Empowering Voters, Defending Democracy |
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This LWVDDH News email is sent to LWVDDH members and supporters. For more information about any of the items or to share other public affair items for the newsletter, please contact us at info@lwvddh.org. |
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The League of Women Voters of Michigan members are working hard to gather signatures for the Promote the Vote 2022 Ballot proposal. This proposal is a constitutional amendment that will go before the voters and is proactively intended to assure that we have a voting system that works for all of us. This proposal was developed based on conversations with voters and election officials. Here are the main points of what it will do.
✔ Recognize the fundamental right to vote without harassing conduct so voters can vote free from intimidation and interference.
✔ Require military or overseas ballots be counted if postmarked by Election Day.
✔ Provide voters the right to verify identity with photo ID or signed statement.
✔ Allow voters to request an absentee ballot by mail for all future elections.
✔ Require secure drop boxes and robust absentee ballot tracking.
✔ Require election audits be conducted in public, by state and county election officials, based on established guidelines to promote accuracy and transparency.
✔ Require nine days of in-person, early voting.
✔ Require canvassing boards to certify election results based only on the official records of votes cast.
A member of the League is committed to being at the Biggby's at Michigan and Military each Wednesday, 10-12 and Saturdays, 10-12. LWV members have been urged to commit to getting at least ten signatures but hopefully many more. Members are able to pick up empty petitions and turn in completed petitions at Biggby's. Any member of the public can come by and sign a petition. Members Mary Jo Durivage and
Karen Jones are coordinating this effort. Please contact Mary Jo (313-278-0236 or mjdurivage@comcast.net) to learn how you can sign or circulate petitions. Thanks.
LWV members are also gathering signatures for the Reproductive Freedom For All petition which will place a woman's right to reproductive health options, including abortion, into the Michigan Constitution.
There is more information on these ballot proposals and the rest of the current proposals on our website. Thank you!! |
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Dearborn City Charter Commission Continues Its Work
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The Commission has its own webpage at cityofdearborn.org/chartercommission and includes information about its nine commissioners, the meeting schedule, minutes of the meetings, and information about how to access live meetings through Zoom.
Meetings are generally held on Wednesdays at 6 pm. Upcoming meetings during June and July are set for June 22 and July 6.
Comments to the Commission can be sent via the Commission's email at chartercomm@ci.dearborn.mi.us or at the public comment portion of the Zoom meetings.
There is also a section on the League's website under GET INVOLVED devoted to the Charter Commission. |
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2022 Meeting Dates
All meetings begin at 10 a.m.
Upcoming meetings in June and July are: June 23 and July 21.
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ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE |
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More than 14,000 AV Ballot Applications have been mailed to Dearborn voters on the Permanent AV list. Completed applications can be returned to the Clerk’s Office in-person or placed in the Election Dropbox, mailed to the Clerk’s Office (16901 Michigan Ave., Suite 11, Dearborn MI 48126), or scanned and emailed to elections@ci.dearborn.mi.us.
Voter Information page for Dearborn is available here. Links to more information include:
- Michigan Districting Map
- 2022 Voter Registration Application
- 2022 Voter Registration Application (Arabic)
- 2022 Absentee Voter Application
- 2022 Absentee Voter Application (Arabic) 👍
- 2022 Precinct Map
- Coming Soon: Interactive Precinct Map
- Election Inspector Application [poll worker]
Elections page on Dearborn Heights is here. Information includes:
- 2022 Election Dates
- Redistricting and New Voter Information Cards
- School Election Information
- Frequently Asked Questions
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City Boards and Commissions
A number of boards and commissions serve the City of Dearborn in various capacities, advising city leaders on matters related to local laws, zoning, appeals and other issues.
Commission and board members serve in a voluntary capacity. If you are interested in serving on a board or commission, contact the Mayor's Office or complete this form.
Qualifications and expectations for potential commission and board members:
- Appointees must have been a resident of the City for at least one year, never been convicted of a felony, and must be a registered voter in the City.
- Appointees must follow the Standards for Conduct established in the City Charter and those policies and rulings created by the Board of Ethics related to such.
- Appointees shall come into the City Clerk's offices to take the oath of office for their position within 10 days of receiving their notification of appointment.
- Appointees should demonstrate relevant knowledge of and a distinct interest in the area of responsibility of the commission or board they are seeking appointment to (in some limited cases specific professional licenses, certifications or experience are required by law).
- Appointees are expected to attend the majority of the scheduled meetings of the body to which they are appointed, when unable to attend they are to contact the Chair of the body to be excused and to inform the city staff that administer that body with as much advance notice as is feasible.
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Wayne County Parks Master Plan Survey
Wayne County Parks is updating its 5-year Parks and Recreation Master Plan which serve as a guidebook to direct funding and actions for parks improvements and recreation services. Your input will shape the future of Wayne Co. parks. It should take about ten minutes to complete. Here is link to the survey. |
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Meet Your City Council with Mustapha Hammoud, Tuesday, June 21, 10 a.m. - Register
For more information or to register, call 313-943-2412.
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Promising Practices Webinar:
The ABCs of Inclusive and Equitable Engagement
Wednesday, June 22, 2 pm
Learn how communities are ensuring that their civic engagement efforts are both inclusive and equitable. Sponsored by the National Civic League.
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Wayne County Commission has approved placing a millage renewal request for county jail operations on the August 2 primary ballot.
Voters will be asked to renew 0.9358 mils for 10 years, running through 2031. The millage rate is based on the current rate, which was rolled back in 2021. It is expected to raise some $45 million a year for jail operations, with a minimum of one-tenth of the millage to be set aside for a new juvenile offender work and training institution.
The millage translates to roughly $70 a year for those living in homes valued at $150,000. “These funds are especially needed to help in the operation of our jails and sheriff’s department,” Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell (D-Detroit) said. “This is a renewal, not a new millage.”
It will be used to finance operations at the county’s new jail at I-75 and Warren on Detroit’s east side. The new jail is expected to be completed by the end of this year and begin accepting inmates in 2023.
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SEMCOG University Multimodal Tool
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Designed by MDOT and SEMCOG, to assist communities and road agencies in achieving goals of safe, multimodal, and well-designed streets. This new tool provides a step-by-step process to determine the priorities along a street and cross section menu to mock alternatives. Here is link to the website. Watch a webinar describing the tool. |
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CIVICS EDUCATION AND MORE
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Featured Fall 2022 courses:
Anthropology of the Middle East (ANTH/AAST 373), Prof. Rose Wellman
Public History in Arab Detroit (AAST 3672/CRN 13900), Dr. Hani Bawardi
Immigrant Cultures & Gender (ANTH/CRI 455 / SOC/WGST 4555, Dr. Ivy Forsythe-Brown
Arab American Women Writers (ENG/AAST 473), Prof. Pauline Homsi Vinson
Classes begin August 25.
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POPULAR MEDIA/ PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORTS/ LECTURES/WEBINARS/WEBSITES
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Be sure to check our website for articles about webinars and other virtual events. These are listed on the front page of the website. When a recording is available for these calendar events, a link will be posted to the original article which will now be located on the Calendar page - Past events. |
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The Truth Matters: A Citizen Guide to Separating Facts from Lies and Stopping Fake News in Its Tracks / Bruce Bartlett. 2017
A pocket-sized book offering useful, clear guidance to help readers understand how news and journalism work and how they can be responsible and savvy news consumers. Discusses source types, how to use libraries and Wikipedia, and strategies commonly used by journalists.
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The Great Experiment: Why Diverse Democracies Fall Apart and How They Can Endure by Yascha Mounk. "Although Mounk is concerned about growing inequality an d identity-based politics, he makes the case for optimism, arguing for diversity and inclusion". (New York Times) |
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August 2 - Primary Election
Check our website for more calendar events etc. |
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AMAZON SHOPPERS CAN HELP SUPPORT ED FUND |
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If you are an Amazon shopper, you can make a donation to our Education Fund . Go to AmazonSmile and look for the Education Fund League of Women Voters Dearborn-Dearborn Hts Education Fund. Thank you!
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The League of Women Voters Dearborn-Dearborn Heights is a member organization with affiliation with LWVUS and LWVMI. Membership dues run from July 1- June 30. Dues are $70.00 for individuals, $105.00 for households, and $10.00 for students . To join or renew online, please go to www.lwvddh.org and click "Join/Renew on main page. An application form can also be found and can be mailed to LWV, 120 N. Military, Dearborn MI 48124. Thank you.
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Jennifer Oliver, President
Karen M. Jones, Vice-President
Carolyn Buell, Treasurer
Geraldine Grunow, Secretary
Geri Biggs, Director
Betsy Cushman, Director, Voter Service Chair
Laura Dudgeon, Director
Marlyne Kilbey, Director, Allegria Village Liaison
Colleen Kurecka, Director
Erica Marra, Director
Jennifer Teller, Director, Assistant Treasurer
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League of Women Voters Dearborn/Dearborn Heights
120 N. Military · Dearborn, MI 48124
313-278-6476
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