LWV-Wake Update 10/28/2024 | Welcome back to your exclusive, bi-monthly newsletter of the League of Women Voters of Wake County. If someone forwarded this to you and you'd like to become a member, just click here.
|  | Dear ~~first_name~~,
Happy Halloween to all of you, whether you're celebrating "All Hallows Day," or the Celtic festival of Samhain or just taking the kids out for some trick or treating, Halloween is Thursday, October 31.
Halloween is five days before the general election on Tuesday, November 5. So what is happening with the election? Voters are voting in record numbers. Out of 210 million voters in the United States, 41 million. In North Carolina, out of 7.6 million voters, 2.7 million residents have already voted. That's 30 percent of all voters in North Carolina and we still have a week to go of early voting.
LWV-Wake has been busy this election season. Check out what we've completed in the last two months:
1000
LWVNC Vote411.org postcards sent to infrequent, female voters in Raleigh
114
Vote411.org candidates contacted for the 2024 election
16
Voter Outreach and Registration events, including USCIS, colleges and universities including Shaw, Meredith, NCSU, and Wake Tech North & South campuses.
12
Board of Elections Monitoring, which is ongoing. LWVNC uncovered Spanish-language signs, distributed by group "OnlyCitizensVote," discouraging Spanish-speaking voters from voting by insinuating that they could be deported. Please see the volunteer calendar. NCSBE has removed these signs.
10
Community presentations to churches, universities and private groups
9
Candidate Forums, including Wake County Board of Education, Raleigh City Mayor
3
We know that many of you are poll workers, so thank you and please continue to volunteer!
AND PLEASE VOTE IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY VOTED!
In service,
Helen
| Timely Topic: Extremism and Its Effects on Democracy
Join us as we welcome Tom Baker from the Bridging Divides Initiative at Princeton University and Joseph Wiinikka-Lydon, Ph.D., Senior Research Analyst, Intelligence Project, Southern Poverty Law Center to discuss different types of extremism and the impact these views have on our democracy.
| It's Not Hearsay, It's True! You're Invited to Join Us!
Our Membership Committee invites all our members to celebrate all that we have accomplished during this election season at Hearsay Cocktail Bar in Cary on Thursday, November 7, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
We are particularly celebrating our Voter Services Committee, but we know that all members have assisted in the effort this fall to Empower Voters and Defend Democracy. Come and go at your leisure, but don't miss out on meeting and making new friends. You can bring a friend if you'd like! (Registration isn't required.)
Enter through the front door and order a beverage or a tasty charcuterie board for sharing. Then, walk through the Piano Room, the Parlor, the Library and head out to the patio or garden. We'll probably be out on the patio if the weather's nice.
Hearsay is located inside The Matthews House at 317 West Chatham Street, Cary. Parking is plentiful and adjacent to the house.
We look forward to seeing you there!
|  | League 101: Introduction to LWV-Wake
Our League hosts a seminar just for newcomers - League 101: Introduction to LWV-Wake. Our next event is scheduled for Wednesday, November 6, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Join us and learn about the League structure, our history, and how you can get the most from your membership. This is a great opportunity for new and new-ish members to learn more about the League, make new friends and explore opportunities to get involved.
|  | Make Yourself Known!
Many of you wear your little square LWV pin at public and internal events to represent the League. Consider ordering a personalized name badge!
In addition to your name, our badge includes the League logo, a magnetized back and an elegant velveteen pouch. It's a great, easily recognizable way to announce your affiliation as a League member.
Just click the button below to order. A badge is only $20, and takes about two weeks for delivery. You will receive an email when the badge is in hand.
Wear it proudly and show your support for the League of Women Voters of Wake County!
| Vote Early Day is Tuesday, October 29
LWVUS and LWV-Wake encourage you to celebrate Vote Early Day on Tuesday, October 29, by voting...early!
According to their website, "Vote Early Day was founded by MTV as a new civic holiday focused on helping every voter know how, where and when they can vote early. Launched in the midst of the global pandemic, Vote Early Day became a critical resource to ensure no voter had to choose between their health and casting their ballot.
"In its first celebration Vote Early Day attracted 134 premier partners and 2,700 general partners from every state in the nation. Over 3,000,000 voters cast their ballots on Vote Early Day alone."
|  | | North Carolina set a turnout record for first day of Early Voting! Read the North Carolina Board of Elections article here. |
 | | This article highlights why young voters should vote during the early voting period. |
|
 | | What is "Canvass?" Why do it? How does it work? Click here to see what LWVNC has to say about canvassing. |
|
 | | VOTE411 Signs to be Placed at Voting Sites
From October 17 to November 6, LWV-Wake volunteers will place V0TE411.org yard signs at each Wake County Early Voting Site to inform and assist voters with candidate and voting information. These signs are placed at the voting site before voting starts, checked on during early voting, and removed after early and election day voting ends. |  | |
Learn About the Wake County Public Library Bond
Before you head to the polls, make sure you read this blog by our own G. Dale Cousins on the Wake County Public Library and the importance of local and "down ballot" issues. Local down ballot issues, usually on the back of the ballot, often include bond referenda. The 2024 November ballot contains a public library bond: Wake County website Bond Referendum. The $142 Million dollar bond proposes 5 additional libraries, expanding the size of 1 library, and renovating 8 libraries. | | |
LWV-WAKE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE | | Lights Out for Bird Migration
The LWV-Wake Environment Committee reminds you that there is still a month left in the local bird migration fall season.
Wake Audubon suggests that we all turn out outdoor and big window lights from 10:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m. each night.
The fall migratory period is August 15 - November 30, while the spring is March 1 - June 15.
Lots of cities, including Raleigh and Cary, are participating in the effort to reduce bird deaths due to collisions with brightly lit buildings during migration.
Click to read more information.
| | | 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,
Helen Zimmerman
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. | |