November, 2024

The Voter
NOW ONLINE

Read this latest edition of the LWVAL newsletter for current news and events.

IN THIS ISSUE…

Editor's Preface

Key Election 2024 Dates and Resources

LWVAL News and Events

• Lobby Corps - Calls to Action
• November Voter Services Skills Training
• Environmental Education Series Program
• January Voter Services Skills Training
• Nature Conservancy Recognizes Cindy Lowry

Read The Voter, November 2024

Making Your Plan to VOTE

Creating a plan to vote is a crucial step in ensuring your voice is heard in elections. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you prepare:

1. Check Your Registration Status: Visit your local election office's website or a national voting website to confirm that your voter registration is current and correct.
https://myinfo.alabamavotes.gov/voterview

2. Know the Deadlines: Mark your calendar with the registration deadline, the deadline for requesting absentee ballots (if applicable), and the election day itself. Here are election deadlines for Alabama:
https://lwval.org/voter/Voter_LWVAL_October_24/Voter_LWVAL_October_24.html#Dates

3. Research the Candidates and Issues: Gather information on the candidates and any propositions or measures on the ballot. Reliable sources include candidate websites, nonpartisan organizations, and voter guides.
https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/2024-general-election-sample-ballots
https://vote411.org
https://birminghamwatch.org/fall-2024-voter-guide/
https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/voter/ballot-measures/statewide
Note: al.com publishes a voter guide just prior to the general election. Look for it around Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.

4. Follow the money
• For federal elections (president, US Senate/House):
https://www.fec.gov/data/
• For Alabama state and local elections:
https://fcpa.alabamavotes.gov/PublicSite/Search.aspx

5. Choose Your Voting Method: Decide whether you’ll vote in person on election day, vote absentee early in person, or vote absentee by mail. Each option has different procedures and timelines. (see #2 above). If you need to vote absentee, read this information, and begin the process NOW. Do not wait until close to the deadline to apply to vote absentee. The application to vote absentee must be received 7 days before the election if by mail. The application must be received 5 days before the election if delivered in person. Consider the time that will be needed to receive your application and return your absentee ballot by mail so that it is received by noon on election day.
https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/voter/absentee-voting

6. Locate Your Polling Place: If voting in person, find out where your polling place is and its hours of operation (7 AM to 7 PM in most of Alabama).
https://myinfo.alabamavotes.gov/voterview

7. Plan Your Vote Day: Decide what time you'll vote and how you'll get there. Consider any transportation needs and ensure you have time set aside in your schedule. If voting in person at the polls on election day, polls are open 7 AM to 7 PM in most of Alabama.
Alabama Resources for Voters with Disabilities - https://www.usvotefoundation.org/disabled-voter-guide/alabama

8. Prepare Your Voting Materials: Gather your required valid photo voter ID (for example, a driver’s license or non-driver ID, not expired for more than 6 months), your sample ballot, and any notes on how you plan to vote.
Alabama Photo Voter ID information: https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/voter/voter-id
More information at:
https://www.sos.alabama.gov/sites/default/files/election-2022/8th%20Edition%20Photo%20ID%20Guide-20230104.pdf
and https://vote411.org
See sample ballots: https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/2024-general-election-sample-ballots

9. Encourage Others to Vote: Share your plan with friends and family and encourage them to create their own voting plans.

By following this plan, you'll be prepared to participate in the democratic process and make your vote count.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
for 
LWVAL Members and Friends

"The LWVAL is excited to share a press release about an important ruling made today by Federal District Judge Manasco on the voter purge lawsuit in which the LWV Alabama is a plaintiff. 

You can be proud to be a member and/or friend of the LWV in the state of Alabama. It’s a tough state to live in. But we, together, are pushing back against voter suppression and injustice."

LWVAL President, Kathy Jones

Press Release

Victory!
Alabama Voter Purges Put to a Stop

Date: October 16, 2024
Case: Protecting Alabamians from Voter Purges (Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice v. Allen)
Issues: Voting and Elections

Birmingham, AL — Today, Campaign Legal Center, Alabama voters and civil rights groups successfully defended naturalized Americans who were unfairly purged from Alabama’s voter rolls. A federal judge halted Alabama’s illegal and last-minute purge program, which put the freedom to vote for thousands of Alabamians in jeopardy, holding that Alabama could not systematically operate their program meant to remove voters from the rolls in the ninety days before the 2024 general election.

CLC, Fair Elections Center, and Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) filed a lawsuit on behalf of four Alabama voters, the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice, the League of Women Voters of Alabama, and the Alabama Conference of the NAACP. After the groups filed a motion for preliminary injunction, the Department of Justice also filed a lawsuit. 

“All Americans have the same freedom to vote, regardless of where they were born. We are proud to stand up for every Alabamian’s right to vote in the November election and are thankful Alabama’s unlawful voter purge is being put to an end,” said CLC’s Vice President Paul Smith. “In practice, targeting and removing Americans from the voter rolls without justification undermines voters’ ability to make their voice heard. CLC will continue to protect Americans from unfair voter purges so every voter has equal access to the ballot box this November.” 

“No U.S. citizen should be afraid to vote, and we are proud to have defended Alabamians ahead of the upcoming election. Today’s court decision helps protect Alabama citizens’ freedom to register and vote without concerns about government interference or intimidation,” said CLC’s Senior Legal Counsel, Kate Huddleston.

“We are pleased with the court's swift action to protect Alabama voters from an unlawful purge and ensure they can fully participate in the upcoming elections," said Kathy Jones, president of the League of Women Voters of Alabama. “This ruling strengthens our democracy by safeguarding access to the ballot for all eligible voters including naturalized citizens who were unfairly targeted and removed from the rolls."

"This is a victory for Alabama voters. It affirms the freedom of voters to participate in the electoral process and the importance of the National Voter Registration Act's 'quiet period' protection for eligible voters," said Jess Unger, senior staff attorney, democracy: voting rights litigation team, Southern Poverty Law Center. "We encourage all Alabama voters to check their registration at AlabamaVotes.gov before the October 21 voter registration deadline and get out to vote on Election Day, November 5."

"States across the country are acting on false narratives and lies and removing eligible voters from their rolls in violation of federal law," said Caren Short, director of Legal and Research for the League of Women Voters. “Unjustly targeting and purging naturalized citizens from the voter rolls is antithetical to our democracy. The League remains committed to ensuring all voters have a voice and can participate fully in our elections."

"This decision underscores the importance of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) to protect voters and is a win for voters and for all Alabamians who value a free and fair election," said Michelle Kanter Cohen, Policy Director and Senior Counsel, Fair Elections Center. "The NVRA protects eligible people from just these types of last-minute, inaccurate data-matching programs that threaten citizens' freedom to vote."
“For over 115 years, the NAACP has been fighting for the right to vote. The suppression tactics may look different, but the intent remains the same - silencing Black, and other vulnerable voices,” said Janette McCarthy Wallace, General Counsel, NAACP. “We are proud to advocate on behalf of Alabamians to ensure that the law is followed, and the right to vote protected. Every vote is a voice, and we refuse to be silenced.”

Background:

Just 84 days before voters were set to head to the ballot box to cast their votes in the 2024 election, Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen directed (https://lwval.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5ec2d14acc08fd0e6f9d34896&id=b5455ee7cb&e=4dad655bc3) Alabama’s Boards of Registrars to immediately inactivate and ultimately remove from the rolls voters who had in the past had a noncitizen identification number issued by the federal government.   

All naturalized citizens at one point had noncitizen identification numbers prior to becoming citizens, so Secretary Allen’s purge clearly included — and by design targeted — qualified U.S. citizens. 

Alabama voters and Alabama organizations that promote voter registration, represented by CLC, Fair Elections Center, and SPLC, filed a lawsuit requesting that the court block the state’s unlawful voter purge program.   

This lawsuit followed the groups’ letter to Secretary Allen demanding that he immediately stop his policy of purging naturalized citizens from the voter rolls ahead of the November 2024 election.   

Read the Press Release

Share this information to a friend by sharing the LWVAL website address!
https://lwval.org
 
AND If you would like to subscribe to the LWVAL Interest Group, click here to subscribe. 

UPDATE: If you missed the event below, you can watch it on the League's YouTube Channel.





LWVAL Training Voter Services Education Series
OCTOBER, 2024

Voting Plans
What to Expect at the Polling Place
Bad Experience Voting? Who Do You Call?

2 pm Monday October 14, 2024
This event is offered via Zoom and is open to the public.


On Monday October 14 at 2 pm central time, our voter services experts and allies will provide important training for Voter Services Volunteers and to the public.

The October 2024 virtual training event will include

• MAKE YOUR VOTING PLAN - Be ready to VOTE!
• WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE POLLING PLACE
• WHO DO YOU CALL... If you have a bad experience voting (to be provided by the ACLU Election Protection of Alabama.

October, 2024

The Voter
NOW ONLINE

Read this latest edition of the LWVAL newsletter for current news and events.

IN THIS ISSUE…

Editor's Preface

Breaking News - Post Card Effort a Success

Key Election 2024 Dates and Resources

• Key Election/Voter Dates
• Sample Ballots in Alabama
• Voting Guide for People Who are Disabled Election Protection Hotline Numbers

• Poll Monitors
• Lift Our Vote - Rides for Voters

• New League at Large Formed Poor People's Campaign Textbanking
• In Memoriam - Mary Lynn Bates
• Voter Services Training - October
• Voter Services Training - November
• Photos - Postcarding Across the State
• 72nd NAACP Conference
• Alabama Channel Party
• SB1 Update
• Source for Hurricane Helene Aid

Read The Voter, October 2024

September, 2024

The Voter
NOW ONLINE

Read this latest edition of the LWVAL newsletter for current news and events.

IN THIS ISSUE…

COMING SOON IN SEPTEMBER

• Sept 16, 2:00 pm Mon. - Voter Services Training
• Sept 17 - Public Meeting for NW Alabama Community Panel
• Sept 23 - Book Bans and Librarian Intimidation

• Update - LWVAL GOTV Project for CD-02
• National Voter Registration Day/September in Alabama!
• SB1 Update
• LWVAL Joins LWVUS ERA Memo
• Contribute Your Talent at State Level
• LWVAL Project Updates: ** Strategic Planning ** Climate Change - Gulf Coast Region Summit ** Vote411 ** Volunteer Hour & Impact Survey ** Lobby Corps ** Next Generation Powering Democracy ** GOTV Efforts
• LWVAL President in the NYTimes
• State Convention Announcement
• Local League Nuggets
• Important Dates in September

• August Voter Services Training - Recording
• LWVAL Signs onto Letter re: Violation of the NVRA

Read The Voter, September 2024

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS

Statement on VOTE411

Press Release / Last Updated: July 29, 2024

WASHINGTON – Today the League of Women Voters Education Fund issued the following statement regarding the League’s nonpartisan election information tool VOTE411.org:

“It’s troubling that misinformation about the League’s nonpartisan elections resource is being spread among voters. The League of Women Voters’ VOTE411.org platform is a tool that provides the public with both federal and state-specific information so voters can participate in our democracy with confidence. The League of Women Voters has been strictly nonpartisan for over a century, neither supporting nor opposing political parties or candidates for office at any level of government.

“The purpose of VOTE411 is to meet the needs of voters and help individuals navigate the election process. Since VOTE411’s inception, the award-winning platform has provided election resources to millions of Americans in every election.

“As a 104-year-old voting rights organization, the League of Women Voters understands the importance of all elections, from local municipalities to those for federal office. We urge everyone to use all available tools to fully participate in our democracy, whether that comes from VOTE411 or the state and local elections websites we link to on the site.

“The League of Women Voters stands with voters and remains committed to empowering voters to make their voices heard.

“VOTE411 is transparent about the data collected on our website, and voters should rest assured that using the tool does not result in the selling or sharing of their personal data. Learn more about VOTE411 and read our privacy policy here.”

####

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Click here to read this press release on the LWV website:
https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/league-women-voters-statement-vote411org

Click here to read the related press release issued by Alabama Secretary of State’s office:
https://www.sos.alabama.gov/index.php/newsroom/secretary-state-wes-allen-warns-alabama-citizens-about-misleading-voter-registration-psa

Click here to read related article in the Alabama Reflector:
https://alabamareflector.com/2024/07/30/alabama-secretary-of-state-accuses-league-of-women-voters-of-data-mining/

Copyright (C) 2024 All rights reserved.

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS

President Biden Withdraws from Reelection

Taskforce Statement on the Democratic Party Replacing Its Presumptive Presidential Nominee

Press Release / Last Updated: July 21, 2024

The League of Women Voters of the United States, as a member organization of the National Task Force on Election Crises, released the following statement on the Democratic party replacing its presumptive presidential nominee:

"While a major party’s presumptive nominee withdrawing his presidential candidacy is an extraordinary occurrence, rules and procedures are in place to respond to this development.

"Americans can be confident that this situation falls well within existing rules and that their election system continues to allow for a free and fair election.

"A political party has control over how to choose its nominee in accordance with the party's own governing rules. When a presumptive nominee withdraws before their party makes its nomination official, the party will follow its own rules and procedures to choose an official nominee (typically, but not necessarily, in person at the party's nominating convention). In this instance, the Democratic Party will determine its path forward, and its delegates will vote to approve a nominee at or before the Democratic National Convention this August. Additionally, state ballot access laws are no obstacle to the party choosing a nominee other than President Biden. States have not yet printed ballots for the general election, and state laws across the country provide for the candidate chosen by the Democratic Party at or before the convention to appear on ballots this November irrespective of whether that nominee is the same individual as the party’s presumptive nominee based on the results of the party’s presidential preference primaries."

Read more about candidate succession from the National Task Force on Election Crises here.

Copyright (C) 2024 All rights reserved.

July 15-19, 2024
A week of VERY IMPORTANT
LWVAL Virtual Events



LWVAL TRAINING
Voter Registration
Voter Rights Restoration
2 pm Monday July 15, 2024

On Monday July 15 at 2pm, the League of Women Voters of Alabama will hold a public training for LWV voter services volunteers and the public. The following topics will be covered:

• LWVAL President Kathy Jones will review the national and state volunteer protection act and how it protects volunteers who are acting as good Samaritans
• Roger Ellis will provide training on how to fill out the online and paper Voter Registration Form.
• Bryan Lorge will provide training on how to fill out the Voter Rights Restoration (VRR) Referral form to get assistance for potentially disenfranchised citizens
• Bryan Lorge will review the Secretary of State's guidance on conducting Voter drives

UPDATE: If you missed the event below, you can watch it on the League's YouTube Channel.




PARCA Report:
"How Alabama Democracy Compares"

On Thursday, July 18 @ 6:30pm central time, we will have an education forum to learn more about the recent PARCA report entitled "How Alabama Democracy Compares".

Register here to receive a zoom link: https://bit.ly/3VHzdvz

The author of the report Thomas Spencer, Senior Research Associate, will be presenting. Also on the panel are Dr. Mitchell Brown, Mitchell Brown, PhD, Curtis O. Liles III Professor of Politics at Auburn University; and Christopher Tyler Burks, Board Member, Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform

ABOUT THE PANEL MEMBERS

Thomas Spencer came to PARCA after nearly two decades in journalism, most recently with The Birmingham News. He has a diversified background, researching and writing on a wide variety of topics including the environment, education, economics, governmental and community affairs, politics and civil rights. His work has earned top national, regional and state awards. A Birmingham native, Tom is a graduate of the University of Virginia.

Mitchell Brown, Ph.D., is the Curtis O. Liles III Professor in the Department of Political Science at Auburn University and is a founding editor of the Journal of Election Administration Research & Practice. Her work as a researcher, evaluator, trainer and consultant focuses on applied projects around the country centering on election administration and community-based problem solving. She is the author of numerous books, research articles, and reports. Recent titles include How We Vote: Innovations in American Elections (with Kathleen Hale, Georgetown University Press) and the Elgar Publishing handbooks Teaching Undergraduate Political Methodology and Teaching Graduate Political Methodology (both with Shane Nordyke and Cameron Thies). From 2015-2018 she served as the Director of Auburn University PhD Program in Public Administration and Public Policy and currently co-directs the Election Administration Initiative with Kathleen Hale. She also serves as curricular faculty for the National Association of Election Officials and is a member of their board of directors. From 2016-2022 she served as the Science of Teaching & Learning section editor for the Journal of Political Science Education.

Christopher Tyler Burks is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Samford University where he teaches courses in American Politics, law, policy, planning, and administration. He serves on the Birmingham Planning Commission and is president of the Alabama Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration. He founded Urban Analysis, a consulting firm for changemaking through policy, planning, and politics. He is passionate about the need for public transportation and continues to work on efforts to develop transportation solutions in the Birmingham metropolitan area.

Register here to receive a zoom link: https://bit.ly/3VHzdvz

July 17, 2024
John Lewis National Day
of Commemoration and Action

** Important LWVAL Announcement **

The LWVAL will commemorate this important day with an official kickoff event for the CD2 GOTV Postcard Campaign. This event has been registered with the national network for commemoration events on this day.

In a 2012 speech, Congressman and civil rights activist John Lewis said, “My dear friends, your vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have to create a more perfect union.” Representative Lewis’s idea of the vote as a sacred franchise that can make a difference is closer than ever to being reality in Alabama.

After decades of racial gerrymandering, Black voters and civic advocacy groups in Alabama recently won a federal lawsuit to force the state to redraw the state’s Congressional District (CD) maps to create a second minority-opportunity district where Black voters will have the opportunity to elect the candidates of their choice – an opportunity for proportional representation.

To get out the vote in the district, the League of Women Voters of Alabama and the Alabama State Conference of NAACP, have set a goal of contacting every registered Black voter in the 11 rural counties of CD2 through a postcard campaign. At nearly 27,000 voters, it is about 1/3 of the registered Black voters in the new minority-opportunity district.

We are kicking off the campaign July 17th at 9:30 AM (Central). Joining us live will be plaintiffs from the successful Milligan v Allen case: Shalela Dowdy and NAACP of Alabama's President Bernard Simelton. Then sign up to help write postcards to voters from anywhere in the country.

Register for the Zoom: https://bit.ly/3Lej3Ur

Sign up to write postcards or donate to the project: LWVAL.org/CD2postcards

IMPORTANT - Be part of the national count as participating in this day of action. Sign up on the official John Lewis Commemoration Day site that you are attending the LWVAL CD2 GOTV Postcard Campaign Kickoff event and be able to see other commemorating events in your area:

https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/645569/

It's Time to Read the Report and Celebrate!

The Alabama Channel

Year in Review 2023/2024

READ THE REPORT.

The Alabama Channel has become an invaluable resource for Alabamians, advocacy groups, the media, and legislators themselves. By providing comprehensive and accessible coverage of legislative activities, this project elevates the important work the League of Women Voters of Alabama does for all of Alabama. Our platform not only enhances civic engagement but also supports the crucial role of transparency in governance..

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

"@thealachannel does a great public service sharing and archiving Alabama State House livestreams, which would otherwise disappear into the ether when finished.”

Kyle Whitmire, Pulitzer Prize Winner and al.com reporter

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

Key Achievements

• Videos Captured: 741 videos have been captured to date.
• Viewership: These videos have been viewed 60,400 times representing close to 8,000 watch hours.
• In-Person Meeting Coverage: Alabama Channel interns helped capture over 60 meetings that would have otherwise been witnessed by ONLY the individuals present in the committee rooms.

Make a tax deductible donation
to support the Alabama Channel. 
DONATE


READ THE ALABAMA CHANNEL
2023-2024 REPORT

League members are invited to a virtual panel discussion with democracy experts who will explain how to tackle challenges with the Electoral College.
WHAT: LWV's 'One Person One Vote' panel
WHEN: June 27, 6-7:30 pm CT
WHERE: Livestreamed on Facebook and later shared on YouTube

RSVP for Event

The Electoral College is an archaic system created to take power away from the people — historically from Black Americans, but nowadays from all people of color.
The LWV wants to help move the nation beyond the Electoral College and toward true representation.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

The June 13, 2024 presentation by Onoyemi Williams, Ranada Robinson, Teumbay Barnes, and Kameryn Thigpen was based on their analysis of the direct surveys and the focus group discussions with nearly 1900 black women in Alabama and beyond. The event was a powerful and enlightening learning opportunity. If you missed it, you can watch it on the League's YouTube Channel.

The June 10, 2024 presentation by Adam Keller and Jennifer Sherer provided attendees with a timely and engaging presentation about the history of unions , the unexpectedly outsized role Alabama played in this history and the continual effort of businesses and government to oppose them. If you missed this program, you can watch it on the League's YouTube Channel.

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