Want to learn more about the two referendum questions that will be on the Oak Park November ballot? Then join us this evening, Monday, October 21, at 7:00pm in the Veterans Room of the Oak Park Library, 834 Lake Street, Oak Park. There will be a presentation on the non-binding redistricting referendum question and the binding ranked choice voting question. FairVote and CHANGE Illinois will be there to share information on these two topics and answer any questions you may have. Free and open to the public, let your friends and neighbors know about this opportunity. You can also visit our website for more information on these referendum questions.

Let the early voting begin! Starting today at the Oak Park Village Hall and continuing till Monday, November 4, early voting will be available from 9:00am-5:00pm Monday-Saturday and 10:00am-4:00pm on Sunday. Did you forget to register? You can register to vote and then cast your ballot when you go, just bring two pieces of identification with you. (Online voter registration is now closed.) Want to know what is on your ballot so you an make a plan and be prepared with your choices? Go here to see what will be on your ballot. This site can also tell you where your polling place will be if you choose to vote on election day, November 5. Want to know more about the judges on your ballot? You can go here to see their ratings from a variety of bar associations. You can also still apply for a Vote by Mail ballot here. The important thing is to go vote and to get your friends, neighbors, and family to vote also. Democracy is not a spectator sport!

Our Voter Service Committee has worked tirelessly this election season to register voters and be visible as a leader in voting information. We partnered with the Oak Park Village Clerk, Christina Waters, to schedule some of these events. Starting on August 12, we staffed over 21 different locations in Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, Bellwood, and Harwood Heights. As you can see, the requests for voter registration events came from far and wide. Our volunteers did a great job not only with registering voters but answering questions about dates, ballots, races, and polling places. We had many new people take the training to become Deputy Registrars so they could help with in-person registration. And some members just helped by passing out palm cards at community events so citizens could go online and register themselves. Truly a successful effort leading up to this important election. Thanks again to the volunteers who gave their time and knowledge to these many events: Roberta Jannsen, Kathy Perry, Leslie Lauderdale, Linda Valentine, Elan Long, Joanne Susmilch, Tara Joyce, Marsha Borders, Beverly Tuck, Beverly Graham, Suzanne Poisl, Nicole Almy, Bob Chimis, Heather Hinds, Marge Massarello, Joan Petertil, Sue Campbell, Sheila Elliott, and Peggy Kell.

There is still time to register to attend the LWV Lake Michigan Region 2024 Annual Meeting and Conference, "Preserving & Protecting Lake Michigan: Restoration, Climate & Line 5," taking place October 25-26, in Manistee, Michigan. You can attend in person or online. Read more about this opportunity here.

On Thursday, November 14, at the next Coffee 'n Conversation event, Chuck Stone of Braver Angels will lead a discussion on how to lessen the effects of polarization when we encounter them in political discussions. This conversation will focus on how we regard and talk about large groups of ordinary people on the other side of the political aisle. As we retreat into our political silos, people on the other side become not just strangers but enemies. How we talk among ourselves about them fuels fires that threaten democracy. We will discuss how to disagree without stereotyping, dismissing, ridiculing, or showing contempt. We will talk about how to intervene in a constructive way in conversations that veer into contempt and ridicule. This event is at the Nineteenth Century Club, 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park, and goes from 9:30-11:00am. Share this program with family and friends and invite them to join you. Free and open to the public.

Have you paid your League dues? Go online or download a paper copy and send it in ASAP!

LWV Cook County October Newsletter

LWV IL October Member Bulletin

LWV US October 17 Update

Suntimes article on Mis/Disinformation

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