Happy Thursday! Here is your Weekly Update from the League of Women Voters Milwaukee County (LWVMC). There's a lot to take in this week. Get a cup of coffee. |
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Event Date: Jan 12 2023 - 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Please join the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin to learn how to use local census data to discover various demographics of your community. There will be ample time for Q&A following the presentation and announcements.
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|  | Annual Program Planning Meeting Jan. 19
Every January, Leagues across the country convene for a Program Planning meeting to set the advocacy agenda for the next League fiscal year. This year the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County and the Waukesha Branch (LWVMC) will meet virtually on Thursday, Jan 19, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. to plan our Program for July 2023 through June 2024.
Join us virtually at: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87083272254?pwd=dXM5TC9RcHRaWlJMRkliODZjaThDdz09
Devoting a meeting to just this topic allows us to select program initiatives that represent the most urgent needs in our community matched with the interests of our members. Therefore, we need to hear the voices of a broad cross-section of our membership.
Current program areas being addressed are
- Fair Maps
- Establishing an Observer Corps
- Allying in efforts to remove toxic chemicals from the environment
- Supporting local governmental efforts to respond to climate change
- Promoting police accountability and community safety
- Lobbying for reform in the juvenile justice system, and
- Supporting the rights of women, including reproductive rights
Please plan to attend the January 19 meeting to have input into the advocacy program for next year and to explore ways that you can be involved.
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Thank you to our Community Volunteers!!
What’s next…
A huge thank you to the Community Volunteers who have worked with the VOTE411 team this fall and winter to collect contact information for candidates in municipal and school board races in Milwaukee County; candidates in municipal races in Waukesha County’s thirteen largest communities and their eight school districts; and candidates for county-wide races in both Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties.
Being a Community Volunteer is a critical part of the VOTE411 project. For this election, over 20 volunteers contacted 50 municipalities and school boards. The help of our Community Volunteers has been invaluable!!
January 3 was the filing deadline to become a candidate in local races having elections this spring and the contact information for the candidates has been entered into the VOTE411 system. There are over 200 candidates running in about 120 races. Candidates are invited to participate in our 2023 Spring Voter Guide.
Candidates answer questions posed by the League so voters can be informed and make better decisions at the polls. Voters appreciate learning about the perspectives of the candidates and their views on issues.
Coming up…..
- Candidates are being invited to participate in the 2023 Spring Voter Guide. As a constituent, contact the candidates in your municipality and school district and encourage them to answer the League’s questions!
- The League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County’s 2023 Spring Voter Guide will be published at the end of January.
- The primary election is February 21. Let’s get out the vote!!
- The general election is April 4.
Read the LWVMC Updates in the coming weeks for more information.
|  | Primary Election February 21, 2023!
There are very important primary and spring elections coming up which will determine who will be our next State Supreme Court Judge, Court of Appeals Judges for Districts 1 and 4; Circuit Court Judges in various counties; local races depending on where you live, such as County Executive, County Board, Mayor, City Council, Town or Village President and Board, School Board, Special Elections for City of Milwaukee Alder Districts 1, 5. 9, and a Special Election for Senate District 8.
Please find below a calendar that outlines the important dates for the February primary election.
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Date
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Deadline
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Registration and Voting
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Wed. Feb. 1
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11:59 PM
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Last day to register to vote online. After this date, you must register in person in the Municipal Clerk’s office or at your polling place.
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Wed. Feb. 1
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Must be postmarked
by the 1st
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Last day to register to vote by mail. After this date, you must register in-person at your Municipal Clerk’s office or at your polling place.
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Tues. Feb. 7
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Hours vary
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Early Voting may begin Locations and hours vary. City of Mke, check for days and hours: city.milwaukee.gov/elections. Check with your Municipal Clerk in other municipalities to get early voting locations and schedules. Find your clerk on MyVote.wi.gov
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Tues. Feb. 7
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Close of business
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Suggested last date to request an absentee ballot by mail, email, or fax if you plan to return the ballot by mail. Call your city clerk if you want it faxed or emailed. You can also request an absentee ballot on MyVote.wi.gov
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Th. Feb. 16
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Close of business
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Actual Deadline: Last date to request an absentee ballot. Make plans for returning your completed ballot on time.
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Fri. Feb. 17
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9 AM - 6 PM
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Last day to register to vote in your Municipal Clerk’s office. Milwaukee residents can register and vote during early voting hours in the Zeidler Building next to City Hall.
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Sun. Feb. 19*
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Hours vary
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Last Day of Early Voting - varies by municipality. Check with your municipal clerk forearly voting sitesand schedules.
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Tues. Feb. 21
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7 AM - 8 PM
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Registration and Voting only possible at your polling site.
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Tues. Feb. 21
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8 PM
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Return an Absentee Ballot: If you have not returned your absentee ballot, please check with your Municipal Clerk to find out where to return your absentee ballot. If you need to find your Municipal Clerk go to MyVote.wi.gov.
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Fri. Feb. 24
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4 PM
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Provisional ballot info must be provided to your Municipal Clerk.
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Early voting sites and times are listed on your municipal clerk’s website. Hours and days vary for each municipality. We will publish more information about the City of Milwaukee when it is published.
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| We have gathered resources that you or your friends and associates might find useful. Of these resources the first five fliers provide information about the various levels of the Courts and the importance of the upcoming judicial elections.
LWVMC Resources 2023 Elections
|  | "Adopt a Library" Volunteers Wanted
The Library Outreach Committee is looking for volunteers to build community relations with the Milwaukee Public Library. Join us as we develop a new "Adopt a Library" program and become a library liaison to provide voter registration, voter education, and LWVMC resource opportunities at the Milwaukee Public Library.
Contact Heather Lesko at h.lesko@lwvmilwaukee.org. | Time to Gear Up Again for Voter Registration at the DMV!
The DMV Mill Road was a strong site for us for voter registrations last fall with 54 in six weeks. The days and times are Monday, Wednesday or Friday from 11:00-1:30pm. If you haven’t been at this location before you’ll have the support you need to be comfortable…and successful. This is a great opportunity to talk with potential voters, inform people about the importance of the positions on the Spring ballot and, of course, register them to vote! Questions? Email Ellen Trytek at e.trytek@lwvmilwaukee.org
| | |  | Candidate Forum Training for Members Jan. 24
League members who are interested in helping with candidate forums are invited to an informational meeting via Zoom on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 6:30 p.m. Candidate Forum Coordinator Julie Bowles will explain the procedures for setting up forums and the roles of volunteers at the events for both virtual and in-person forums. No need to RSVP, just join the meeting with this link: CLICK HERE | Passcode: league.
To call in dial: +1 312 626 6799 and use Meeting ID: 816 1439 3197 and Passcode: 216063. |  | January Is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month
Human trafficking — whether in the form of forced labor, sex trafficking, or other offenses — is an abhorrent abuse of power and a profoundly immoral crime that strikes at the safety, health, and dignity of millions of people worldwide. During National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we reaffirm our commitment to protect and empower survivors of all forms of human trafficking, to prosecute traffickers, and to bring an end to human trafficking in the United States and around the world. Find out more HERE, and how you can fight human trafficking HERE. |  | | As we enter the new year, it is time to begin the process to identify a slate of LWVMC officers for the 2023-2024 fiscal year (starts July 1, 2023). We will be nominating up to five members to fill positions on the Board and three members for the 2023 Nominating Committee.
The Nominating Committee will be encouraging wider participation in the nomination process than in past years. To accomplish that, we will be developing a Nomination Form to use for self-nominations or to nominate another member. If nominating another member, it is important to ask their permission before submitting a nomination.
Serving in a position on the Board of Directors is a privilege and an opportunity. It is about learning how the League operates behind the scenes as well as becoming acquainted with some amazing members.
Watch for additional information in the Weekly Updates delivered to your email on Thursdays. If you have questions or would like to discuss the Board of Directors positions, you can contact any of the Nominating Committee members.
|  | TO RSVP, PLEASE HOVER YOUR PHONE CAMERA OVER THE QR CODE IN THE FLYER ABOVE. CLICK ON THE LINK THAT POPS UP! OR CLICK HERE | DEADLINE FOR ARTICLE SUBMISSION FOR THIS WEEKLY UPDATE IS THE PRECEEDING MONDAY AT 5 pm. | Support Democracy. Support your League.
Your support is critical to help our nonpartisan grassroots organization reach voters play a critical role in democracy. It would not be possible to empower voters and defend democracy without your support. Thank you.
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