LWVW Quarterly Newsletter | |
|
In this issue:
- Message from the President
- Upcoming Events
- Committee Reports
- Voter Service
- Presidential Primary
- Redistricting
- County Government
- Youth Engagement
- Youth Corp
- Civic Readiness Seal Program
- Upcoming Events for Students
- Advocacy and Education
- Environmental Issues
- ERA Amendment to the NYS Constitution
- Annual Appeal
- Volunteers Needed
- LWVW Board of Directors
| |
|
LWVW President's Message
Thoughts from Kathy Meany...
Did you know that more than 4 billion people are eligible to vote in an election in 2024? According to a recent article in The Conversation,
2024 is going to be democracy’s biggest year ever." In a remarkable milestone in human history, over four billion people – more than half of the world’s population across more than 40 countries – will go to the polls.
National elections will be held in the United States, India, Indonesia, Russia, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Mexico, and South Africa to name just a few. The European Union will also go to the polls. This busy calendar of elections is as extraordinary for the diversity of nations and peoples participating as it is for its huge scale.
What does that mean for Westchester County? Did you know that 30% of Westchester's registered voters are unaffiliated? That means that they cannot vote in ANY of the Primary Elections in NYS in 2024 – unless they change their party enrollment to a major party by February 14. As voting in a primary is the first step in the voting process, the League is encouraging all voters to participate. Check your voter registration now at Vote411.org to be ready for the next election, the NYS Presidential Primary on April 2, 2024, with early voting running Saturday, March 23, 2024 through Saturday, March 30, 2024.
With additional primaries in June and the General Election in November, the League is requesting ALL members to help in some way: voter registration drives, Get Out the Vote messaging, serve as a Moderator or help in Candidate Forums, engage youth, be a poll worker, and more!
We need all hands on deck in 2024!
“There is no such thing as a vote that doesn’t matter.” -- Barack Obama
| | |
|
January
-
Thursday, January 18, 2024, 7:00pm at Croton Free Library, 171 Cleveland Drive, Croton on Hudson, NY 10520: Lorraine Hansberry Coalition of Croton presents Kathy Meany, LWVW President, speaking on "Voting 2024: Democracy Is Not a Spectator Sport"
February
-
Thursday, February 8, 2024, 5:30pm via Zoom: LWVW Executive Committee Meeting
-
Wednesday, February 14, 2024: Last day to change party enrollment to be effective for any of the 2024 primaries.
-
Sunday, February 25, 2024, 4pm at Manhattanville College, Reid Castle: LWVW and WWA Black History Month Event
March
-
Thursday, March 7, 2024, 5:30pm via Zoom: LWVW Board of Directors and Executive Committee Meeting
-
Saturday, March 23, 2024 (Golden Day): Last day to register to vote through the online portal or in person at any early polling location in Westchester or for a mailed voter registration application to be received by the Westchester County Board of Elections Office (25 Quarropas Street, White Plains, NY 10601)
-
Saturday, March 23, 2024 through Saturday, March 30, 2024: Early Voting for Presidential Primary in New York State
April
-
Tuesday, April 2, 2024: Presidential Primary in New York State
-
Thursday, April 4, 2024, 5:30pm via Zoom: LWVW Executive Committee Meeting
-
Thursday, April 18, 2024, 8:30am at Manhattanville College, Reid Castle: Running & Winning
May
-
Thursday, May 2, 2024, 5:30pm via Zoom: LWVW Executive Committee Meeting
June
-
Thursday, June 6, 2024, 5:00pm at Manhattanville College, Reid Castle: LWVW Annual Convention
| |
Upcoming Special Event
Black History Month Special Event
Sunday, February 25, 2024
4-6pm
Manhattanville College
East Library of Reid Castle
2900 Purchase Street
Purchase, NY 10577
Co-sponsored by the Westchester Women's Agenda, this community program celebrates the Black History Month 2024 theme of African Americans and the Arts. The event opens with a rendition of the National Anthem and the Black National Anthem. Reverend Kymberly McNair will present an educational, interactive talk entitled "Arts, Culture, and the Power of a Movement" with a special recognition of Black suffragists who fought for voting rights. The Greater Centennial Gospel Choir from the Greater Centennial A.M.E. Zion Church in Mount Vernon will conclude with an uplifting performance. Light refreshments will be served.
| | | |
|
Voter Registration and Absentee Ballot Information and Deadlines for
NYS Presidential Primary Election on Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Early Voting: Saturday, March 23, 2024 to Saturday March 30, 2024
| |
 | |
Wednesday, February 14, 2024: Last day to change party enrollment to be effective for any of the primaries. Changes may be made using the voter registration form or the accessible version of the voter registration form or the new NYS Board of Elections Online Voter Registration portal. Party enrollment changes received after February 14 will not take effect until the November general election (N.Y. Election Law Section 5-304(3)).
Saturday, March 23, 2024 (Golden Day): Last day voter registration form must be received by the Board of Election by mail or in person. Those with a NY.Gov ID may register using the new NYS Board of Elections Online Voter Registration portal. Check your voter registration status at the NYS Voter Registration Database Search. Last day for an application for a mailed absentee ballot to be received by the Board of Elections. Applications may be made via email, fax, or electronically through the New York State Absentee Ballot Application Portal. See the Westchester Board of Elections website for additional details. First day of Early Voting.
Saturday, March 30, 2024: Last day of Early Voting.
Monday, April 1, 2024: Last day to apply in person at the Westchester Board of Elections (25 Quarropas Street, White Plains, NY 10601) for an absentee ballot.
Tuesday, April 2, 2024: Last day to postmark a completed absentee ballot (must be received by Tuesday April 9, 2024) or to submit an absentee ballot in person to the Westchester Board of Elections or any polling site throughout Westchester County by the close of the polls.
For additional information and links to additional resources containing election information, please consult the LWVW Voter Information page.
| |
On December 12, 2023, the Court of Appeals in Buffalo issued its decision in Hoffman v. New York State Independent Redistricting Commission, ruling that under the provisions of the 2014 New York Constitutional Amendment, the Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) is required to submit another proposal for new Congressional district maps to the NYS Legislature for approval by February 28, 2024. Candidates intending to run for Congressional seats will have a short window of time to circulate and file their petitions to appear on the ballot for the NYS June Primary.
Having previously LWVNYS filed an amicus brief arguing against mid-decade redistricting, LWVNYS issued a statement urging the IRC to "uphold the promise of the 2014 constitutional amendments" and "reach consensus on a new map that complies with the constitutional requirements to avoid partisan gerrymandering, consider communities of interest and protect racial and language minority rights."
To date, the IRC has not issued any call for public comments or input and appears to be relying on public comments received previously.
| |
Youth Engagement
Youth Corps
Plans are underway to support efforts by local high schools and board of education who are promoting student voter registration and pre-registraion. Recent legislation requires all local boards of education within the state to adopt such policies. NY Elec L § 5-507 (2022)
Civics Readiness Seal Program
LWVW continues to assist local public high schools in Yonkers, Port Chester, and Ossining interested in offering the Civics Readiness Seal Program to its students. The program is a civics curriculum developed by New York State Board of Regents and culminates in a capstone project.
Upcoming Events for Students
Plans are underway for LWVW's annual Running & Winning program to be held on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at Manhattanville College, Reid Castle. The goal of this one-day event for female high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors is to support our young participants’ aspirations to serve in public office, develop their leadership potential, and, at the same time, help our government institutions increase gender parity. LWVW anticipates high participation rates of students and elected officials, as in prior years. LWVW appreciates Westchester Community Foundation's continued support and generous grant that helps defray the costs to LWVW of hosting this important event. LWVW seeks additional sponsors so that even more students have the opportunity to attend the program. View the Running & Winning Sponsorship Fact Sheet for more information on how to become a sponsor.
LWVW has received approval to send one high school student to LWVNYS's Students Inside Albany program in Albany from Sunday, May 19, 2024 through Wednesday, May 22, 2024. This conference is an intensive training designed to immerse students in the process by which public policy is proposed, enacted and changed in New York State and educate them as to how they can influence and affect this process. Additionally, students are afforded the opportunity to observe Assembly and Senate sessions and to shadow both their Assembly members and Senators. As in past years, LWVW will seek candidates from high schools within areas of the county not currently represented by a local league.
| |
Advocacy and Education
Environmental Issues
Every five years, the Environmental Protection Agency reviews the ongoing PCB cleanup of the Hudson River. PCB contamination has turned the Hudson into one of the country’s largest Superfund sites, making it unsafe to consume its fish, shutting down its fishing industry, and compromising its ecological health. Downriver communities have some of the worst concentrations of PCBs recorded. Concerned organizations and citizens are urging the EPA to issue a clear schedule, to order a formal Remedial and Investigation and Feasibility Study for the Lower Hudson, and to design an effective cleanup remedy for the Upper Hudson River floodplains.
ERA Amendment to the NYS Constitution
LWVW is pleased to introduce Adie Shore, the newest appointee to the LWVW Executive Committee, who is serving as LWVW's representative on LWVNYS's ERA Taskforce. Increased efforts are underway to educate the public and advocate for the passage of the proposed ERA Amendment to the New York State Constitution that will appear on the general election ballot this coming November 2024.
In expressing its support, LWVNYS has indicated that adding an Equal Rights Amendment to the state constitution would:
- broadly prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, disability, age, or sex including pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes, reproductive health care and autonomy, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression
- explicitly include language to clarify that discrimination based on a person’s pregnancy or pregnancy outcome is sex discrimination -- this is crucial given the national trend of criminalizing people for various pregnancy outcomes, as well as the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade
- ensure comprehensive and inclusive equal protections that will guard against attacks on our rights from the federal government or federal judges, including threats to the legal equality of LGBTQI+ people.
Additional materials will be available soon to campaign for the passage of this amendment.
| |
|
Working diligently to empower voters and defend democracy through advocacy and education, the League of Women Voters of Westchester is a nonpartisan, political Inter-League Organization (ILO) that reviews issues and actions impacting the County as a whole. As summarized in LWVW President Kathy Meany's annual appeal letter, we do and we can accomplish so much together. We appreciate all the volunteers who carry out our mission and for the donors who sustain our efforts. Please consider donating to our operating account or our Education Foundation before the end of the fiscal year.
Thank you in advance for your continued generosity as we prepare for a challenging 2024!
| |
|
Click the donate now button below to pay online.
| |
|
To donate by check, please make checks payable either to:
- League of Women Voters of Westchester (non-tax deductible), or
- League of Women Voters of Westchester Education Foundation (tax-deductible)
and mail to:
League of Women Voters of Westchester
520 White Plains Road, Suite 500
Tarrytown, NY 10591
| |
Join a Committee!
To become involved in any of the LWVW activities and committees, please email westchesterlwv@gmail.com and include your areas of interest in the subject line.
| | | |
League of Women Voters of Westchester | |
|
Officers:
President: Kathy Meany (Northwest Westchester), 2023-25
1st Vice President: TBD, 2022-24
2nd Vice President: Mary Kirsch (New Castle), 2023-25
3rd Vice President: Louise Perez (Larchmont/Mamaroneck), 2022-24
Secretary: Susan Polos (Northeast Westchester), 2023-25
Treasurer: Marylou Green (Scarsdale), 2022-24
Board of Directors Committee Chairs (elected):
Civics Readiness Seal Program: Denise Povolny (Rivertowns) 2023-25
Communications/Technology: Diane Baylor (Scarsdale), 2023-25
County Government: TBD, 2023-25
Environment: Susan Schwarz (Rivertowns), 2022-24
Students Inside Albany: Deb Pekarek (Scarsdale), 2023-25
Voter Service: Joan Alexander (New Rochelle), 2023-25
Youth Engagement: TBD, 2022-24
Off-Board Committee Chairs (appointed):
ERA Taskforce: Adie Shore (Scarsdale) 2024
Fundraising: Steve Meyers (Rye/Rye Brook/Port Chester), 2023-24
Social Media: Robyn Weintraub (Rye/Rye Brook/Port Chester), 2023-24
Youth Representative: Emma Freeman (Larchmont/Mamaroneck), 2023-24
Local League Presidents:
Larchmont/Mamaroneck: Peggy Jackson and Alice Pernick
New Castle: Leslie Kuhn
New Rochelle: Joan Alexander
Northeast Westchester: Susan Ferris Rights
Northwest Westchester: Rene Artale and Althema Goodson (Steering Committee Co-Chairs)
Rivertowns: Susan Maggiotto
Rye/Rye Brook/Port Chester: Tony Napoli and Patty Rinello, 2022-24
Scarsdale: Heedan Chung, 2023-25
White Plains: Doris Dingott, 2022-24
| |
|
League of Women Voters of Westchester
520 White Plains Road, Suite 500, Tarrytown, NY 10591
westchesterlwv@gmail.com | 914-366-7312
| | | | |
