Early voting has begun - and all is going smoothly so far at least from what we have heard. Please share the early voting survey widely with friends, co-workers, family and other organizations you belong to : http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07egobxmlpk1w7p2wx/start . We want as many completed surveys as possible. We have over 800 responses so far! We have received lots of media coverage of our efforts to educate the public about early voting. Please share with us any articles, links to TV or radio, etc, from your area. 

Here's a sampling of some of the media coverage from local Leagues and the state League:

https://theislandnow.com/rop/voting-league-seeks-to-educate-on-early-voting/

  http://www.landmarkonmainstreet.org/event.cfm?id=597

https://www.facebook.com/pg/LWVOFSYRACUSE/posts/?ref=page_internal, https://www.facebook.com/haalliso  

http://tbrnewsmedia.com/making-democracy-work-early-voting-in-2019-starts-oct-26/

Wellsville regional News: https://wellsvilleregionalnews.blogspot.com/2019/09/early-voting-is-coming-to-new-york-state.html

rensselaer mediasanctuary.org: https://www.mediasanctuary.org/podcasts/no-early-voting-sites-for-troy/

Ithaca Journal: https://www.ithacajournal.com/story/news/politics/politics-on-the-hudson/2019/10/14/early-voting-here-new-york-what-you-need-know/3931879002/

North Country Matters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFKgzFQwvNg&feature=youtu.be

 

State media coverage:

https://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/287635/league-of-women-voters-helps-prepare-new-yorkers-for-early-voting/

New York Now (on PBS statewide) http://nynow.wmht.org/blogs/politics/early-voting-comes-to-new-york/

Spectrum (cable) News on TV and in print: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/capital-region/news/2019/10/09/official--voting-in-new-york-state-en-route-to-modernization

Capitol Pressroom (radio across the state): https://www.wcny.org/september-3-2019-early-voting-toolkit/

WRVO public media statewide: https://www.wrvo.org/post/wide-differences-early-voting-rules-new-york

Great work by all! And, we hope to have lots of data on how it all worked with responses from the survey. Please share the survey link widely: http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07egobxmlpk1w7p2wx/start. Or print off the survey and stand outside of an early voting poll site and ask people to respond - then send us the completed surveys! Thanks!

LWV of St. Lawrence MAL Unit had an announcement posted on the theater marquee (see below)! The St. Lawrence MAL Unit also donated "I Voted" stickers to the County Board of Elections to hand out to voters for early voting from Oct. 26-Nov. 3 and for Election Day Nov. 5.  And LWV of Saratoga was busy checking out the early voting poll sites (below on right). Share your photos!

Campaign Finance Reform
The League has been working with the Fair Elections coalition and our good government partners to ensure that the Public Campaign Financing Commission proposes comprehensive reforms that will get dark money out of elections. This month, we signed onto a letter to the Commissioners asking them to release their interim recommendations in the first week of December. We asked that they uphold a minimum standard in their recommendations and ensure a 6 to 1 match, a reduction in contribution limits, and the creation of an independent oversight agency to oversee the program. You can read our full letter here. On October 22nd , Michelle Lamberti of LWV of Port Washington/Manhasset testified in the hearing on Long Island (Lisa Scott also submitted testimony) and on October 29th Janet Massaro of the LWV of Buffalo testified in Buffalo. Videos from all of the hearings are posted on the Commission's website: https://campaignfinancereform.ny.gov/. The Commission's recommendations are due on December 1st.

Census
The League is continuing to work with our partners in the New York Counts 2020 coalition on educating citizens about the importance of completing their census survey. The Governor's Complete Count Commission has released its report but have not made any firm recommendations on how to use the state's $20 million in funding to reach hard to count communities. We are continuing to advocate for the release of this funding to community groups throughout the state. We will soon be sharing with Local Leagues educational materials to use for their own census outreach.

Medical Aid in Dying
One reform that was not passed in 2019 was allowing for physician assisted suicide for those dying from terminal diseases. The State League adopted its medical aid in dying position in 2018 and began advocating for the reform that same year. This month, the League sent a letter to Governor Cuomo urging him to make the reform a priority in 2020. The Wall Street Journal covered the topic and the League's letter is mentioned in the column attached. We will continue to advocate for medical aid in dying in the coming legislative session.

Court Reform
Following New York's Chief Judge Janet DiFiore's proposal to restructure New York's court system, the League has joined the Campaign for Court Simplification working to consolidate the eleven separate trial courts into a single court. The League will be testifying at a Joint Legislative Hearing on Court Simplification in November. More information on our efforts within this coalition will be available soon. You can learn more about the coalition here.

Redistricting
One of the most exciting projects the League is working on is our joint campaign with LWVUS on redistricting reform. This month, Jennifer traveled to DC for a training conference on National's People Powered Fair Maps campaign. This brand-new campaign will be kicked off in New York later this month. Stay tuned for updates.

While the local League Presidents begin to consider who they will nominate to be their representative on our State-wide Task Force on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), we can begin to get clarity on what we are referring to when we use these terms. There is a sizeable body of information and research available to tap into in order to define your local DEI status, and to create your local DEI Action Plans.

 

A place to begin? The LWVUS has done an admirable job in gathering references from those with experience in defining and acting upon the subject of DEI. I recommend that those interested in creating a more diverse league begin with the definitions posted on the LWVUS/Diversity webpage: https://www.lwv.org/league-management/diversity-equity-inclusion/diversity-equity-and-inclusion

 

Then, as time allows, begin to listen the webinars archived at: https://www.lwv.org/league-management/leadership-development/lwv-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-webinars A "listening party" could bring in other interested members and only requires scheduling in a facility with wifi. Within a group, regardless of its size, it is likely that members will discuss the webinar content together and thus, jointly broaden their perspectives and share new ideas.

 

When describing what characteristics your local league wishes to change about its membership base in order to put the diversity policy into practice, it's good to have points of reference so your efforts are directed in the most effective direction. For example, what do you mean when saying you want a more diverse league? As cited in an article entitled, Effective Diversity Management Initiatives (International Review of Management and Marketing, Vol. 3. No. 2., 2013): "Generally, researchers define diversity characteristics into four areas; personality (e.g., traits, skills, and abilities), internal characteristics (e.g., gender, race, ethnicity, intelligence, sexual orientation), external characteristics(e.g., culture, nationality, religion, marital or parental status), and organizational characteristics (e.g., [profession], position, department, union/nonunion)."

 

Beginning with the end in mind and considering your surrounding community, what will your league membership look like, in both visible and invisible characteristics, when your DEI plan is realized? Imagine. Then, discuss with your Board and in other relevant committees as your own first step toward helping your league to develop its local DEI Action Plan.