LWV November 2018 Voter

THE VOTER

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE MIDLAND AREA

www.LWV-Midland.org | Facebook | Bay County Unit | Bay County Facebook

November 2018

Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.

The League of Women Voters is a national, political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in their government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. The League is non-partisan and as an organization does not endorse or oppose candidates or political parties.

Dear Fellow Leaguers,

Election Day is Tuesday November 6. Time for us to stand and be counted.

VOTE411.org has more information than the state or the Midland Voters Guides. There is also candidate information that was added after the print guides went to press. Please refer people that ask to VOTE411.org.

The Voter Guide is available on our web site at the top of the home page. If anyone asks, there are hard copies at the Library.

Candidage Forums are still available: 98th State House, MPS Board , the 36th District State Senate and County Commission Districts 3 & 5 . They are available on MCTV, YouTube and as a podcast (details below).

Podcast instructions

Use your favorite podcast app - Search for "MCTV Network Community Voices". iPhones have one built in. Android devices use Google podcasts. There are many others. (MPS school board forum is not available as a podcast.)

Thank you to everyone who has helped with our voter service efforts this fall. I am very proud of the feedback we have received for our efforts to educate our local voters.

Yours in League,

Katherine Redwine, President

VOTER SERVICE ATIVITIES

Voter Service Wrap-up

We've just about wrapped up voter service activities for the 2018 election season...four candidate forums, covering primary and general election races including the school board race (with AAUW); voter registration; online VOTE411 and hard copy voter guides.

A few comments about each piece of this service:

The effectiven ess of our candidate forums was greatly enhanced with the availability of the recordings on YouTube. The obvious advantage is that interested folks can view a forum at any time. Thanks to MCTV Manager Matt Richardson and Midland Public Schools Administration for making this possible; also to League question developers, greeters, and timers.

Our participation in the voter registration drive at Delta College resulted in 249 new voters for this election. As always, it was an energizing experience!

VOTE411.org continues to be a valued resource for candidate information, as it is available online for most of the active season. We're told that usage is much increased this year, and we're looking forward to seeing the numbers.

Our hard copy Voter Guide was published with the Midland Daily News on October 13. Then starting on October 15, we distributed about 2500 additional Guides to various locations in the county - Grace A. Dow Library, Community Center, senior centers, Washington Woods, Riverside, city and county schools, other destinations. We also delivered to our business and organizational sponsors for the Guide, our ad sponsors, and other groups and individuals as appropriate. Many thanks to our member volunteers who carried out these delivery tasks: Nancy Bramblett, Connie Glave, Carol Locker, Carol Neff, Luana Russell, Julie Schmidt, Sharron Such, Terry Townley, Anne Wallin, Jane Wirth.

Voter Service Team -- Sue McCollister, Kim Steinke, Carole Swinehart, Katherine Redwine

School Resource Officer County Millage

You will see this on your November ballot:

A proposal to seek a levy up to 0.4 mills over the next 4 years to provide licensed School Resource Officers to all Midland County public high schools.

For more information, see the brochure.

LWV of Michigan supports Proposals 2 & 3

The League of Women Voters of Michigan supports Proposal 2, which will create an Independent Redistricting Commission. This constitutional amendment will establish an impartial commission of voters (not politicians) who will be charged with creating new district maps for state and congressional offices that cannot favor one party or candidate. This commission will operate in a completely transparent manner and will create maps based on fair criteria. Currently, politicians draw their own voting maps, and have the power to hand-pick their voters. Gerrymandering benefits politicians, and hurts the rest of us, regardless of our political preferences. When politicians choose their voters, our votes don't matter and our voices aren't heard. The League urges a YES vote on Proposal 2 so that voters can choose their politicians. For for more information, visit votersnotpoliticans.com

The League also supports Proposal 3, "Promote the Vote", which helps ensure that every eligible person can vote and every vote will count. This proposal safeguards our elections with audits and more accurate voting lists and removes barriers that can make it harder for citizens to fulfill their responsibility to vote. This constitutional amendment will:

Protect the right to vote a secret ballot
Ensure military service members and overseas voters get their ballots in time for their votes to count
Provide voters with the option to vote straight party
Automatically register citizens to vote at the Secretary of State's office unless the citizen declines
Allow a citizen to register to vote anytime with proof of residency
Provide all registered voters access to an absentee ballot for any reason
Ensure the accuracy and integrity of elections by auditing election results

Many Michigan City and Township clerks support the proposal. Read the press release here from the Lansing Area Clerks who endorse Proposal 3 because it will boost voter participation and protect election integrity. The League urges a YES vote on Proposal 3 which provides a common-sense approach to removing barriers to voting for working families, safeguarding our elections and putting voters first. For more information, visit promotethevotemi.com.

See language for proposals 1, 2, and 3 here, p.19.

Upcoming Events

Nov 6, 7am - 8pm Election Day - VOTE!

Dec 6, 12-1pm - Holiday Luncheon - Mark your Calendar! Email Invitation coming about mid-Nov. A time to join your fellow leaguers for fellowship. Creative 360.

2019 - more info to come

2/12 - LWV Midland 50th Anniversary Party - Creative 360 7-9pm

Wed, 3/27 - Midland County Housing Panel - Creative 360 7-8:30pm. Please note date change.

5/15 - Annual Meeting - Midland Country Club

6/18 - Pontoon boat ride and dinner at Sanford Lake bar and grill.

Celebrating our 50th Anniversary and the LWV's 100th Anniversary

We will be jointly celebrating the LWV of the Midland Area's 50th Anniversary and the Centennial of the LWV of the United States and the Centennial of the Ratification of the 19th Amendment. These events will take place from February 2019 through August 2020.

Key Dates:

April 2019 - 50th Anniversary of the Midland League

February 14, 2020 - 100th Anniversary of the League of Women Voters

August 18, 2020 - 100th Anniversary of the Ratification of the 19th Amendment

Kickoff Event:

February 12, 2019 - LWV of the Midland Area Anniversary Party

Gala:

February 2020 - LWV 100th Anniversary Gala

Other Activities being planned:

March 2019 - August 2020

History / Women's Issues conversations

May 2020 - Memorial Day Parade