 |  | Dear ~~first_name~~,
Last week was National Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 21-27). As an all-volunteer organization, we recognize all of our members who give of their time and energy to fulfill our mission of Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy.
One of our volunteers, Diane Simmonds, has been extremely valuable with her dedication to register new citizens (pictured above right). With ever-changing schedules at USCIS, Diane has gone above and beyond to manage these services on behalf of LWV-Wake. Diane maintains consistent communication and keeps this activity running smoothly. LWV-Wake is grateful to Diane and to ALL of our members who make the trip to the USCIS facility in Durham and do this important work. THANK YOU!!
Please continue to check the website for future USCIS new citizen voter registration volunteer opportunities.
Timely Topics
Our final spring Timely Topics event was held on April 18th. We were honored to have Dr. Robert Taylor join us for a discussion about public education in North Carolina and in Wake County, highlighting the need for more teachers. Thank you to the members who supported the League by attending this event. You can read WRAL.com's highlights from Dr. Taylor's visit here. Our Timely Topics series will resume this fall.
Education Committee
Were you fired up after listening to Dr. Taylor discuss the challenges facing public education, like teacher pay and the funneling of funds for vouchers? The Education Committee is reactivating at a time when public education needs support and advocacy more than ever.
While the challenges facing public education are numerous, the committee’s focus during this important election year is to educate voters regarding some of the current issues facing public education, including eroding support and funding for public education, teacher recruitment and retention, school choice and funding for vouchers, culture wars and extremists. The committee will also be educating voters on the views held by candidates running for local and state positions that have an impact on public education funding and policy.
If you have an interest in public education, we would love to have you join this group! We promise to keep our meetings efficient and timely and our work meaningful and relevant. Please email Kathy Thompson if you would like to join us.
| We are excited to offer League 101 again! Come learn about League structure, our history, and how you can get the most from your membership. League Membership Committee members Dale Cousins and Judee Lonnee look forward to guiding you through an interactive session with time for mingling. To register, click on the link below.
| | Looking for an opportunity to meet other members of LWV-Wake? Want to learn about the various committees and how you can get involved? Then join us on Tuesday, May 7th any time after 4:00 pm at Bittersweet in downtown Raleigh. While registration is not required, you will receive email reminders if you register. To learn more about Bittersweet and to register, click on the link below.
|  | | Annual Meeting Moves to June
Our annual meeting has been moved to June 20th this year to better align with the end of our fiscal year. During the meeting, we will announce the results of our electronic ballot voting for LWV-Wake Board of Directors and Nominating Committee, as well as approval of our 2024-2025 budget. In addition, there will be a short presentation about the LWVUS Transformation Plan and the resulting membership and dues changes that will take effect in 2025. Electronic ballot link and 2024-2025 proposed budget will be sent to all active members by May 20th.
Ticket price is $35 and includes dinner. There will be a cash bar for the first hour. For more details and to register, please click on the link below.
| | Navigating Tax Policies: Insights from Three State League of
Women Voters May 9th 7pm-8pm
The fourth session of the Navigating Tax Policy series will be held on Thursday, May 9th at 7pm. During this session, representatives from SC, VA, and TN state Leagues will discuss their respective state tax policy position statements, and how they have been used in successful advocacy efforts.To learn more and register, click here.
|  | | NCLWV Statewide Briefing and Dialogue on Citizen Initiative
May 14th 7pm-9pm
Citizen initiatives give voters a powerful “direct democracy” tool, enabling them to collect signatures and put a proposed law or constitutional amendment directly on the ballot for state voters to consider. These initiatives empower voters to take action on issues legislatures have failed to take action on or have set aside. Citizen initiatives are responsible for protecting reproductive rights in Kansas, Michigan, and Ohio. While close to half of the states allow citizen initiatives, North Carolina does not.
After two caucuses on citizen initiatives at last year’s LWVNC convention indicated strong support for them, the LWVNC Board authorized a statewide study, which is currently underway. However, before LWVNC actively supports an issue, it must develop a formal position on the issue.
As part of this process, the Citizen Initiative Study Group wants to share and receive information from League members across the state. An initial statewide briefing and member dialogue will be held Tuesday, May 14, from 7 to 9 p.m. via Zoom. For more details and to register, click here.
|  | | LWVUS Convention
June 27-June 30, 2024
The 2024 National Convention will take place June 27-June 30 at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC and online. In-person and virtual delegates will have the opportunity to participate in our Convention Plenary and vote on our 2024 – 2026 Program,
2024 – 2026 budget, 2024 – 2026 LWVUS Board of Directors and Nominating Committee, and submitted bylaws amendments.
All LWV-Wake members are invited to attend. There are voting delegate spots still available, or you can choose to attend as an observer. If you are interested in attending, please reach out to Cheryl Tung to determine your attendee status and confirm attendance. For more information and to register, click below.
|  | | City of Raleigh Election Changes Information Workshop
May 1st 6pm
Raleigh Office of Community Engagement is holding an information workshop to provide information and solicit feedback for three municipal election changes:
- Change from 2-year terms to 4-year staggered council terms.
- Add 3 district seats.
- Change from a non-partisan plurality to a non-partisan primary election format.
Council must choose to make these changes by adopting an ordinance for the 2024 ballot for implementation or choose to implement the ordinance in 2026 without putting them on a ballot. The decision must be made by May 21st.
Participants planning to attend can register on the city's website here.
Location: John Chavis Park, 505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
|  | Town of Morrisville Housing Program Presentation
April 30th 6pm
The Wake County Housing Affordability & Community Revitalization Department will be providing a public information session on their Home Rehabilitation and Affordable Home Ownership programs in Morrisville.
This session will cover eligibility requirements and income limitations for both programs, as well as other services and resources offered through Wake County.
This session will include an approximately 30 minute presentation followed by Q&A. There is no registration required for this event.
Location: Town Council Chambers, 100 Town Hall Drive
| | |
 | | NC Second Primary May 14th
There will be a second primary on May 14th for the following offices for Wake County residents:
- Republican nomination for lieutenant governor:
Hal Weatherman
Jim O’Neill
- Republican nomination for state auditor:
Jack Clark
Dave Boliek
- Republican nomination for U.S. House District 13:
Kelly Daughtry
Brad Knott
Who is eligible to vote in the second primary?
- Voters who live in the district for which a second primary is conducted and are registered with the political party of the candidates.
- Unaffiliated voters who live in that district and didn’t vote in the primary, or who voted the ballot of the party for which the second primary is being held.
|  | | On April 17, representatives from LWV-Wake were in Raleigh to hear North Carolina Board of Elections Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell’s presentation to the Joint Legislative Elections Oversight Comm. Here are the key takeaways from her presentation:
- Brinson Bell is seeking funding for additional staff ahead of the presidential election in November.
- Around 1.8 million registered North Carolinians (24%) voted in the primary, compared to 31% in 2020’s primary.
- 1,185 voters cast a provisional ballot for a reason related to photo ID. Only 697 were accepted (59%).
- 477 provisional ballots related to ID were not counted. Most were voters who did not return to the county Board of Elections with an ID during the canvas.
- 1128 absentee ballots came in after the Election Day 7:30 p.m. deadline, resulting in those ballots being discarded. Of those, 800 were received in the original 3-day window time frame, which changed this year.
View the full presentation here. | Sign Up for Women's Equality Day
Volunteers are needed for a variety of positions the day of the event. Find out how you can lend a hand at this important LWV-Wake event. Learn more here. | Voter Outreach & Voter Registration at Apex's PeakFest on May 4
Provide election and VOTE411 information as well as voter registration at this all-day festival. Volunteer slots are 2-2.5 ours and many volunteers will be needed. Sign up at the link below (you will need to be logged into the website to see this listing).
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Looking for information from a past newsletter? Previous League Updates can now be viewed on our website's home page. Look for the "League Updates" blue tab on the top menu.
Thank you for continuing to support the League of Women Voters of Wake County.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Tung
President | | The League of Women Voters of Wake County is a designated 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization by the IRS. Donations and membership dues are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. | |