The Voter from Volusia County

OCTOBER | Your monthly connection to advocacy and action!

A message from our President

As we head into the fall season, it’s time to check in on all that is happening in our communities. This month, we have a lot of exciting and timely upcoming events for you; from an update on book removals from Florida schools, to how votes are made secure, to what is happening with our beach conditions.

Our primary focus in October will be to let the Florida state legislature know that their plan to redraw Congressional districts in the middle of the decade on partisan grounds, without new Census data, defies the will of the people and undermines the State Constitution.

To that end, on October 4, we are asking our members to participate in the LWV’s statewide campaign to call the House Representatives on the Committee for congressional redistricting. To be most effective, please identify as individuals.

To get the message across, call as many Representatives on the Redistricting Committee as many times as possible. Here is the info you need to get started.

Click here to get the contact list for the House Select Committee for Redistricting

Click here for talking points

Nancy Vaughn

LWVVC President 2025 - 2027

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Membership Matters

–Olga Hernandez, Roster Management

Let's get into action—join a team today!

The League of Women Voters of Volusia County works through Action Teams. All members are encouraged to join a team and help advance our mission of serving and educating both ourselves and the public on important civic issues. Our advocacy is guided by our written positions, which you can explore here: https://my.lwv.org/florida/volusia-county/positions.

Please take a look, decide which team best fits your interests, and let me know your choice so I can connect you with the team leader. You can reach me at OAH@Vyndicar.com.

Education

Growth Management

Media

Natural Resources

Observer Corps

Membership

Speakers Bureau

Voter Service

Team Leaders are needed for Fundraising, Legislative,

Women's Rights, and Social Justice!

When each of us does our part, we strengthen the League and

deepen our impact in the community while fulfilling our mission.

How to manage your membership renewal

Please take a moment to visit the membership portal to check your renewal due date so you’ll know it for next year. Log in at https://portal.lwv.org/ using your email as your password. You’ll receive a code by email to continue and view or update your record.

Be sure to add your renewal date to your personal calendar—this will help avoid extra reminders and follow-ups.

If your due date falls in September or October 2025, you should have already received a renewal notice directly from LWVUS. If you haven’t seen it, please check your junk or spam folder in case the email was filtered there.

Upcoming Events

Save the Date and RSVP Today!

2025 Update on Book Removals

in Florida Schools

Join us for an important presentation with Kristine Smith, School Media Specialist, as she provides an update on the laws, rules, and directives currently governing books in Florida’s school media centers.

Kristine will review which books are no longer available on media center shelves, explain the processes behind these removals, and share concerns about access for students.

This timely discussion will help us better understand the impact of recent legislation and court rulings on our schools and communities. Following her presentation, there will be time for questions and open discussion.

October Program

Come take a tour of the new Volusia County Supervisor of Elections office and join us for a conversation with Lisa Lewis, Supervisor of Elections.

With new election laws and widespread misinformation, this is your opportunity to get accurate information and have your questions about ballot security and the validity of your vote answered. Lisa will also walk us through the new facility and explain the safety and security measures in place to protect every ballot.

About Lisa Lewis

Lisa Lewis was born and raised in DeLand, FL, and has always lived and worked in Volusia County. In addition to her local volunteerism, Lisa is the President-Elect of the Florida Supervisors of Elections Association Board. She has served as Volusia County Supervisor of Elections for 9 years, diligently working to cross-train her staff, enhance cybersecurity, and conduct open and transparent elections.

Lisa also championed accessibility, enthusiastically participating in the Accessible Vote by Mail System pilot program during the 2020 general election, which allowed voters with disabilities to mark their ballots independently and in secret. Her ongoing goal is to provide friendly customer service and ensure open, honest, and secure elections for the citizens of Volusia County.

October Lunch & Learn

What is the Future of Volusia County's Beaches?

This follow-up session to our April 2024 event will feature Deputy County Manager Suzanne Konchan, Coastal Director Jessica Fentress, and representatives from Taylor Engineering, the County's coastal engineering consultants, discussing the ongoing Volusia County Beach Feasibility Study. The presentation will focus on analysis of current beach conditions and available options for addressing beach erosion at the community level. Additional topics will include the economic impact of the beach on the County, financial considerations for implementing long-term beach erosion solutions, and coastal storm risk management strategies. This comprehensive session will provide valuable insights into both the technical and economic aspects of protecting our beaches and coastline.

Team Reports