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VOTERS VOICE NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2024 | |
Dear Supporters of the League,
I hope this message finds you well and filled with the spirit of advocacy and progress. As we continue our mission of promoting civic engagement. March is Women's History Month dedicated to commemorating the contributions and accomplishments of women throughout history.
International Women's Day, marked globally on March 8th annually, is a pivotal occasion. It's a day dedicated to acknowledging and honoring women's achievements across diverse domains while reflecting on the advancements made toward gender parity. Moreover, it serves as a platform to raise awareness about the persistent challenges women confront worldwide. Whether advocating for equitable rights or championing gender inclusivity, International Women's Day underscores the continuous endeavor towards fostering a fair and inclusive society for all genders. How did you commemorate this significant day this year?
| Women in Power Milestones in Congress | |
March is Women's History Month dedicated to commemorating the contributions and accomplishments of women throughout history. It offers a platform to pay tribute to the trailblazers who have facilitated progress in diverse domains like science, politics, art, literature, and more. Women's History Month also prompts reflection on the hurdles women have surmounted and the ongoing efforts toward gender parity. It presents an opportunity to amplify the narratives of extraordinary women whose influence may have been sidelined in conventional historical accounts. How do you intend to mark Women's History Month?
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League of Women Voters Member Jeannette Rankin holds the distinction of being the first woman elected to the United States Congress. She was born in 1880 in Montana and became a prominent figure in the suffrage movement. Rankin's historic election to the House of Representatives in 1916 preceded the passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote nationwide. Her legacy as a trailblazer for women in politics continues to inspire generations.
League of Women Voters Member Shirley Chisholm was a groundbreaking figure in American politics, known for being the first African American woman elected to the United States Congress. Born in 1924 in Brooklyn, New York, Chisholm rose to prominence as a community organizer and educator before entering politics. In 1968, she made history by winning a seat in the House of Representatives, representing New York's 12th congressional district. Throughout her career, Shirley Chisholm broke barriers and fought tirelessly for equality and justice. Her legacy continues to inspire generations of Americans, particularly women and people of color, to pursue leadership roles in politics and beyond. | | | |
On International Women's Day, the League of Women Voters of Metro Phoenix, along with fellow activists of all genders, convened to participate in Vice President Kamala Harris's Fight for Reproductive Freedoms tour in Arizona. The tour aimed to unite thousands of individuals in advocating for fundamental rights, including every woman's autonomy over her own body. Attendance was by invitation only, with LWVUS coordinating the League's presence and swiftly mobilizing to furnish a guest list for the Vice President's office. Notably, LWVMP board members and former MP presidents received invitations. Simultaneously, the AAA campaign dispatched an email urging all volunteers to apply for attendance. | In case your missed it....
LWVAZ Sponsors PBS Broadcast Event
LWVAZ was a sponsor for the PBS AZ Votes 2024 Live Election Special. Short video clips about VOTE411 were shown 3 times during the 2-hour event. If you missed it, you can watch it by clicking on the image below.
| Tuesday, Mar 26, 4:30-5:30 pm: Voter Services Meeting - League Criminal Justice team will provide information and answer questions on the felony restoration process. Registration link
Friday, Mar 29, 12–4 pm with VIP dinner option 5:30 pm: The Janes , Chandler Center for the Arts. Registration Link
Tuesday, Apr 16: Voter Services Meeting - VOTERIDERS will be providing information on how it can assist voters. Registration Link
Friday, May 31: Voter registration at the Naturalization Ceremony at the Sandra Day O'Connor Courthouse. If you are a trained Maricopa County Deputy Registrar, we still have two positions for the morning ceremony and four in the afternoon. NaturalizationCeremonyVolunteerLink
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Have you seen "The Janes"?
A screening of "The Janes," a powerful documentary shedding light on the crucial topic of reproductive rights for women, followed by a talkback dialogue session, including two of the “Janes,” for a deeper dive into the issues surrounding reproductive rights. This event will provide a history of women’s reproductive rights and activate with urgency before additional barriers are placed between women and their own bodily autonomy. It's an opportunity to learn, share perspectives, and engage in meaningful conversation about this important subject.
 Speakers: Victoria Alesi - moderator, Jodi Leggitt - panelist, DeShawn Taylor - panelist, Patricia Novick-Raby - speaker/panelist, Heather Booth - hybrid speaker/panelist, AZ Healthcare Rising - remarks, Planned Parenthood - remarks
As we approach the signature-gathering deadline for Arizona for Abortion Access, organizations and individuals are encouraged to bring petitions and/or educational pieces.
Please invite other organizations, friends, family, or anyone else who might be interested. The more voices we have in the conversation, the better!
Friday, March 29, 12 pm – 4 pm with VIP dinner option starting around 5:30pm
Chandler Center for the Arts
Cost: Screening is free; talkback session is $15, $5 for a student
RSVP: https://ywcaaz.networkforgood.com/events/69001-the-janes | |
Protect Women’s Rights to Reproductive Choices
Let's rally together and ensure that the “Arizona Abortion Access Act” initiative makes it onto the November 2024 ballot. We need everyone's support to make it happen!
The “Arizona Abortion Access Act” would enshrine the fundamental right to abortion in Arizona’s constitution. If passed, this measure would ensure freedom for a person to make their own decision on abortion. This is a deeply personal decision that most Arizonans believe should be made without interference from the government.
Arizona for Abortion Access Website Petition I-05-2024 Arizona Abortion Access Act
Please sign the petition and consider becoming a signature gatherer for the “Arizona for
Abortion Access” (AAA) campaign to help get reproductive rights on the ballot next November. We have petitions, clipboards, instructions, and training to get anyone ready to help us reach our first League goal of 10,000 signatures. With your help, we can help the campaign reach its 350,000+ signature threshold
d and get closer to enshrining abortion access in Arizona’s constitution. If you haven't already, please sign up to collect signatures or volunteer to be a HUB or a Depot (descriptions are within the form). If you are already collecting signatures for the League but have not previously signed up, please do so now so we can keep you updated. Find out where to sign a petition: Petitions near me - mobilize site, Volunteer Opportunities, Events,
Get Those Petitions Signed - Signature Slam Text-A-Thon
We are connecting with women ages 18-45 to mobilize their support to sign the Arizona for Abortion Access petitions.
To join our text banking, go to the Google or Apple store and download the League in Action app to your phone by following the steps in these slides. Download and use League in Action Instructions.
If you used Outreach Circle in the past, you can log in with your existing credentials. It is easy to set up an account if you do not have one. If you have joined our text banks before, you know how easy and fun it is. Our goal? To reach at least 250,000 women, we will need volunteers for each day of texting. Each month we will be hosting dates for texting. You will receive a text message from the League in Action, to take action on texting opportunities. | Democracy Truth Podcast
A Podcast Journey with the League of Women Voters of Arizona
Launched by the League of Women Voters of Arizona (LWVAZ) with support from a grant from the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS), the "Democracy Truth" initiative aims to dispel mis- and disinformation about Arizona's election processes. The project utilizes podcasts to reach a broader and more diverse audience by providing accurate information about the election system. So far, "Democracy Truth" has released three episodes: "Decoding Arizona's Voter Registration Process, "Casting a Vote My Way: Tips for Arizona Independents on Voting Procedures,” and "Skip the Line: Your Guide to Early Voting," The team is currently working on additional podcasts to dispel myths and misinformation about the voting and election processes. The project's journey is ongoing, with the primary challenge being to reach listeners statewide. This initiative is more than just about producing podcasts; it reflects the collective effort, the significance of civic education, and a steadfast commitment to democracy's principles. Our podcasts are available on YouTube and Spotify https://linktr.ee/lwvazpodcasts. We invite everyone to spread the word, one listener at a time. | |
Vote411 - Join the Team!
Do you want to help frame the conversation with candidates running in the 2024 elections? Are you frustrated by the lack of understandable, unbiased descriptions of arguments for and against ballot measures? Are you concerned about the attempts to turn school boards into ideological battlegrounds?
The LWVAZ needs your help to ensure that Vote411, the League’s digital voter education guide, covers all the information Arizona voters need to make informed decisions about voting in 2024, including the critical but often overlooked down-ballot races.
There are various ways to contribute depending on your interests and time availability. Please complete this short FORM to join the team.
Team members needed to:
> Write questions for candidates in state and local races to determine their positions on important issues
> Research and write descriptions of the elected offices and how they impact Arizonans
> Write ballot measure descriptions and the arguments for and against
> Translate the questions and other content into Spanish
Timeline:
> Introduce the project, training, and guidelines: Ongoing
> July 30 Primaries: April 30 deadline for candidate questions
> November 5 General Election: TBA deadlines for ballot measure content and additional candidate questions
Your assistance in writing content for Vote411 is critical to the League's ability to provide timely, accurate, and nonpartisan election information.
If you have any questions, please contact lwvazadvocacy@gmail.com. Thank you, and we look forward to working with you this coming year.
Election Information You Need
Share the link to VOTE411.org with your family, friends, neighbors, and random strangers. VOTE411 is the place to get complete, unbiased information about what is on YOUR ballot.
Election Calendar Critical Dates (Link to a complete election calendar of dates and deadlines)
Arizona Primary Election: July 30
Deadline to Register: July 1
Early Ballots Mailed: July 3
Tuesday 11/5 General Election
Deadline to Register: Oct. 7
Early Ballots Mailed: Oct. 9 | |
League of Women Voters of Arizona is a member and partner with Election Protection Arizona Coalition. Election Protection is a national non-partisan coalition with 300+ local, state, and national organizations, assisting all stages of voting, from registration to voting at the polls on Election Day. Join us in helping voters overcome any barrier from getting the right voter ID to voting from jail! More information about EP can be found here.
Please join Election Protection Arizona for the 2024 Election Season! Sign up to be an EPAZ volunteer at Election Protection! | | | |
Reading List
Protect Democracy recently launched a free, weekly briefing called "If you can keep it" breaks down the threats to our democracy and how we collectively can respond. The newsletter will include ideas and insights from Protect Democracy experts, academics, journalists, and others working to defend our democracy against the tide of authoritarianism. Subscribe to the newsletter here: ifyoucankeepit.org.
Legal News
LWVAZ filed an amicus brief for the defendant in Arizona Free Enterprise Club v. Fontes, one of three lawsuits filed against Secretary Fontes challenging the Election Procedures Manual (EPM). Follow this link for more information about the lawsuit and a link to the amicus brief https://campaignlegal.org/document/arizona-free-enterprise-club-v-fontes-friend-court-brief
Engagement Highlights
Looking for ways to get involved? The Membership Committee is always looking for help growing our League power! Join us in getting out the word and/or helping with our work meeting and greeting new members via email and phone calls. Contact Alexis Lane at infolwvmp@gmail.com to jump on board!
How to Find the LWVMP Website
Locate our informative website at www.LWVMetroPhoenix.org. Please note that it is .org and not .com. This website provides a wealth of information about the League of Women Voters. You can find the list of current events, officers, committees, voting and outreach information, public policy positions, and volunteer opportunities. You can also access previous newsletters from Metro Phoenix, LWV Arizona, and LWV US. Check the website often for announcements and new events!
Watch our presentations on important Legislative topics
Initiatives, Referendums, Propositions: how do they get on your ballot? View recording
Will the Electoral Count Reform Act Shake up Arizona Election Certification? View Recording
Can Legislation Prevent the Impact of AI Deep Fakes on Elections? View Recording
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Voter Services
Join the Voter Services meeting on Tuesday, Mar 26, 4:30 - 5:30 pm. We will have some representatives from the League criminal justice team to provide information and answer questions on the felony restoration process and there will be a review on voter registration basics. All are welcome, please register: Registration link
At our April 16 Voter Services meeting, a representative from VOTERIDERS will be there to provide information on what their organization does and how it can assist voters and future voters who need assistance with their identification in Arizona, as well as ways we can maximize their assistance. Link to register for meeting: Registration link
If you are a trained Maricopa County Deputy Registrar, we also have a dedicated League member day to support voter registration for the Friday, May 31 Naturalization Ceremony at the Sandra Day O’Connor Courthouse (401 W. Washington St, Phoenix). We still have two positions for the morning ceremony and four in the afternoon. NaturalizationCeremonyVolunteerLink | LWV METRO PHOENIX BOARD OF DIRECTORS | Officers
President and LWVAZ State Board President Elect: Pinny Sheoran
President Elect: Marcia Barry
Secretary: vacant
Treasurer, Finance and Development Committee Chair: Barbara Cricket Mitchell
Board of Directors
Advocacy Committee Chair: Leslie Hanson
Budget Committee Chair: Marcia Barry
Bylaws Committee Co-chairs: Jean Conway and Gitelle Seer
Communications Committee Chair: Connie Cornelius
Forums Committee Chair: Cindy Walsh
League Representative to State Board: Gitelle Seer
Membership Committee Chair: Alexis Lane
Nominations Committee Chair: Jean Conway
Voter Services Chair: Gretchen Bolerjack
| | I hope you have enjoyed reading this issue of Voters Voice! As always, please feel free to reach out to me personally to share your feedback and League experiences. You can email me at infolwvmp@gmail.com or call 480.540.4934.
In League Service,
Pinny Sheoran
LWVMP President | | | |
LWV Metro Phoenix, 3219 E Camelback Road, #187, Phoenix, AZ 86018 | 858.220.0655
Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved | |