Letter from the President, September 2020 |
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Dear League members and friends of the League, |
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We are six days away from our LWVIL Power the Vote event.
In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the LWV and the 19th Amendment, LWVIL originally planned a HUGE gala luncheon and fundraiser for next week. Then 2020 happened and we “pivoted” to create a virtual event.
This is OUR event. Together, we will be inspired to Power the Vote while we raise the funds necessary for our work.
We are ALL the League of Women Voters of Illinois. Together we step up 365 days a year to deliver and expand the education, opportunities and services that the people of Illinois rely upon. Our work is almost completely powered by unpaid League members. Our budget is lean. Our dues do not begin to supply the money needed for the infrastructure every local League relies upon to work in their communities.
When our goal is to influence public policy through education and advocacy, LWVIL must:
- Join issue-focused coalitions to draft legislation, create social media campaigns, and engage expert speakers.
- Activate members and supporters using software that manages our database and sends mass emails.
- Provide equitable access to legislators and experts on digital platforms.
When our goal is to empower Illinois voters, LWVIL must:
- Provide access to 100% nonpartisan election information up and down ballot for EVERY community.
- Finance the design, coding, and search engine optimization to run our Illinois Voter Guide.
- Continue to expand—in the 2020 Primary election, IVG had 24,600 unique visitors from 1129 different municipalities in Illinois.
When our goal is to increase civic engagement and participation, the LWVIL must:
- Conduct studies to have updated positions for advocacy.
- Train Observer Corps to monitor government bodies for transparency, information sharing and collaboration.
- Power a website, providing education and information for anyone with internet access.
When our goal is to be inclusive, equitable and diverse, we must:
- Provide accommodation services.
- Be accessible in multiple languages.
- Develop a dues structure that is fair to all.
Together, we work toward these goals. Together, we can meet them. Power the Vote is our major fundraising event this year, and tickets are $25. If every one of us buys a ticket and influences a couple of friends to attend, the entire annual budget for LWVIL will be met.
Share your passion for the goals that drew you in. Tell your friends; ask them to join us.
Together we ARE the League of Women Voters of Illinois.
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President
League of Women Voters of Illinois
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Do you have your tickets yet?
No matter where you live, you can easily be part of the LWVIL annual benefit—our virtual event brings all the action right into your house. Buy your tickets now, because only those purchased by 9:00 am Wednesday morning are guaranteed to receive the link in time for Thursday’s event.
Can’t make it at noon on Thursday? A recording of the event will remain available afterward to link holders.
Have you shared with your friends?
If every member in the state shared their passion with two friends, we would have the funding we need for another year. Your friends get to see a fantastic example of inspirational and informative League programming AND help fund resources that support the work of every local League—resources such as the Illinois Voter Guide and our new shared platform for virtual candidate forums.
Post Benefit Chat Rooms available
The Power the Vote program is sure to provoke discussion! During the benefit, you will be able to sign up for one of three chat rooms being held the following week:
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Promote the Vote, noon, Tuesday September 29
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Fair Tax, 7:00 pm, Tuesday September 29
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Criminal Justice Reform, noon, Thursday October 1
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Illinois Voter Guide Ballot Info Now Online |
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One-stop voter information, powered by LWVIL and activated by YOU! This digital tool makes voter access easy—everything you need to help voters find information for every race in the state is here. Sample ballots, early voting and election day polling sites, recordings of candidate forums (posted on each candidate’s page), candidate responses to questions. It is ALL here. NOW.
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National Voter Registration Day |
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National Voter Registration Day is this Tuesday, September 22. Many Leagues are preparing to register voters in person. This is an excellent opportunity to use the QR code (above) and assist voters in registering online. |
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Vote by Mail and Early Voting Begins |
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After the ballots are mailed to voters and early voting begins on September 24, we expect a flurry of questions about voting, along with a lot of misinformation.
The LaGrange Area League has created a powerpoint to address voter registration, early voting and possible pitfalls of Vote By Mail. Please promote how to sign up to track your VBM ballot, if that option is available in your community. |
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If your League is interested in observing Election Day at polls in your area or wants to observe counting/recounting of ballots, your League MUST request poll watching credentials by September 24. Apply with your local Election Authority.
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LWVIL Partners with Businesses to Promote Voter Awareness |
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Voter engagement opportunities opened up recently when employers contacted LWVIL about get out the vote initiatives. As these unfold, we will have models for further League partnerships.
AKIRA Clothing Stores
Akira management contacted LWVIL about featuring LWVIL graphics and QR codes for the IVG throughout the months of September and October to activate their customers to become voters. Akira has a line of vote-inspired clothing and accessories and a commitment to get out the vote efforts. They are also running a charity round-up campaign in support of LWVIL.
Colectivo Coffee Roasters
Colectivo worked with LWV Chicago to train employees as voter advocates as part of their Unity campaign work with the NAACP. The advocates will focus on voter registration assistance during four specific Saturdays at their five Chicago-area cafes.
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Materials Available to Engage and Activate ALL Voters
Akira and Colectivo are using new registration and GOTV graphics that are now in the LWVIL Toolkit in the LWVIL Shared Resource Center. There are additional materials that have been shared in the Local League Toolkits.
Posters, flyers and yard signs with QR codes can be provided for partnering organizations. Think about placing them (with permission) in food pantries, nursing homes, libraries, college campuses, coffee shops and laundromats. Look for opportunities in traditionally low-turnout neighborhoods.
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Census to End September 30 |
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The shortened time period for the Census exacerbates complications raised by COVID-19, making hard-to-count populations even more difficult to reach. The impact of the Census will be felt for the next decade.
In order to ensure a fair count, it is imperative that every member reach out to their networks and make sure that people have filled out their Census forms.
Please use the cards below (we have English and Spanish versions) and check in (twice!) with everyone you know. It really counts.
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Criminal Justice Position Update |
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Our study addresses questions such as the following (Section 12, Illinois Department of Corrections), giving background and context:
- Why are inmates not receiving adequate healthcare?
- Should inmates receive healthcare when many law-abiding people do not have access?
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What are programs that address criminogenic needs? Why are they important? (Check out our glossary if you don’t know what “criminogenic” means.)
- Would it make a difference if those who supervise the people on Mandatory Supervised Release were more like social workers?
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Election Dates to Remember
- TODAY - Make a plan to vote
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September 24 - First date to vote at your election authority
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September 24 - Election authorities begin sending out vote by mail ballots
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October 7 - Some early voting sites open for Suburban Cook County
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October 14 - Early voting begins in Chicago
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October 18 - Last day to register to vote online. Registration allowed at voting sites through Nov. 3.
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October 19 - Early voting begins in Illinois
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October 29 - Last day for election authorities to receive application to vote by mail (it is recommended that voters apply well ahead of this date)
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November 3 - Election Day
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November 3 - Last day to turn in or postmark a vote by mail ballot
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The League of Women Voters Illinois Education Fund (LWVILEF) encourages the informed and active participation in government by providing civic education and voter services. Make a difference today for you and your community with a tax-deductible gift to support our work to defend democracy and empower voters.
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