Oregon law now allows 17-year-olds to register and receive ballots for the first election on or after their 18th birthdays. And, thanks to the Marion and Polk Counties (OR) League of Women Voters, three hundred and twenty-nine (329) teenagers will be able to vote this year!
I recently attended the Council of Leaders of the League of Women Voters of Florida “Viva La Liga” in Tampa, Florida, and was privileged to also sit in on the Board of Directors meeting. This year’s Council focused on the Cuban experience. Eighty-four League members attended the two day Council.
This past week was Public Service Recognition Week – a time to honor and celebrate the local, state, and federal public servants who are integral in making our democracy work. Today is also Mother’s Day, when we remember that mothers play a vital role in raising educated voters. Where would our country be if one young elected official in Tennessee has not listened to his mother and cast the deciding vote for woman’s suffrage?
This is Public Service Recognition Week and this weekend, we celebrate Mother’s Day! In my roles as a career public servant and a mother, the League has always provided a very special place for me. League members work closely with local, state, and federal employees and officials. We understand the very special role that these dedicated public servants play in making our democracy work.
Earlier this week, the three federal judges tasked with reviewing Texas’ voter identification law issued an order scolding the state for its activities in “delaying the Defendants’ ability to receive and analyze the data and documents in a timely fashion.”
Yesterday’s passage of North Carolina’s constitutional amendment and today’s announcement by President Obama have raised the issue of marriage equality in the national debate. Leagues across the country have been active in advocating for marriage equality and delegates to the 2010 convention adopted a position of marriage equality that supports equal rights for all under state and federal law. At a time when there are so many things dividing Americans, we should stay focused on the real issue at hand: equality of opportunity.
This week, LWVUS elections staff were pleased to attend a new poll briefing pinpointing the important role Asian American voters will play in the 2012 elections. Sponsored by Lake Research, Asian American Justice Center, APIA Vote, and the Asian American Institute, the new national survey found key opportunities for candidates on both sides of aisle to court Asian voters this year.
We’re excited to announce that we have finalized the location for our first meeting of the Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative (BMENA) – we’ll be in Doha, Qatar, July 11 and 12!
