Happy Thursday,
Here's this week's Weekly Update for League of Women Voters Milwaukee County (LWVMC) news, information and events.

If You Are Downsizing or Simplifying, You Can Help Support LWVMC on Sunday, Oct 23:

JUST BRING YOUR GENTLY USED BOOKS, CDS AND DVDS to the Visitor’s Parking Lot at 6737 W. Washington Street, West Allis on Sunday, October 23 between 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Community volunteers are the backbone of a successful Voter Guide

The Vote411 team still needs Community Volunteers for Spring 2023 in Milwaukee municipalities: 

• Fox Point 
• Greenfield
• Hales Corners
• Oak Creek
  

• Fox Point Bayside
• Greenfield
• Oak Creek Franklin
• Wauwatosa
• Whitnall

What:  Help us to answer three questions:

• To answer question 1, Community Volunteers contact municipal clerks and school district clerks once in mid-November.
• To answer question 2, Community Volunteers contact municipal clerks and school district clerks again in December during the candidate filing period, and once more on January 4 the morning after the candidate filing period ends.  These contacts can be made by phone, email, in person, whatever works for you.   You do not need to live in the district for which you volunteer.
• As for question 3, watch and listen for issues specific to your community/school district any time now through November. 

If you are interested, contact Sarajane Kennedy at sarajane.kennedy@gmail.com to volunteer or get more information.

Public Issues Forum Nov. 16

Climate Change:  Origins, Impacts, and Solutions

This free, in-person event is brought to you by the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County Natural Resources Committee

Public Safety/Community-Oriented Policing Listening Sessions in Milwaukee:  Opportunity to Share your Ideas

The Community Collaborative Commission (CCC), the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD), and the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission (FPC) are holding listening sessions to gather input on what is needed from the police and other community organizations for Milwaukee to be a safer place.  Community members are invited to attend and participate. The listening sessions, to be held in aldermanic districts, stem from and will focus on a commitment to community-oriented policing, with the police working alongside community groups to address many of the issues facing the city. 

Information about the sessions and the schedule for them can be found at Here's how you can get involved in Milwaukee's listening sessions about community-oriented policing from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.  The Police Accountability and Community Safety Committee of the LWVMC is excited about and supportive of these sessions.  We urge you, as members of the Milwaukee community, to attend a session, share your thoughts, and promote the collaboration among the CCC, MPD and FPC.  As noted in the article, you do not have to live in a particular district to attend its meeting.  

Absentee Ballot Return Assistance

Note: These changes do not affect voters choosing to vote in-person on Election Day or during early voting. Our target audience for this messaging is absentee voters by mail.

• Voters should return their own ballot by mail at least a week prior to Election Day. 

  • We encourage all voters to complete and mail their ballot as soon as possible to allow time for mail delivery. 

• Voters with a disability who need assistance may have someone return their absentee ballot other than their employer, agent of that employer, or officer or agent of their union. 

• It is up to the voter to determine if they need assistance mailing or delivering their ballot because of a disability.  

  • Election officials and your clerk cannot inquire about a voter’s disability status beyond the questions described below. No additional steps may be taken to verify the voter’s disability or right to assistance.  

  • Voters with disabilities should explain to the person assisting them that they may be asked a few questions by the election official.  

1. Are you the voter? If not, then:

2. Are you delivering the voter’s ballot because the voter has determined that they require assistance returning their ballot due to their disability? If yes, then: 

3. Are you someone other than the voter’s employer, an agent of that employer, or an officer or agent of the voter’s union? If yes, then the ballot can be accepted.

• Clerks may not create additional requirements or require documentation from voters with disabilities who need ballot return assistance.

• Clerks may not create additional requirements or require documentation from an individual returning the ballot for a voter with a disability.

• You may check with your municipal clerk to determine where your assistor should deliver your ballot. Find contact information for your clerk on MyVote Wisconsin: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/My-Municipal-Clerk

• Voters with questions or concerns may contact the Disability Rights Wisconsin Voter Hotline: 844-347-8683 or email info@disabilityvote.org

Here is a link to Wisconsin Elections Commission guidance on absentee ballot return options under the Federal Voting Rights Act.

If you are interested in learning more about the responsibilities and qualifications please use the following link: 

Learn More about Election Workers

This link will also take you to the online application.

CELEBRATE DIA DE LOS MUERTOS AT THE FOREST HOME CEMETERY AND ARBORETUM

Saturday, October 29

10:00a-3:00p Free

The Dia de los Muertos Festival is a FREE family friendly event that aims to bring together the southside community to celebrate the traditions of Dia de los Muertos and enjoy the space that the Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum has to offer. The event will kick-off in the morning with a 5k Run/Walk through the grounds of the cemetery. After the run, the festival begins with food trucks, local vendors, arts and crafts for kids and families, traditional music and dance, altars to the dead, face painting, community resource booths, and so much more. Learn more here.

ALERT! 

YOU can help address climate change here in Milwaukee County! The LWV Milwaukee County Board supports the principles of the City-County Climate and Economic Equity Plan. The Plan’s Executive Summary, available here outlines a viable approach to address climate change and at the same time economically benefit everyone.

Read the Executive Summary and join us in person on the evening of November 16th at the LWV Milwaukee County Public Information Forum, Climate Change: Origins, Effects and Solutions to learn more.