constitution.
The violation of our constitutional rights.
Our elected officials' failure to uphold our democratic norms.

Everyone is welcome! Bring your family, friends and neighbors!

All signs will be furnished by LWVSRQ to assure nonpartisanship.

Read Celina's message below for more information.

Registration required. When you register you will find a GPS map of our exact location and have the option to order tee shirts.

To learn more about your rights while protesting in Florida view this information from ACLU Florida.

"In today’s increasingly polarized political environment... questions sometimes arise about what nonpartisanship truly means, especially during election season and once officials are in office. It’s important to clarify how we approach nonpartisanship across both contexts:" Read more...

Celina Stewart, Esq.

CEO LWV

IN CASE YOU MISSED THIS

Dr. Monica Elliott, Dr. Jill Lewis-Spector and Alice Newlon reviewed the 2025 Florida legislative session. Watch the recording here.

BOOK A SPEAKER

With mis and disinformation abounding, voter education is more important than ever. Our Speakers Bureau offers non partisan educational programs on a variety of topics for adults and students. Please spread the word regarding this free service.

Check out our new webpage here...

YOUNG ADULT ENGAGEMENT

Ringling Votes

From left to right: Rachel Levey-Baker, Director of Student Volunteerism and

Service-Learning, Liz Barker, Sarasota County School Board Member and

Dr. Tina Beer, LWVSRQ Young Adult Engagement Co-Chair.

Ringling Votes is a student/staff initiative at Ringling College, developed in partnership with local organizations to promote civic engagement across campus.

In April, the League of Women Voters of Sarasota County (LWVSRQ) invited Sarasota School Board Member Liz Barker to speak with Ringling Votes students and share a legislative update. One topic that sparked significant concern was Florida House Bill 5101, due to its potential financial impact on students and their families.

VOTER SERVICES

MAY WAS A BUSY MONTH FOR VOTER SERVICES

We tabled at the North Port Newcomers event on May 3rd, handing out information about the May 15th special election and VBM forms.
On May 22^nd League members and their non-member guests addressed 500 postcards to returning citizens.
On May29th we will be tabling at Aviva Senior Living.

We are continuing to work on developing a presentation in Spanish for the Women’s Resource Center.

OBSERVER CORPS

Observing our Government in Action -Preserving Your Right to Know

County School Board

Gets Straight "A"s for the First Time!

May 20, 2025 - "Superintendent Connor was aware of the anger generated by the proposed "Student Code of Conduct" that had been on the agenda. He opened his remarks addressing why that item was removed from the agenda and that it would be given full review before appearing again." Read more...

Vilia Johnson, LWVSRQ Co-President highly recommends

Sam Daley-Harris's Reclaiming Our Democracy. "Harris uses his decades of experience leading and coaching citizen's advocacy groups to create an inspiring master class in transformational advocacy with detailed instructions on how we can all make a difference." Available at Sarasota County Library as well (however not the most recent edition).

Read any good books related to empowering voters and defending democracy lately? Watched an inspiring film? Please share them!

Send your recommendations to comms@lwvsrq.org with a brief writeup.