|
VOTERS VOICE NEWSLETTER
April 2024 | |
Dear ~~first_name~~,
In this month of April, dedicated to Volunteer Appreciation, we are reminded of the indispensable role our volunteers play in making the League's work possible. As we continue to expand our membership, our voter services and advocacy efforts offer countless opportunities to engage, effect change, and remain deeply involved.
While recent events, such as the Arizona Supreme Court ruling, may have tempted us to despair, resilience defines our character. We've rolled up our sleeves and intensified our efforts, surpassing 500,000 signatures in our petition drive, with sights set on exceeding the original goal of 700,000+. Through targeted outreach, including texting over 290,000 women aged 18-45, and upcoming door-to-door canvassing efforts, our commitment remains unwavering. Please be sure to reach out to Alexis Lane to find out more.
Though 2023 was slated as a restorative "off year," our dedication to defending democracy propelled us into action. Through litigation, legislative advocacy, and mobilization for ballot measures, we've engaged in multifaceted battles and emerged triumphant.
Now, we call upon your assistance with VOTE411, our digital voter guide. Your contributions, from crafting candidate questions to voting for Webby award nominations and analyzing ballot measures, are pivotal. This year, VOTE411 will feature ballot initiatives and candidates across federal, state, and local races, underscoring the League's enduring commitment to providing voters with trusted, unbiased, nonpartisan resources. Please be sure to read the details in the section on VOTE411.
Pinny Sheoran, President
LWV Metro Phoenix
| Celebrating Our Achievements
Our impact in Arizona and Metro Phoenix contributes to the whole as we reach out to register voters year round. Last year, members of LWVMetro Phoenix volunteered a record-breaking number of hours, valued at $1,059,371. We are able to accomplish this with our partnerships on coalitions. Thanks to everyone for continuing to support our mission of Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy!
Growth in Membership
Our membership has grown from 314, January 2023 to 336 members as of January 2024. We also saw an increase in Student members from 8 to 12, and Lifetime members from 7 to 15.
| Celebrating our Volunteers
Thank you to all for helping the Voter Services Committee contact voters throughout the Metro Phoenix area. You participated in over 100 outreach shifts, for more than 320 hours of volunteer time. Those hours resulted with over 100 voter registrations as well as interacting with over 2600 people.
All that hard work helps the League with its mission to Empower Voters and Defend Democracy. We will continue this work, especially during this very critical election year where democracy is truly at stake. We have some exciting events coming up in the next couple of months and will be planning more especially for National Voter Registration Day, Tuesday September 17, so please save the date.
Youth Voter Program Update
A state Student Ambassador Club and Advisory Committee has been approved by LWV AZ to proceed with the concept by engaging local leagues and current student members to participate in building out the program.
Community Partner Outreach
Lutheran Social Services request to provide monthly voter registration, rights restoration, and ID information with I-HELP (Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program) at sites throughout the valley. This will be a great opportunity for each community team to provide volunteers as a much needed resource for the community.
Key Campus (previously Human Service Campus) has requested volunteers to assist with voter registration at their downtown campus in April or May. If you are interested in assisting at the Key Campus please email voterslwvmp@gmail.com.
Voter Services Committee Meetings
The Tuesday May 21 Voter Services meeting will focus on planning and brainstorming tabling events for Voter Registration in September Please check the Events page or Volunteer Opportunities on our website. Please email us if you have questions: voterslwvmp@gmail.com. | | Women’s Reproductive Rights
LWV MP has been a leader in the state collecting signatures to get the Arizona for Abortion Access initiative on the ballot in November. We have hubs located throughout the state, with volunteers across the valley reaching out to voters in every community to get their signature on the petition! In coalition with the Arizona for Abortion Access Campaign partners, this grassroots coalition is well on its way to meeting our 700K signature goal. Please, keep spreading the word, share our grassroots website to find the nearest signing spot. To get involved, please complete our volunteer form or email “Attn: Arizona for Abortion Access” to infolwvmp@gmail.com | | | This year the Advocacy Committee focused on two areas: Criminal Justice and Education.
The Criminal Justice Issues Team, headed by Kat Jutras with support from Abdi Lopez, hosted two public community conversations: “Barred from Voting: The Effort to Restore Voting Rights for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals” and “Alternatives in Community Safety: Restorative Justice”. Both these conversations have led to important discussions about the League’s role in making our communities more inclusive and better able to ensure that all people are given the opportunity to vote. The Criminal Justice Issues team also met this year with the Director of the Phoenix Office of Accountability and Transparency, who provided the team insight into their work and the challenges they faced. The issues team has also been providing support to the work of LWVAZ’s Criminal Justice team as the League prepares for a busy election season.
The Education Issues Team is new this year and is devoting time learning about the critical issues facing our local school districts. They are planning to host School Board candidate forums this fall and they are led by Susan Hillabold.
Also under the umbrella of the Advocacy Committee is the Observer Corps, which coordinates MP league members who observe their local governmental board meetings. If you would like to know more about the work of the Observer Corps or join an Issues Team please email us at Advocacylwvmp@gmail.com
Help Host School Board Debates
The Education Team is planning to host local school board candidate debates this Fall. The League has a strong history of providing voters the opportunity to assess the qualifications, experience and priorities of their local candidates. Debates highlight the issues facing our communities and can serve as a catalyst for addressing these issues. If you are interested in joining this effort, please email advocacylwvmp@gmail.com to volunteer!
| | VOTE411.ORG = Be an Informed Voter
This year may be one of the most profoundly important election years of our lifetime, and we are mobilizing to ensure voters have the trustworthy, unbiased information they need to make informed candidate choices up and down the ballot. We need the help of all of our members and the community of supporters to make this happen.
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? You can help make VOTE411 the gold standard of unbiased, nonpartisan information for all Arizona voters. | HELP NEEDED!
The work ahead includes:
-
Write candidate questions to elicit answers that help the voters distinguish among candidates
-
Research and write state ballot measures analysis
-
Contact candidates (repeatedly); public pressure campaign
-
Develop & implement a publicity plan, including extensive social media exposure
Here is the timeline for our work:
Election calendar and VOTE411 candidate race coverage:
July 30 -- Primaries
- US Senator - 1 seat
- US Representatives - 9 congressional district seats
- All AZ Senators and Representatives - 90 seats
- Corporation Commission - 3 seats
- County races (varies by county)
- City Council/ Mayor (varies by city)
November 5 -- General Election
- All of the above (July)
- State ballot measures
- School boards - > 200 public school districts
How you can participate:
Write questions you want to ask candidates by completing the Candidate Questions Survey
To understand the issues that voters care about, we want league members, as well as their colleagues, neighbors, friends, family, and coalition partners, to contribute questions they want candidates to answer.
|
| MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND MAKE A VOTING PLAN |
 |
2024 Primaries - July 30
Party un-affiliated (independent) voters can vote in the primaries by
requesting a Republican or Democrat ballot by mail or at a polling location.
June 15: UOCAVA Ballots Mailed
July 1: Voter Registration Deadline
July 3: Early Voting Begins
July 19: Last Day to Request a Ballot by mail
July 23: Last day to Mail Ballot Back
July 26: Last date to Vote Early In-Person
JULY 30 PRIMARY ELECTION DAY
|
2024 General Election - November 5
September 21: UOCAVA Ballots Mailed
October 7: Last day to register to vote
October 9: Early Voting Begins
October 25: Last day to Request a ballot by mail
November 1: Last date to Vote Early In person
NOVEMBER 5 ELECTION DAY
|
| Growing our Membership and League Power
This past year, we grew from 314 members in January 2023 to 336 members in January 2024. And every month we continue to welcome new members. League members contribute in many and varied ways. Whether you serve on a committee, hold a leadership position or simply spread the word about the League’s good work empowering voters and defending democracy, we appreciate you. Please continue to take the time to encourage people who share our vision for an engaged electorate to Join the League. | 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 | |