VOTE411.ORG is brought to you by the League of Women Voters. It is a non-partisan election information site that provides a personalized list of candidates in the upcoming primary AUG 18 per your address and party. All candidates were invited to submit a photo and biography as well as answers to questions posed by the LWVOC, depending on the political race. You can compare two candidates at a time; some races have three or more candidates. Please note, some candidates chose to not participate.
*Share the above graphic on your social media by simply hovering/saving/sharing. | | The last day to request a Vote-By-Mail ballot is Saturday, AUG 8 for the AUG 18 Primary election.
| | 9th District Judicial Candidates Forum moderated by Judge Robert LeBlanc via Zoom
Commentary by Dean Johnson
"The coming-up-fast Aug. 18 primary will decide who wins four seats on Florida’s Ninth Judicial District Circuit Court (the Ninth embraces Orange and Osceola counties). Since each race has two candidates, there will not be runoffs. All eight of the candidates appeared July 8 at the League of Women Voters Orange County Hot Topics program (via Zoom)." Continue reading Dean's summary HERE You can also view on our YouTube Channel; note that there are TWO parts to this Hot Topics. July 8 Hot Topics Part l
| | | | League of Women Voters of Florida
FOR MEMBERS ONLY:
This week we will welcome Dr. Mona V. Mangat, a Board Certified Allergist & Immunologist, to lead an interactive discussion on the risks and benefits of reopening schools and offer some blended solutions for harm reduction.
Dr. Mangat will help highlight priorities both parents and government should be looking at in order to determine when and where kids should return to school.
Interested in attending the webinar but not a member? JOIN our LWVOC and you're automatically a state and national member of the League. | | | | Want to see and hear more from the candidates before the AUG 18 election? The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce is hosting a "Political Mingle" on JULY 29 via a Zoom webinar.
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Congratulations Angela Melvin, LWVOC 2nd Vice-President, for her recent appointment to the "Nominating Committee" of The League of Women Voters of Florida. Angela joined the League in 2017 and has been busy since (for which we're very grateful): Director on the Board for two years, member of the Education Committee, Nominating Committee, and a Leaguer in Action. She was also selected to be a member of the current CRC (Charter Review Committee) by LWVOC and Mayor Demings. |  | "Don't you think it's time to let all voters vote?" Open Primaries is finally on the ballot for NOV 3; it has been officially certified as Amendment 3. If passed, it will allow Florida's 3.7 million independents to vote in every taxpayer funded election. The LWVFL's position since 2017: Recommend statewide use of an Open Primary system that would allow for the broadest possible voter participation, including No Party Affiliation and Minor Party affiliated voters.
Learn more HERE | | |
On July 27, we launch our “100 Days to The Vote” campaign, with daily social-media posts
featuring fascinating nuggets about the suffragists and about the achievements of women in the century since 1920, both nationally and in Central Florida www.facebook.com/LWVOC Our 100 Days celebration continues until November 3, the Election Day that marks 100 years since the first time women across the nation could participate in our democracy.
We know, sadly, that much work remained then, and throughout the century since, to ensure #Votes4All This Centennial is a great time to recommit to empowering voters and defending democracy!
(Modern day suffragists shown above l. to r.: Ann Patton, Marty Haynie, Joan Erwin) | | It's an excellent time to catch up on our own LWVOC history by reading "Warriors of Democracy" written by Leaguer Ann Patton.
Here's a tidbit you'd learn on pg. 96 of the book:
"The National League Award in 2008 went to the LWVOC in the Voter Education category for its "Stay Home and Be Counted!" initiative in which it partnered with an Orlando television station. Our efforts resulted in a 300 percent increase in absentee balloting."
Vote-By-Mail isn't a new issue for us...we have the award to prove it! | | | | Black History in Two Minutes with Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Click HERE to tune into this 2 x Webby Award winning social media and podcast series and find links to follow it on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram.
As we work towards becoming a more knowledgeable ally, we want to share resources with our members that move the conversation and action forward. | | |  | | Next month's Special Edition HOT TOPICS will be on Tuesday, AUG 11 @ 6-7:00 PM.
Please join us for our FREE Hot Topics next month, “Racial Wealth Gap Learning Simulation,” as we work together to better understand the racial bias in our governmental policies and step into the shoes of people of color as they strive for racial equity. This interactive online session will be delivered and facilitated by Bread for the World www.bread.org #BlackLivesMatter
The simulation is an interactive tool that helps people understand the connections among racial equity, hunger, poverty, and wealth. It is a good first step for people unaware of structural inequality, a support tool for those who want a deeper understanding of structural inequality, and a source of information for experts who want to know the quantifiable economic impact of each policy that has widened today's racial hunger, income, and wealth divides. |  |
Although our name is League of WOMEN Voters, we are an all-inclusive organization. "LWVOC subscribes to the LWVUS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy. Therefore, the LWVOC is an organization fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in practice. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the organization’s current and future success in engaging all individuals, households, communities, and policy makers in creating a more perfect democracy." Read more about our Program/Mission/Bylaws
[Members shown above left: Gloria Gaston, Adrienne Katz Katz; r. top to bottom: John Klapchuk and Murphy Reinert, Helen Foster, Charles Davis, Anh Volmer, Michele Levy] | | COVID-19 has created challenges for the League’s voter registration efforts. Nationally and locally, Leaguers are busy working on a Vote-by-Mail campaign. Social media is one of the strategies we’ll utilize. We’re asking members, who are Facebook and Instagram users, to help increase our social media presence by interacting with the League's posts. Interacting with our posts is where the magic happens. Every time you do, our voice is amplified. The more interactions we have, the more people will see our message and the greater our impact. A “like” is good, a “comment” is better and a “share” is best of all. ~ R. Pando
GET CLICKING and SHARE! Hover over one of our graphics, right click to save, and then follow your normal routine to upload the image to your social media accounts. | | |  | | Lynne McCoy
Hannah Waddell
Barbara Chiu
Taylor Bradshaw
Paul Gifford Anglim
Invite your family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues to JOIN US |  | For those of you who would like to donate "to honor" or "in memory of" someone, visit our Donations page.
Your contributions help us continue the work of the League, especially during these pandemic times when our normal operations have been curtailed. | | |
Newsletter Checklist
- VOTE411.org is ready to answer your election questions
- Be an informed voter and read Dean Johnson's commentary on our 9th District Judicial Forum or watch it on YouTube
- Take action and volunteer for the LWVOC by reposting our "Voter" graphics; encourage your followers to Vote-By-Mail
- Congrats to Angela Melvin for her recent LWVFL appointment
| | In March, Congress worked to add $400 million in aid to states to address necessary policies to safeguard our elections during the COVID-19 public health crisis. This money is just a down payment on the real funding needed to protect the right to vote in the November elections. The November election is quickly approaching, and it is imperative Congress provides the necessary funding to transform our election system to respond to this crisis, and ensure voting remains fair, accessible, and safe.
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