On Thursday, October 15, from 6:30-8:00pm, join us for an engaging and timely evening of Drinks & Dialogue at Friendly’s Tap, 6731 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn, featuring Sheila O’Grady, Executive Director of the Citizens Advocacy Center, for a lively conversation about voting rights, the history of the fight for the ballot, and the changes shaping how we vote today.

We’ll kick things off with a little suffragette trivia, honoring the courageous women who fought so hard to secure the right to vote. From there, we’ll explore the history of the Voting Rights Act, recent changes to voting laws, and what they mean for voters today. We’ll also take a closer look at mail-in voting and the League of Women Voters’ role in a recent legal victory protecting access to the ballot.

Most importantly, we’ll turn our attention to what each of us can do to encourage voter participation and help create a voting tsunami. Bring your ideas, your questions, and your enthusiasm for a lively, open discussion. Whether you’re a longtime League member or simply curious about how our democracy works, you’re welcome. Come for the conversation, stay for the camaraderie, and leave inspired to make a difference. Snacks provided; cash bar available. Stay afterward to enjoy live music!

Last call for members who are interested in being a Poll Watcher during this Gubernatorial Election season. You can sign up with Peggy Kell to receive credentials. You should watch the League video on Poll Watching responsibilities and view the slide deck of presentation information. There has been talk of the possibility of interference or disruption during these elections. Poll Watchers can only note and report what they observe. LWV IL is still working on a partnership to determine which polling places are priorities for this election, but it probably won't be in our local communities. The ability to travel is needed. Credentials won't be issued until the middle of October.

This fall, Triton College, 2000 5th Ave., River Grove, is hosting a series of lectures on the Declaration of Independence to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The next lecture is this Wednesday, October 14, at 1:00pm in the Library Commons on the Main Floor, titled "Independence in Illinois." The presenter will be Michaela Klaber from Northwestern University. and she will talk about the Native Nations in Illinois at the time of the Declaration of Independence when Illinois was not yet a state in the Union. You can see the flyer about the November and December presentations here.

The US Census Bureau announced sweeping changes to how we count people on the census. The proposed rule would severely distort population counts, create inaccurate representations of communities during apportionment and redistricting, and disrupt how state and local governments plan essential public services. Submit a comment opposing these changes at the LWV IL website. The comment period has been extended to November 2.

Voters can apply to Vote By Mail for a single election or sign up for Permanent Vote By Mail, which allows you to receive a mail ballot for all subsequent elections held in Cook County. If you are already enrolled in Permanent Vote By Mail, there is no need to apply again. When you apply online, you can also receive email notifications when your ballot is mailed, when your Ballot Return Envelope is received by the Clerk’s Office, and when your ballot has been processed and counted.

All Vote By Mail ballots include a postage-paid Ballot Return Envelope. Due to recent changes in U.S. Postal Service processing, ballots placed in blue USPS collection boxes or dropped in Post Office mailboxes may not be postmarked the same day. This processing delay could affect whether a ballot meets Illinois’ legal requirements to be counted. To help ensure your ballot is counted, don’t wait until the final days to mail it. If mailing close to Election Day, bring your ballot directly to a USPS location and request that it be postmarked at the counter.

Voters may also return their sealed Ballot Return Envelope at a secure mail ballot drop box available at Early Voting locations throughout suburban Cook County. Visit cookcountyclerk.com/MBdropbox for locations and hours. 

Save the Date:

Will you be ready to kick back and take stock of the election? Our chapter is hosting a fundraiser at the Comedy Plex Club in Oak Park featuring Chicago comedian and radio host Patti Vasquez. She will present "Election Decompression: Let's Laugh it Off." The program is set for Sunday, November 8 at 4:00pm. Tickets are $40, and you can purchase them here online. The club is at 1128 Lake St. in the lower level.

According to the University of Florida’s Election Lab, more than 650,000 people nationwide have already voted, and 48 million mail-in ballots have been requested. In Virginia, early voting has tripled 2022’s turnout pace.

For more Democracy Wins from Beverly Tuck go here.

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