By Lynn Frazier
Dear Alachua County,
When you receive this edition of the Voter, the Florida legislative regular session will have ended. We can look back with pride at the efforts League made in the fight to maintain free and fair elections and many other causes that League members cherish. Although we lost many fights, we are now ready to organize for the upcoming election season and the beginning of a new League year.
The LWVAC annual meeting will be on May 25th, so mark your calendars now. We will adopt a new budget, elect officers, and adopt the local program. The current local program and a list of committees and their chairs are available on our website. Get Involved!
The Voter Services Committee is in the process of enrolling the Alachua County league in the League’s Vote 411 site. Vote 411 is committed to ensuring that voters have the information needed to successfully participate in every election: local, state, or federal. Also, the Voter Services Committee has begun doing outdoor voter registration events. It is very exciting to return to some normality. Please consider becoming active in the Voter Services Committee. You are needed!
As they say, March is the month to spring into action. So, pick your committee(s) and your causes and become active in your League.
Lynn
elgfrazier@gmail.com
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Redistricting Updates
Current as of 3/10/22
by Diane Dimperio
The Supreme Court of Florida has approved the maps submitted by the Florida House and Senate. This makes the maps final unless there is litigation filed later. So far, there have been no legal challenges to either map. Both maps are expected to result in Republican majorities in the Legislature and include the same minority opportunity districts that were established using 2010 census data. In the last decade, Florida has acquired more than 2.7 million additional residents. More than 90% of the new residents were classified by the Census Bureau as non-white, with the majority of the new residents classified as Hispanics.
The New House Map divides Alachua County into three Districts, 10, 21, and 22. District 10 covers the northern section of the county, 21 is in the eastern section and is similar to the district represented by Yvonne Hinson, and 22 covers the western section of the county and is similar to the district currently represented by Chuck Clemons.
The New Senate Map divides Alachua County into two districts, 6 and 9. District 6 covers the northern part of the county and District 9 covers the southern part of the county. The previous map included all of Alachua County into a single district which was represented by Keith Perry.
The Congressional Map has become very controversial. The Governor has imposed himself in the process in an unprecedented manner by releasing his own maps. The Governor’s maps increase the number of districts that Republicans are likely to win and diminish the opportunity of minority voters to elect representatives of their choice.
The Senate passed a reasonably fair congressional map and the House seemed poised to do so but at the last minute modified its proposed map. Under pressure from the Governor, both the House and Senate agreed on a congressional map that is considered by critics to be politically gerrymandered and reduces the opportunity of minority voters to elect a representative of their choice. Because the legislators know the proposed map may face litigation, they included a second map as a backup in case the first map fails a legal challenge. The governor has stated his intent to veto the primary map. After it is sent to the Governor, he has 15 days to sign it. There are no guidelines for what happens if the governor vetoes it. The Legislature is responsible for drawing the Congressional map and the session is expected to end soon, so there is speculation that a special session may be called.
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To learn more and for background information, follow redistricting in Florida with the ongoing series of articles about the redistricting process in Florida on the LWVAC Redistricting webpage. | |
Introducing Your LWVAC Committees | |
In this section, we are introducing you to your LWVAC Committees, with one Committee highlighted per month. Committees are the best way to get involved in LWVAC and your local community. Feel free to reach out to the Committee Chairs to express interest, join their meetings, and get involved. | |
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The Voter Services Interest Group believes that voting is a fundamental right, and all Americans deserve the equal opportunity to make their voices heard in our democracy. We are dedicated to using advocacy, litigation, and resources like VOTE411 to educate more voters and expand and protect voter access.
VS is always welcome to new, interested members. We hold meetings periodically as necessary. Our next meeting is on March 29th at 6:30 pm via Zoom. If you're interested in attending, please contact Diana Boxer or Gwen Wagner for the link.
Contact Diana Boxer or Gwen Wagner if you are interested in:
- supporting the right to vote
- helping educate voters through forums, VOTE411, and outreach events
- registering people to vote at local events
Join us in protecting our right to vote!
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New Voter Services Co-Chair: Gwen Wagner | |
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We are happy to welcome Gwen Wagner to the LWVAC Board as Co-Chair of Voter Services. Thank you for your service!
I joined LWV after attending the Women's March on Washington in 2017. As a grandmother of 5, I have a strong desire to do all I can to preserve a working democracy for those who will come after us. I grew up in Gainesvillle, left for college in 1973, and like many who have lived here, returned in 2001. I worked in Development in the non-profit sector in Miami. I’m an avid walker/hiker, enjoy sewing and will soon bring home a Westie pup. We have much to accomplish in this election year in the Voter Services group, so please join us!
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Communications Assistance Wanted
LWVAC is looking for help with Communications. Do you enjoy creative design, telling stories and connecting with people? If so, you may consider getting involved in LWVAC Communications, as Director or a team member. LWVAC Communications connects with members, primarily through email, the LWVAC website and social media. If you're interested or have questions, please reach out to Connie.
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Accelerating Electric Vehicles in Florida - April 7th @ 12:00 PM
Dory Larsen of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) will present practical advocacy supporting the adoption of electric vehicles (EV) by governments and the private sector. In general, we will be including EV background, debunking some myths, and asking government for specific actions. Some possible specifics include:
- advocating that the City of Gainesville and Alachua County: a) promote EV Readiness policies and codes, and b) electrify their fleets and public buses.
- supporting legislation at the state and national levels that would expand charging infrastructure. (See SB 920.)
- joining and otherwise supporting SACE and similar groups, including by responding to their action alerts.
The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) is a nonprofit organization that promotes responsible and equitable energy choices to ensure clean, safe, and healthy communities throughout the Southeast. As a leading voice for energy policy in our region, SACE is a regional organization focused on transforming the way we produce and consume energy in the Southeast.
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Hot Topic - April 13th @ 7:00 PM
During this Hot Topic, UF Professor of Criminology and Sociology Jodi Lane will discuss Serious Juvenile Violence: Recommendations for Policy and Practice. During her presentation and the Q&A session afterward, Professor Lane will touch on violence here in Gainesville. Registration is required.
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LWVAC Annual Meeting - May 25, 2022
The LWVAC annual meeting will be held this year on May 25 via Zoom. This is a good opportunity to see other members and share in making administrative decisions for the next year. The general membership is responsible for approving the budget, voting for officers, and adopting the local program for next year. More information will be provided closer to the date, but mark your calendar now so you won’t miss it.
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Cybersecurity Tips: Ukraine Scams | |
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The recent war in Ukraine has gathered a lot of attention. Unfortunately, cybercriminals often take advantage of world events to prey on your emotions. Now more than ever, it’s important to watch out for phishing attacks and disinformation campaigns.
Cybercriminals may use several different tactics to scam you. For example, cybercriminals may try to trick you into sending money using cryptocurrency. The cybercriminals may take advantage of your sympathy by pretending to be Ukrainians in need of financial assistance.
Cybercriminals may also try to catch your attention and manipulate your emotions by spreading disinformation. Disinformation is false information designed to intentionally mislead you. Cybercriminals may spread disinformation in the form of emails, text messages, or social media posts.
Don’t fall for these scams. Follow the tips below to stay safe:
- Avoid making donations to unknown users. If you would like to donate to support a cause, donate directly through a trusted organization's website.
- Watch out for social media usernames that only consist of random letters and numbers. These accounts may be run by bots instead of legitimate users.
- Stay informed by following trusted news sources. If you see a sensational headline, be sure to do research to verify that the news story is legitimate.
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LWVAC Leadership Team
President: Lynn Frazier
Vice-President: Deb Shimon
Secretary: Carole Fernandez
Treasurer: Fran Towk
A full list of LWVAC Board Members and Committee Chairs can be found here.
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To avoid missing future LWVAC email, please add our email address to your Safe Senders List
or add the From address (lwv@lwv-alachua.org) to your Address Book or Contacts.
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