Register HERE for one, two or all three sessions.

League of Women Voters Sues Wisconsin Elections Commission Over Guidance That Locks Voters Out of the Polls

Source: Law Forward

Unite and Rise Topic: Voting rights, Election protection

Key Points:

• The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin is suing the Wisconsin Elections Commission to ensure voters whose absentee ballots are delayed or lost in the mail can still cast a provisional ballot on Election Day.

• Mail delays caused hundreds of legally cast absentee ballots to arrive too late to count during the spring election. About two-thirds of clerks surveyed reported problems with mail travel times.

• The lawsuit argues voters should not lose their right to vote because of mail delays. A provisional ballot would provide a safeguard while ensuring no one can vote twice.

See the full complaint here.

August 11th Primary Election

Is Next Tuesday!

Remember, this is a partisan primary so you must choose a party and and only fill in bubbles within that section. No crossing party lines. If you vote in more than one party, your vote will not be counted. For example, you can’t vote in the Democratic primary for Governor and cross over to vote in the Republican primary for sheriff.

Absentee ballots are in the mail. Once you receive your absentee ballot the Milwaukee County Election Commission recommends mailing it back to your municipal clerk by July 31st or earlier to ensure they arrive on time and are counted. Even better, find your nearest drop box if your community allows them:

• Ballot drop boxes Link to all Milwaukee County drop boxes

• Deliver to your municipal clerk’s office or designated site.

Registration online or by mail has ended, but people can still register at an early voting site until 5pm August 7th and on August 11th, election day.

Important dates and deadlines for the Primary election:

• Early in-person voting generally ends on August 9th. Each city, town or village sets its own hours and locations. 

• August 7th at  5pm - deadline to register to vote in person at your clerk’s office

• August 11th is ELECTION DAY

Unsure about who to vote for in one of the primary elections such as for Governor?  Vote411 is the place to get reliable, unbiased information. Use it yourself and share the link with your friends and neighbors.

Voters Who Cast Their Ballots Early and Want to Change Their Vote Can No Longer Do So

On July 17th, Lt. Governor Sara Rodriguez withdrew from the Democratic primary in the Governor’s race, and County Executive David Crowley (who had previously withdrawn)  reentered. Earlier, another candidate, Missy Hughes, also withdrew. Absentee ballots were sent out beginning June 25th and unfortunately the candidates who withdrew are still on the ballot for the Democratic primary for Governor. In the past, a voter could request a replacement ballot, but as a result of a recent court ruling the Wisconsin Election Commission ruled that, even if a voter’s chosen candidate dropped out they can no longer receive a replacement absentee ballot. According to the WEC, if you have not yet submitted your ballot you may request a replacement ballot, but once the ballot has been returned, you cannot.

Here is the official guidance from the WEC: https://elections.wi.gov/memo/updated-ballot-spoiling-guidance

Do Your Part to Protect Our Elections

Become an Election Observer!

Help the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin monitor Wisconsin's elections. We are seeking hundreds of volunteers to be trained as Election Observers and placed in polling places in specific areas around the state. We provide training, assign volunteers to a polling place(s) to observe, and provide volunteers with a reporting form to record their observations. We will do our best to assign you to a location near your home. You don't need to be a League member to volunteer for this -- although we'd love to have you join us! Register HERE.

Educate Yourself for the Fall Primary Election

Have you looked at VOTE411 yet for the Fall Primary? Go to Vote411.org and type in your address. Click on Submit and in the next screen select your language. If you select “all parties” and then click on “save and view all races,” you will see all the races for your address. Click on any race to see the candidates and their answers to the League’s questions. You will find information about ALL the races on your ballot. Local races are SO important - educate yourself!

Now spread the word - recommend VOTE411 to at least one other person you know.

Educated Voters Can Change the World!

To stay informed about legislation affecting the LGBTQ+ community and track advocacy efforts, visit Fair Wisconsin’s Bills to Watch page:
fairwisconsin.com/bills-to-watch

To identify and contact your state legislators and relevant committee members, use MyVote Wisconsin: myvote.wi.gov

Speaking up matters.

LGBTQI+ ... All Letters Matter!

Have you registered for the Philip Chard Training on Saturday, August 15? 

This training is for all League members, not just for speakers talking with groups. Whether we interact with the public at a tabling event, a voter registration drive, or an advocacy meeting, we want to be at our best and use skills that meet the need of the moment.  Even if we have received interpersonal skills training in the past, knowing best practice will help us meet the public for a positive interchange with each community member!!   If you have had some difficult interactions, bring these examples and get feedback about how it might have gone differently!!  See the attached flyer for more details.  

Dr. Phillip Chard has chosen the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County to provide free training that will enable attendees to meet the moment this fall before the important Elections!

LOCATION: Summit Place, 6737 West Washington Street, West Allis, Room 2135.  

Click here to see the flyer, which you can print or download. Register Here

Special National Popular Vote Network Workshop with Rep. Jamie Raskin

Monday, August 17th at 6:30 pm CT

Rep. Jamie Raskin has represented Maryland’s 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for 10 years. He is the Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Judiciary in the 119th Congress. Few national politicians know more about National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) and its potential constitutional challenges, as well as the practical issues of getting it passed in a state. LWVUS supports the NPVIC.

Rep. Raskin was a constitutional law professor at American University College of Law. His first elected office was as State Senator in Maryland where he served for three terms. His colleagues elected him to serve as the Senate Majority Whip where he earned a reputation for building coalitions in Annapolis. He delivered a series of landmark legislative accomplishments, including marriage equality, abolition of the death penalty, passage of the first Benefit Corporation law in America and most importantly, the first state law adopting the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.

REGISTER HERE.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and 40+ agencies have proposed a rule that would let the administration approve, deny, or cut off federal funding to organizations based on its political agenda, not community needs.

This rule is still just a proposal, which means it can be stopped.

The proposed rule could strip federal funding from essential services, including trans health care, reproductive health services, and efforts to close racial health disparities, even threatening Head Start, the program that gives kids access to high-quality early education. Millions of Americans could see the essential services their taxes fund disrupted.

This is a power grab that uses federal funding as leverage to suppress the viewpoints, identities, and communities this administration doesn't like.

Congress has the power to stop this, and you have the power to hold them to account. 

Take action now: Tell Congress to demand OMB rescind this rule.

LWVMC Immigration Advocacy Committee members are teaming up with Brookfield Resist to collect supplies desperately needed by immigrants. All supplies collected will be delivered to Voces de la Frontera.  

Supplies needed:  

• Highest Priority:  Baby formula, rice, beans, peanut butter, diapers, oatmeal, protein items, flour, cooking oil, water, tortillas, tuna
•  Important Essentials: pasta, cereal, canned tomatoes, applesauce, canned fruit, granola bars, seasonings
• Thoughtful Additions: mini candy bars, fruit snacks, tea bags and coffee, shelf-stable cookies

History Shows Us that Protests Matter

Why do protests matter?

Visible resistance is essential so the government and its supporters see the number of citizens who don’t agree with their actions. Nonviolent visible protest activity encourages those sitting on the sidelines to join in. Here is the link to the listing of ongoing weekly protests: Protest Rallies

Do you have a Donor Advised Fund?  Have you thought about setting one up as a way to manage your charitable giving?  Here is how they work.

Step 1.  Donors Contribute

The donor makes an irrevocable contribution of cash, stock, or  a range of other assets to the donor-advised fund (DAF) and can take an immediate tax deduction. 

Step 2.  Assets May Grow

The charitable assets in the DAF may be invested, and any investment growth is tax-free for the donor. 

Step 3.  Charities Benefit

The donor recommends grants from the DAF assets to support qualified charities such as the League of Women Voters. 

Talk with your financial advisor to see if setting up a donor advised fund is right for you.

Wisconsin Justice Institute:

Ensuring Due Process for Immigrants

Wednesday, Aug. 12, Noon, Turner Hall-Milwaukee

Outrage and public outcry largely shut down the public use of aggressive ICE tactics that impacted parts of Minneapolis over the winter, but ICE has far from left the scene, and we've seen their presence in Milwaukee, too. Grant Sovern, administrative director and founding attorney of Community Immigration Law Center will discuss the history and work of Wisconsin's only public defender organization for immigrants and how people are organizing in Wisconsin. He will address the immigration system and what can be done to ensure due process for everyone. FREE PARKING with code to be provided after registration. Park in the lot directly north of Turner Hall (toward Fiserv Forum). Buffet lunch is $18, $15 early-bird through Aug. 7. You do not need to purchase lunch to attend, but please register so we know how many chairs to set up and you get the parking code. Register HERE.

Meet the Candidates in their own words

 Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District

Is Your Member Profile Up-to-Date?

The Member Portal of our website has resources (including a member directory) just for members. Please login to the website, click Member Resources in the top menu, go to your Member Profile and complete/update your Additional Member Data and Interests (found under Website Functions). Contact roster@lwvmilwaukee.org with questions. Thank you!