eVOTER NEWSLETTER
December 3, 2023 - Vol. 5, No. 06 |
Upcoming Board Meetings. All Welcome!
- December - no Board meeting
- Wed. Jan. 3 | 4 PM | Schell Room, WRL (Scotland Street)
For Your Calendar
- Wed. Dec 6 | 9 AM | League of Women Voters of Virginia Pre-Session 2023, a virtual event | Register Here
- Sun. Dec. 10 | 2 PM | Members' Holiday Party! | Sign Up Here
- Come to any or all of League of Voters of Virginia Legislative Round Tables (in-person or virtual attendance) in Jan & Feb | Sign Up Here
- Save the date: Feb. 7 is League Day.
Virginia League members advocate in Richmond for bills aligned with League priorities. Visiting League members are recognized by the Senate and House of Delegates.
- Register for Great Decisions
|  | Coming mid-December, we are launching a new monthly publication to illuminate the issues confronting us in the lead-up to the November 2024 general election. Sentinel will look at the political landscape and keep us informed of developments affecting our democracy and our votes. Since May 2023, we have been posting daily across six social media platforms. We are pleased to report that we are now approaching 1,500 followers. Sentinel is a long-form extension of these posts. As with our posts, Sentinel will not overstate the facts or take a partisan stand. Nor will it look away. The first issue will address the rise of authoritarianism. The facts will speak for themselves. Details matter.
When Sentinel arrives in your email box, please feel free to forward it to family, friends, and fellow advocates. We have work to do.
--Karen Siracusa, Communications Director
& Harry Chancey, Social Media Manager
|  | Kudos to the many League members who worked as local Poll Workers helping people who came to cast their votes in Williamsburg, James City County, and York County Elections Offices during the 45 days of Early Voting period and on Election Day. Kudos also to those who volunteered outside the Election Centers and Polls to welcome voters and pass out sample ballots as people arrived to vote during Early Voting and on Election Day.
We must also recognize the Herculean efforts of the Voter Services and Voter Education Teams who worked throughout the year conducting countless voter registration events in the Historic Triangle area, including coordinating a Registration Event at our three WJCC public high schools encouraging online registration using an QR code. They developed and distributed Facts for Voters and information on Restoration of Voting Rights. They also coordinated two separate Candidate Forums- one for State level candidates and one for local candidates.
It was a busy year given the number of races on the ballot in VA but next year being a presidential election year will be even busier. Please consider helping out. It’s not only necessary, it’s fun.
Get in touch!
| December 6 is Pre-Session | | League of Women Voters of Virginia Pre-Session 2023 is Wed. December 6, 2023, starting at 9 AM - a virtual, all-online event!
Pre-Session is when LWV of Virginia brings in our partner organizations to present legislative priorities for the 2024 General Assembly Session.
There will be more than 20 partners in attendance. LWV of Virginia will continue to update you on the agenda.
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December 10 is the Holiday Party
| | Please join fellow members of the League for our annual Holiday Get Together at Don Schilling's home at 500 Frances Thacker in Kingsmill on Sunday December 10 from 2-4 PM.
Enjoy refreshments and friendship!
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Jan/Feb: Women's Legislative Round Tables
| Issue Advocacy
Every year during the General Assembly session, LWV of Virginia organizes a nonpartisan forum open to our members and the public to discuss and share information on issues and legislation. We invite Legislators to discuss bills they are sponsoring and answer questions. Leaders of nonprofit groups share priority issues. League Issue Group Leaders update us on League priority issues.
Come to the LWV of Virginia's 2024 Women's Legislative Roundtables. These Jan/Feb/March Round Tables are both in-person and virtual.
The in-person meetings are in the Virginia General Assembly Building, 201 North 9th Street - in the 7th Floor North Meeting Room.
Presentations are free and run from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM.
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Round Table Schedule
Jan 10 Voting and Elections
Jan 17 Gun Violence & Domestic Violence
Jan 24 Education
Jan 31 Child Care
Feb 14 Housing
Feb 21 Environment
Feb 28 Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice
March 6 – Wrap Up. This will be virtual only!
| Great Decisions is from February 6th through March 26th for eight sessions. Meetings are Tuesday mornings from 10:30 AM-11:45 AM at the Williamsburg Regional Library in Williamsburg. The program is hybrid with in-person and Zoom participation available.
The Foreign Policy Association selected these topics: Mideast realignment, Climate technology, Science across borders, US-China trade rivalry, NATO’s future, Understanding Indonesia, High Seas Treaty, and Pandemic preparation.
Registration Open to All
The program cost is $65 for an individual and $90 for a household.
| Thurs. Jan. 25 | 4:30 PM
Member's Home
The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet by Jeff Goodell
Join us to discuss Stephen Vladeck's examination of the Supreme Court's use of unsigned orders, the shadow docket.
Thurs. Apr. 25 | 4:30 PM
April 25, 2024 | 4:30 PM – The Gun Dilemma: How history is Against Expanded Gun Rights by Robert Spitzer
| | | | The November 2023 elections were a great success in our areas. Despite the final leg of the 2020 redistricting, voting was vigorous through both the early voting period and on Election Day.
The new James City County Vote Center was a welcome and permanent addition to the City of Williamsburg’s Lafayette St. location. York County had two offices for early voting, on Mooretown Rd and on George Washington Memorial Highway. All these saw significant early turnout. | | |  | Mail In Ballots
In James City County, 844 mail in ballot applications were requested but not used; in Williamsburg 145; in York County, 572. These are $$costly$$ to the election offices, and therefore to the voters in general. This happens when voters receive a mail in ballot but choose to surrender it at either the precinct or a Vote Center.
We estimate that each surrendered mail in ballot costs in time and labor, an extra $15. Election Offices work tirelessly to enable a safe and efficient election, keeping costs under control.
When you request a mail in ballot, please fill it out and use it. You can mail it, postage already paid, or drop it off at your Early Voting Center or at your precinct on Election Day.
| Based on Voter Services collaborations with William & Mary, our local League was nominated for the Local Nonpartisan Partner Award at the November 14 2023 ALL IN Campus Democracy Awards Celebration.
The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement.
Voter Services team has pursued and enjoyed a fruitful and collaborative relationship with the college and its Student Engagement Committee. We were at the college four times over the fall to help register students for the upcoming election. The students’ enthusiasm and optimism is always a delight and ensures that voting is in good hands at William & Mary. The college ranks among the top schools in Virginia for both registration and voter turnout. |
Observing Public Meetings
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WJCC School Board
Note: there was a lively discussion of the model policy for transgender students at 11/28/2023 meeting.
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Shout Out to Students Joining in 2023
Erin Burrier, Lilly Donahue, Rebecca Hyman, Tzipora Hyman, Eliza Madison, Abigail Mulhern, Brian Ownby-Connolly, Sam Rose, Mary tyler
New & Renewing Members
Thank you renewing members! Welcome new members!
Members with asterisks gave an extra amount above basic dues!
Flora Adams & Stewart Goddin, Lorenzo Amory, Anne Brennan**, Carol Churchill**, Nancy D'Amora, Mary Kay Dineen, Jodi Fisler**, Pamela Gray, Catherine Johnson & Roger Pearson**, Donna Lloyd-Jones, Gayle Mapp & Robin Church, Cynthia McCraw, Mary Christine Miller, Leith & Chuck Mullaly, Patricia Rublein, Karen Schifrin (renewing / joining 11/5/2023 thru 12/2/2023)
Thank You For Donations in November
Anne Allen, Bruce Virnell
Renewals
Based on the month you joined, we will remind you to renew your membership yearly. Students (aged 16+) are free.
| From the Thursday Oct 5, 2023 Webinar: Supreme Court Recap & Looking Ahead. Recording Here | Did you know that LWVUS holds regular policy, advocacy, and litigation briefings for League members? Watch them live or view the recordings later.
UPCOMING
DEC 14: Preparing for State Legislative Sessions 2024
The LWVUS advocacy team will be sharing tools and resources that Leagues can use for their upcoming legislative sessions and doing a refresher on effective advocacy strategies for those needing it. This webinar is geared towards League members advocating at the state and local levels.
JAN 18: Introduction to the modules
At the request of League members and in coordination with League leaders, LWVUS built multiple module tools to help train voting rights advocates to take advocacy actions to advance League positions successfully. Join this webinar to see an overview of the tools and learn how you can use the content- like template PowerPoint presentations, educational one-pagers, and short recordings, to grow the advocacy skills of your League.
JAN 25: Where Are Reproductive Rights Post-Dobbs?
LWVUS will provide a snapshot of the reproductive rights legislative landscape a year and a half after the Dobbs decision.
| FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
| Hey! We have a social media campaign to present vital information about voting and upcoming Virginia elections. We have accounts on:
Encourage GenX, GenY, and GenZ family and friends to check us out. | | | Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.
League of Women Voters of Williamsburg Area
P O Box 1086
Williamsburg, VA 23187-1086
501(c)(4) organization | |