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League of Women Voters
of Jacksonville First Coast
Email: lwvjaxfc@gmail.com
(904) 355-8683
PO Box 330353
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
Copyright © 2020 • All Rights Reserved • Terms of Use Privacy Policy • Powered by ClubExpress
Date: 5/28/2023
Subject: LWVJFC June Newsletter
From: League of Women Voters of Jacksonville/First Coast



 
 The Voter
June 2023

President’s Message

The Cost Of Elections and the Price Of Democracy

The League of Women Voters Jacksonville First Coast is appreciative of ALL persons who worked to create awareness for the most recent Duval County election.  As you know, we are a nonpartisan organization and neither endorse nor oppose political parties or candidates.  We do however monitor public events being offered and advertised where voters can access candidates and share those that do not violate our nonpartisan policy.  For the most recent election, there were a number of debates, forums, community conversations, and town halls.  In some cases, the events were advertised as hosting candidates from both parties but then not all candidates participated.  While we cannot predetermine the attendance of candidates, we made every effort to help spread the word that the opportunity existed.

 

As with every election, the last four weeks tend to be the most visible with candidate and political party phone and texting banks, postcard writing events, community events to hear from the candidates and televised debates and forums.  And while all of this activity is taking place, the Supervisor of Elections is increasing their social media campaigns, mailing our sample ballots, mailing out vote by mail ballots, and appearing in television and radio interviews.

 

While local journalists have covered the costs campaigns and candidates spent in comparison to voter turnout, there is a cost to the taxpayer and others when we experience low voter turnout. Regardless of which candidate wins or loses, our local government (with our tax dollars) must ensure that the equipment, facilities, and technology are sufficient to support voters who choose to vote.  They also ensure that there are an adequate number of trained election workers to staff the early voting sites (19 in Duval) and election day precincts (186 in Duval).  This requires months of preparation, coordination, communication, and collaboration between the Supervisor of Elections staff, election workers, and precinct locations (churches, hotels, centers, etc.).  

Whether voter turnout is high or low, the costs of one election can exceed a million dollars. Too often, voters who ignore local elections don't realize that the persons being elected to serve in local seats of government can have a huge and immediate impact on their daily lives.  Just a few of the things that are impacted by local elected representatives: (1) when and where street, sidewalk, and lighting are installed or repaired; (2) code enforcement for parking or neighborhood debris; (3) who is allowed to serve on boards, commissions and panels; (4) which nonprofit organizations obtain much needed funding for local resources and services; (5) community development; (6) downtown development to include business and housing growth, transportation options and parking.

 
I ask each of our members to recommit to working with the League, your local political party, the Supervisor of Elections, and others on ways you can help engage voters in each of our counties.  Let's find ways to connect the voters with issues they care about and local government representatives or offices that are responsible for resolution or resources.  Let's find ways to create awareness of the local elections with people and opportunities on the ballot that voters need to understand on a local level.
 
The price of democracy is too great for our community members to allow others to make decisions on their behalf.  Let's do our part to increase citizen engagement and voter turnout!


News & Events

What Should We Focus On In The Coming Year?
Our Local Program serves as our compass to guide us in the work we will commit to in the coming year.  It is developed by our chapter members and reflects the issues, challenges and opportunities that exist in our four counties.  Each year, we update the program to ensure it reflects the current areas of focus for our time and energy.
 
We will hold an in person Local Program meeting June 10th at 2:00 pm at Regency Square Library in Room A. Please register to attend so we can provide provisions for each attendee.
 
For those who are not able to attend in person, you are welcome to offer your input via email at lwvjaxfc@gmail.com (put LOCAL PROGRAM INPUT in your subject line) or via the space provided in the registration link below.
 
 
We ask that you contribute input that reflects the work YOU are willing to do with committees and not work that you would like to create for others to do.
 
All suggestions will be considered by the new board members, and a recommended program will be put before the general membership via newsletter within 60 days of the annual meeting and voted on by the general membership within 100 days of the annual meeting.

Want to stay engaged this summer?  We do too!

If you would be interested in taking a tour of your county's Supervisor of Election facility or a tour of the Duval County Courthouse and speak with a judge over the summer months, please register via the link below. This will allow us to determine the level of interest among our members and start setting up dates and times for events.
 

LWV of Florida Supports Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion

A coalition entitled “Floridians Protecting Freedom” has launched a citizen-led ballot initiative campaign to give women the right to seek abortions up to viability. Florida voters want women to have the chance to ensure that their personal medical decisions are theirs and theirs alone to make. The League of Women Voters of Florida Board of Directors has voted to support this citizen initiative effort.
 
Floridians Protecting Freedom will host a training specifically for League members on petition gathering best practices on June 6, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. (ET). A recording will be made available for those unable to attend live.
 
 


Florida Right to Clean and Healthy Waters Petition
 
 

The League of Women Voters of Florida has endorsed the Right to Clean and Healthy Waters petition and we will be gathering petitions in our four counties (Clay, Duval, Nassau and St Johns).  We only have until November 2023 to gather the mandatory minimum number of petitions (891,589) across the state. 



Our Local Speakers Bureau Is Looking For Speakers

The League of Women Voters of Florida has a number of prepared presentations that allow us to educate our members as well as the public.  In order for us to accommodate the many requests we receive, we are recruiting new members to our local Speakers Bureau.  If you are interested, please respond via the link below.  We will be scheduling a meeting in July for all interested members so we can review the presentations, discuss League presentation protocol and address concerns or questions. Indicate your interest here:
 

In Case You Missed It
Replay of Last Month’s Speaker Event

Replays of many past speaker events are available on our YouTube channel.

Membership Update

We can't do it without you! Please join in recognizing our new and returning members from last month.

New Members—Welcome aboard!
 
Chase Jones
Elizabeth Mungovan

Returning Members—Thank you so much for choosing to renew!
 
Ursula Seelig
Christine and John Allmand
Betty Carley
Martha Backer
Jacqueline Cetnar
Michelle Charron Hollie
Lynn Surum
Susan Goldring
Rebecca Lee-Duffell
 
 
Please email Membership Director Karen Parish at lwvjfc.membership@gmail.com if your name was missed. 
 

Be sure to check out our new website, lwvjaxfc.org, with an easy way to join or renew online, even if you prefer to pay by check. Click on the blue “Join Today” button at the top of the Homepage.

 
Members who wish to renew must log in. If you are using a Mobile device, you will need to select Desktop at the bottom of your screen to receive the Login prompt.

Donors

We wish to acknowledge and thank those who have made donations this month:
 

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.
thank you


Volunteers
Volunteers Always Needed 

Quite often, our League needs volunteers to help with small tasks that are not time consuming but vital to our leadership and membership.

If you are willing to help make phone calls, be trained to send text messages, or assist in other ways, please contact us and let us help you figure out how to invest your time in our League and our democracy.

Contact Lanelle at lwvjaxfc@gmail.com to discuss topics and abilities.  
 
For more specific volunteer tasks, click HERE.

Stay Connected

Local

Stay up-to-date on all local upcoming events on the LWV of Jacksonville / First Coast: 

 

• Website 

• Facebook

• LinkedIn


Regional
The Regional Facebook Group, LWV Florida North Region Leagues, includes Alachua, Bay, Jacksonville/First Coast, Okaloosa & Walton, Pensacola Bay Area, and Tallahassee.

 

State
For statewide news and action items, visit the LWV of Florida

  

National

The League of Women Voters of the United States


Contact Us

We look forward to hearing from you!

Phone: 904-355-8683

EmailLWVJAXFC@gmail.com

Postal Address:
Please use the address below even if a form or document you have received from the League gives a different one.

League of Women Voters Jacksonville First Coast
PO Box 330353
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233

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.
Copyright © 2023 League of Women Voters Jacksonville/First Coast, All rights reserved.
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PO Box 330353, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233

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