Date: 7/18/2024
Subject: Weekly Update for July 18th
From: League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County

Fall Primary Election VOTE411.org Voter Guide is published

The League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County launched its VOTE411.org Voter Guide for the August 13 Primary Election. We can find information about races for US Congress, US Senate, Wisconsin Senate, Wisconsin Assembly, District Attorney and constitutional amendment questions. In Milwaukee and Waukesha there are local races for the County Treasurer.

On VOTE411, voters can learn more about the responsibilities of these offices and each candidate's values. Election administrators are already sending out absentee ballots and early voting begins later this month.Voting is the best way to improve your community. Nearly 25.4 million voters have found the information they needed thanks to VOTE411, many of whom are youth and first-time voters. Voting should be fun and simple. VOTE411 gives voters the invaluable, nonpartisan information they need all in one place. So head on over and get out to vote on August 13!

Click here to go to VOTE411.org.

If you have a yard sign, now is the time to display it!

If you need a Yard Sign and or Bumper Magnet, here is how you get one:

LWV Yard Signs and Bumper Magnets Available!

We are offering yard signs again this year. We have two kinds of signs:

- Vote From Home

- VOTE/VOTA (Vote on one side and Vota on the other)

Yard signs (18" x 24") are available on a first come first served basis. We also have metal stands.

Bumper magnets pictured below. If you'd like any of these items,

please complete THIS FORM. We will contact you.

Coming soon: LWVMC merch!

Watch your inbox and future Updates for information. Custom branded t-shirts and tote bags will be sold through a limited-time, online pop-up store. Details coming soon.

'Tis the season…

LWVUS Protest Safety Guidance

If you plan to participate in a political rally or protest march, know your rights and how to stay safe. If you decide to pull out your cell phone to record events, keep in mind that you have a 1st Amendment right to record law enforcement in public spaces, but only as long as you don't interfere -- and the police make that call.

Read more advice from the national League here.

Disability Voting Rights Week: Sept. 9-13

Mark your calendar: Disability Voting Rights Week is a crucial initiative focused on building power within the disability community by ensuring people with disabilities are registered and ready to vote. People with disabilities are a significant voting bloc, and are a part of all political parties and demographics. Systemic barriers and voter suppression continue to prevent many disabled voters from accessing the ballot, and DVRW is also about continuing to fight to improve election accessibility and raise the visibility of our community as an important voting bloc. To volunteer for an event and learn more about empowering the disability vote, visit here.

Help Recruit Poll Workers

Please spread the word about the need for poll workers – our election heroes! The toolkit below has material you can use to send information to your friends, neighborhood businesses, churches, health clubs – wherever civic-minded citizens hang out.

LWVWI 2024-25 Poll Worker Recruitment Toolkit

Spread the Word!

Overview

Wisconsin voters will be asked two questions to amend (change) the constitution on their August ballot. These potential changes will impact both the process for distributing federal money, and who has the power to make those decisions. These large sweeping changes will impact a wide range of issues voters care about, from education to the environment to how quickly the government can respond to emergencies (like a public health crisis or a natural disaster).

The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin knows that if these amendments are passed they will be harmful to the people of our state. We urge voters to VOTE NO on both questions.

Voters must be prepared to answer these questions in the August 13, 2024 election.

The questions on voters’ ballots

Question 1: “Delegation of appropriation power. Shall section 35 (1) of article IV of the constitution be created to provide that the legislature may not delegate its sole power to determine how moneys shall be appropriated?”

Read more about what this question means Ballotpedia Question 1

Question 2: “Allocation of federal moneys. Shall section 35 (2) of article IV of the constitution be created to prohibit the governor from allocating any federal moneys the governor accepts on behalf of the state without the approval of the legislature by joint resolution or as provided by legislative rule?”

Read more about what this question means Ballotpedia Question 2

What does a “Yes” or a “No” vote mean?

A "yes" vote supports amending the state constitution to require legislative approval from both the senate and assembly before the governor can expend federal money appropriated to the state.

A "no" vote opposes this amendment, thereby allowing the governor to accept and allocate federal funds without seeking an approval vote from the state legislature.

Stance: The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin opposes these constitutional amendment questions and urges voters to VOTE NO on both questions.

And here’s a toolkit with more information about the amendments, social media posts and other deep dive information about these issues.

NO to Amendments Toolkit

Coffee for Our Cause

Breaking news on a new coffee vendor! We will be working with East View Coffee Company, founded and owned by Jenny Ulbricht. East View’s story is aligned with our values on gender equality, environmental action, and social justice woven into everything they do. Jenny roasts and sells coffee to cafes, grocery stores, online across the US, and to people who visit their tasting room. The tasting room is tip-free – all eight of her employees are paid more than a living wage.

East View partners with women-owned coffee farms, championing quality and providing opportunities for growth. With smart packaging and carbon-neutral shipping, East View ensures that our love for coffee doesn’t come at the expense of our planet.

With Jenny’s business model, coffee orders for three or more bags (12 oz.) will ship from her store for free to a single address in mainland USA. Kathy Ulbricht, long-time League member and former Board member and Mary Voelker are co-chairs for this year’s Coffee for Our Cause fundraiser.

One thing that hasn’t changed is our need for League members to be on the sales team. Here is the link to sign-up to be a member of the sales team. Can we count you in? Take a look and sign-up here.

Please email Mary Voelker at m.voelker@lwvmilwaukee.org with your questions.

Photo credit: PBS Wisconsin

SCOW Restores Ballot Drop Boxes

The Supreme Court of Wisconsin has ruled that absentee ballot boxes will return for the August and November elections. The popularity of absentee voting soared during the pandemic, when more than 40% of voters cast absentee ballots.The number and locations of the boxes has not yet been determined. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The ruling overturned a July 2022 decision from the court’s then-conservative majority that held ballot drop boxes were illegal in Wisconsin. Conservative justices in their 4-3 ruling at the time said state law did not permit drop boxes anywhere other than election clerk offices. . . Despite heavy scrutiny from Republicans, drop boxes were used widely in Wisconsin, including in conservative areas. In spring 2021, there were about 570 drop boxes in Wisconsin, according to court filings. Out of Wisconsin’s 72 counties, at least 66 had drop boxes as of spring 2021, PolitiFact Wisconsin noted.

Contact Your Representatives

Speak up on the issues impacting our democracy.

Tell your senators to enshrine sex-based equality byaffirming the Equal Rights Amendment as part of our Constitution!
Demand bipartisan cooperationon voting rights!
Support theexpansion of voting rights!
Urge Congress toaddress the climate crisisand protect our youth!
Asking Congress to decrease the influence of dark money withtheDISCLOSE Act!
Demand that Congress end voter discrimination and support theJohn R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act!

Suffs: the Musical!

The Broadway musical “Suffs” chronicles the suffragists’ fight for voting rights – including the disputes between LWV founder Carrie Chapman Catt, Alice Paul and Ida B. Wells over strategy and tactics. Enjoy a musical interlude and listen to excerpts during this NPR radio segment.

Accessing Members-Only Website Portal

The LWVMC website has information and resources that are available only to LWVMC members. To access the membership directory or members-only resources and volunteer opportunities, click on the button below. Contact Mary Ellen Spicuzza at me.spicuzza@lwvmilwaukee.org with any questions.

Support Local 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.

Donate Here

Thank you! LWVMC

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