 | The recommended time to mail back your VBM ballot has passed! Vote-by-Mail ballots should now be dropped off at a supervised ballot box at early voting sites or at the Supervisor of Elections office. Here's the full list: https://www.ocfelections.com/early-voting-locations
Other options exist:
Mail ballots continue to be available for request and pick up at the Supervisor of Elections office up to and including Election Day. This is an important option for people who find that they cannot vote in person after Oct. 24 and need to get a mail ballot. Mail ballot requests can be made on behalf of family members and up to two other people who are not family members.
Much appreciation for literal years of work preparing for this election to our Voter Services Chair Leah Nash, shown above left with League Board member Saudi Ellis, one of our most loyal and hard-working volunteers. They represent hundreds of members who have given their time and talents to empower voters and defend democracy on behalf of the League of Women Voters Orange County.
| ELECTION ASSISTANCE
The League of Women Voters of Florida has launched a pro bono legal effort in which any returning citizen (formerly convicted person) who may be unsure of their eligibility to vote can have their voting rights status checked by a legal representative.
Returning citizens seeking legal clarity can call the League’s hotline dedicated to this program at 407-710-5496 or email CanIVote@LWVFL.org.
Need a ride to the polls? Especially for our voters with physical challenges, FREE LYFT RIDES ARE HERE! Use the code: NDRNVOTE
This code is active now through NOV 3, so it can be used for early voting, dropbox voting, or on Election Day. Voters can all use the same code but they can only use it ONCE. The code is worth up to a $30 discount in poll rides. So, even though each rider can only claim the code once, any remaining balance on that $30 carries over to a future ride no later than NOV 3. This means a voter will be able to use it for a ride to the polls and a return ride home and will only be responsible for any amount over $30 for those round trip rides.
VOTER INTIMIDATION
The Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence has released the above resource for voters as reports of armed voter intimidation come in from across the state. Read the full LWVFL press release HERE.
|  | Today, OCT 29, Thursday
Register via Zoom (http://bit.ly/FLSD13Debate) to attend a live, online debate between Senator Linda Stewart and Josh Anderson, candidates to represent Florida Senate District 13. This event is presented and moderated by the Commission on Local Debates. Moderator will be Jackie Brockington, (shown left) former anchor on WESH-Channel 2 and News 13 and a member of the League of Women Voters Orange County.
| | Leaguers Rachel Allen and LWVFL President Patricia Brigham (shown left) are among 35 named to Orange public safety task force amid gang violence by Mayor Jerry Demings (shown right at the LWVOC 19th Amendment celebration.) "Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings named 35 appointees to a new task force on Tuesday, which was formed to address the recent spike of violence in Central Florida that authorities have linked to a months-long gang feud that has killed several people, including at least two children." Continue to Read complete article HERE. | | Thank you to volunteers Eugene Stoccardo, Sandi Vidal (left), and Leah Nash (right) for delivering signs to early voting sites this week about Vote411.org! | Volunteer opportunities before or on the NOV 3 Election | The Florida Election Protection Coalition is asking for volunteers to participate in the Election Protection Poll Monitor Program, either in a county leadership role and/or by assisting in volunteer recruitment. Those interested in volunteering may sign up at ProtectTheVote.net. If you are interested in a leadership role, please let Leah Nash know and she will put you in touch with our contact.
VOTE TRIPLING The League of Women Voters of Florida is excited to work with VoteTripling.org to help mobilize more voters for this upcoming election. Historically disenfranchised communities and those under-represented in our democracy are disproportionately affected by the 2020 trifecta of barriers to voting: the pandemic, the debacle with the Postal Service, and both new and old voter suppression tactics. We're fighting back by unleashing the power of voters. We are asking those who have already cast their ballot to triple their vote - by texting three friends to remind them to go out and vote! We need your help to make sure everyone votes - sign up for 1 (or more!) 3 hour shift of polling place vote tripling HERE.
|  | From years past to now, League volunteers have stepped up to Adopt-A-Precinct. This election, we're staffing FOUR precincts! Send good thoughts and appreciation to Leaguers who will be out there with the masses next week. Special thanks to Mary Montanus who has organized these patriotic volunteers.
POLL WORKERS: Sue Gilman, Angela Schweers, Maureen Sullivan, Barbara Lanning, Victor Collazo, Stacey Prakash, Mary Beth Strassel, Jennifer Adams, Chuck Wohlust, Julia Carpenter, Jim Washburn, Kathy Roberts, Maria-Elena Augustin, Louise Thompson, Judi Sanborn, Margie Varney, Julia High, Flora Torra, Melissa King-Polsinelli, Emma Starling, David Luna, Karin Grossman, Marisol Gomez, Pam Saffran, Dede Caron, Leslie Becker, Leslie Feinberg, Carlos Loran, Jillian Bello, Karen Estrin, Sylvia McMillon, Nancy Nix, Linda Dalton, Terry Osborn, Lisa Poppe, Jeanette Lambert, Saudi Ellis, Lynne Mixson, Catherine Arthur-Hirschen, Ellen Kristensen, Claudia Nunn, Jennifer Finkey-Hermann, Sean Odonell, Raquel Lange, Mauricio Ferero (non-member)
BACKUP POLL WORKERS
Anna Boyd, Suveda Ramakrishna
SUPPORT TEAMS
Sara Libre, Terry Gillam, Lynn Nelson, Sarah Sprinkel, Chele Hipp, Garrett Walker, Lee Rambeau, Jean and Frank Anderson, Mike Singer | | The LWVOC has risen to the challenge of empowering voters during the pandemic. We thank these generous donors who help us continue our volunteer efforts in an historic election year :
- James W. Gantt, generous donation to the LWVOC Fund
- Kay Haxton, generous donation to the LWVOC Fund
- Victor M. Collazo, generous donation to the LWVOC Fund
Interested in learning about our long history of dedicated members and League partners who have helped us advance our community goals? Perhaps you're looking for a meaningful holiday gift? Consider purchasing our 80th Anniversary book, Warriors for Democracy:
| | | | FOR MEMBERS ONLY
ELECTION SECURITY is the very timely topic.
This week's webinar will feature Gowri Ramachandran from the Brennan Center for Justice. Gowri is a professor of law and an election security expert
Discussion: Addressing Election Security Concerns and Issues
Q&A Session with Gowri and LWVFL President Patricia Brigham
LWVFL Updates & News
Get Out the Vote Marching Orders
| | | | VOLUNTEER anywhere and anytime virtually! Use your social media savvy with our campaign of "SHARING IS CARING"
Get clicking and share our media posts! For other opportunities, visit our Volunteering page. | | | | Shelby Benson
Monica Green
J. Edward Green
Lee-Alyse Perry
Sheri Merriam
Lorie Parker Matejowsky
Kelly Starkey
*Remember, students join for free!
Invite your family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues to JOIN US | | | | OPEN to all members, new-renewing-active, who want to learn about or be reacquainted with the League. Our membership has grown substantially and our committees are eager to help you find your niche. Join us for our Autumn New/Current Member Orientation, click here for more info:
Patti Brigham, LWV Florida President will be our guest speaker!
Meet our leaders; learn about all the League does for our community and how you can join in on our activities. | | |  | |
NO FEE
In the last 15 years the US has lost more than 1 in 5 local papers. Florida has lost at least 4 to closings and 4 more were changed to a weekly version. In a cost saving measure, the Orlando Sentinel and Sun Sentinel in South Florida have partially merged management and reporting staff. The Sentinel recently gave up their downtown presence entirely, vacating their longtime headquarters. What do these closings and consolidations mean for our local news coverage and how will this impact citizens ability to hold local & state governments accountable?
Join Moderator Rick Edmonds, media business analyst and Leader of News Transformation from the Poynter Institute, and panelists: journalist Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald and Rick Brunson, Senior Instructor at Nicholson School of Communication & Media at UCF and veteran Central Florida television journalist.
| Newsletter Checklist
- The peak of DemoCRAZY season is here! Take care of yourself as you volunteer, encourage, and participate in the NOV 3 election.
- If you haven't voted yet, make a plan with VOTE411's easy checklist above.
- Our Voter Services team deserves a standing ovation! Virtually, we salute you!
- Congrats to our Leaguers taking part in Orange County's newest task force against community violence.
- November Hot Topics registration is now open and it's FREE!
- "Clean up, clean up..." See below for our plans post election!
|  | |
The League of Women Voters Orange County is working with the City of Winter Park to gather yard signs from homeowners, political candidates and the political parties during the two weeks immediately following the November 3rd election. A mountain of plastic signs will be saved from the landfill and transported to NuCycle Energy in Plant City where they will be transformed from bulky plastic sheets to NuCycle's Enviro Fuelcubes. 100% of the Fuelcubes currently being manufactured by NuCycle are sold to Cemex, a large regional cement manufacturer and are used to generate electricity, replacing coal as a much cleaner energy source! They want all the election signs they can get so bring them on!
[[NuCycle Energy is a company in Plant City, FL that manufactures an energy-dense, renewable fuel product that is an alternative to coal. Their fuel product is manufactured from waste materials that typically end up in landfills.]]
Three sites have been established within the City of Winter Park. Boxes will be in place before November 3rd.
Showalter Field/Ward Park
288 Perth Lane at Cady Way Trail Winter Park FL 32789
The Community Garden at Mead Botanical Gardens
1300 South Demming Drive Winter Park FL 32789
Winter Park Fire Station
Howell Branch Road at Temple Trail Winter Park FL 32789 |  | |