 | What Has Our League Been Up To?
June has been a whirlwind of activity across our League and I am thrilled to share what your members have been up to!
LWVUS Convention in Columbus
Erika Kristo and I attended the LWVUS Convention in Columbus, Ohio, where League members from 49 states and the District of Columbia gathered to vote on the important business of the League and learn about the inspiring work being done by Local and State Leagues across the country. Over 1,000 delegates participated both in person and virtually! Among the highlights were adopting the LWVUS Program for 2026-2028 titled Democracy Under Siege, learning about an amazing civics program started by LWV of Sonoma County, CA, and much more. We came away energized and full of ideas! Erika and I will be hosting a meeting later this summer to share more details about the Convention and what it means for our League's work.
Voter Registration in the Community
Julia Ross and her team of dedicated voter registration volunteers have been everywhere this June! Their efforts are making a real difference in expanding voter access across our communities. A huge thank you to Julia and her team for their tireless work!
Vote411 Outreach
Deb Miller and her team have been working hard on our Vote411 outreach to candidates. Vote411.org is our nonpartisan voter guide that helps voters learn about candidates and ballot measures in their area. Thank you to Deb's team for making calls to everyone running for office across all 4 counties. This effort ensures voters have the information they need to make informed decisions. Bookmark vote411.org for all your voting questions.
A Critical Ask: Amplify Our Reach on Social Media
Finally, we have an important ask for all members: please follow us on social media. Social media is algorithm-driven, and we need engagement from our community to reach beyond our current followers. Even if you avoid social media personally, supporting our posts is a key way to help fulfill our mission of educating voters. Here's why: Between now and the August 18th Primary Election, we'll be sharing critical information on Vote411, County School Board Forums, and Voter Registration Deadlines. Every like and share exponentially increases how many voters see this information. Please help us reach beyond our existing community by engaging with our posts. Look for us on Facebook (facebook.com/lwvjfc) and Instagram (instagram.com/lwvjaxfc).
In League, Rhona DiCamillo, President
|  |  | Unite & Rise 8.5 Campaign
On April 17, 2025, the League of Women Voters (“LWV”) declared a Constitutional Crisis, the first in the LWV’s 106 year history. In response to this crisis, the LWV launched its Unite & Rise 8.5 campaign, an initiative that aims to mobilize 8.5 million voters to participate in and defend our democracy. A key component of this campaign is the cultivation of genuine allied Partnerships. This summer we are asking you, each and every local member, to join us in this important work.
August 8, 2026 is the LWV National Day of Action to commemorate the historic signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. As part of Unite & Rise 8.5, we will be engaged in a series of actions as a local league leading up to the National Day of Action that are designed to help our community be election ready. We recognize that by virtue of your membership in the LWV, you are likely a highly engaged and prepared voter. Many family, friends and community members may not be. This is where we need your help.
Your Partners: Please take a moment to think of 25 (or more) people in your life who may need voter assistance during this election cycle. Has someone recently moved? Do you have grandchildren or children away at school or family members who frequently travel for work? Do you have any family or friends in the military? Is anyone simply too busy to research or access voting resources? Prioritize citizens for whom voter registration and election information maybe the most useful. Let them know your role as a local LWV member and why you personally find this work so important.
Voter Registration: By July 4, 2026, please reach out to your partners and encourage them to confirm their voter registration information. Please include useful links to your local Board of Elections or vote411.org and mention the following:
- Registered?
- Address accurate? (This impacts their polling location.)
- Do they need to change their party registration for the primary? If so, what’s the deadline to do so?
- Mail in ballot requested, if needed?
- Create your own group of 25 partners and pass it on.
Thank you and your partners for your collective contribution to Unite & Rise 8.5. More to come! |  | Please join us for a book discussion on July 9 at 5:30 pm in an Orange Park home. The book is Jon Meacham's “American Struggle: Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union.”
Even if you haven't read the book, come to have a discussion about American history: the good, the bad, and the ugly. We'll have typed highlights from the book to share. Please consider coming even if you don't live in Clay County. The home where we meet is right off I295 and US 17 at the Orange Park exit.
The address will be sent before the meeting to those who register. |
Annual Program Planning
Program planning is like voting in an election - it's where your voice is heard to influence our local league's focus for the next year. Program planning is how we develop the areas where we will prioritize our time and talents in the next 12 months. Click here to view the complete 2025-2026 Program.
|  | Movies that Matter in August
Come watch a movie with us! And bring a friend. The August movie is "People vs. Politics", a 2026 documentary that profiles grassroots leaders working to reform the U.S. election system. The film follows activists in multiple states as they fight for enhancing people power through opening primaries and creating ranked choice voting. It documents both the enthusiasm of these grassroots efforts AND the intense pushback they receive from entrenched political powers.
Join us on August 27th at 6:00 pm at Southeast Branch Library, 10599 Deerwood Park Blvd.; snacks will be provided.
| Voter Registration News
June saw an uptick in tabling opportunities. We tabled at The Black Rodeo at The Equestrian Center. Thanks to Sam and Alex we had a table at PRISM's Pride Festival in St. Augustine and at the St. Augustine's Night Market in the Amphitheatre. Two Juneteenth events, one partnering with the NAACP at Hunter Douglas Park in Middleburg and one with The Melanin Market, that was a five block festival on A. Philip Randolph Blvd. Wrapping up the month at Campus Towers Apartment complex for senior citizens.
We were able to assist many people with checking if their registration was up to date, registering new voters, applying for mail in ballots, and putting people in touch with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition.
At every venue people thank us for being there and for the work we do. It's very rewarding, and I thank all the committee members who volunteer, especially during the dog days of summer. | Forbidden Florida Reads
Izzy Miletic is a junior Economics and Literature student at Florida State University. She is a board member of the League of Women Voters of Tallahassee, where she began publishing Forbidden Florida Reads. Forbidden Florida Reads is Izzy’s original monthly column that highlights a book banned in at least one Florida school district. Izzy is passionate about books and educational policy making. She hopes to attend law school and earn her Masters in Library and Information Science.
| New Members - Welcome aboard!
Judy Klein
Jeanette Yates
Harriet Stranahan
| Donations are always appreciated!
Our website lwvjaxfc.org offers an easy way to make donations to LWVJFC, even if you prefer to pay by check. Click on the red "Donate" button at the top of the Homepage. | | | | Local
Stay up-to-date on all local upcoming events on the LWV of Jacksonville / First Coast:
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The Regional Facebook Group, LWV Florida North Region Leagues, includes Alachua, Bay, Jacksonville/First Coast, Okaloosa & Walton, Pensacola Bay Area, and Tallahassee.
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Contact Us!
Phone: 904-355-8683
Email: LWVJAXFC@gmail.com
Postal Address:
League of Women Voters of Jacksonville First Coast
PO Box 350210
Jacksonville, FL 32235-9998 | | | | The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. We influence public policy through education and advocacy. | | |
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