LWV-Wake Update 10/31/2022
|  | Dear ~~first_name~~,
Greetings from LWV-Wake.
Happy Halloween! This is definitely a spooky time in our country. The outcome of next week's election will have an effect on many issues, including women's reproductive and LGBTQ rights, school curriculum, school funding, voting rights, election security, future growth, and most importantly, the amount of control election deniers will have over the future of our country.
No doubt we'll either be treated to to a Restoration of Rights or tricked by a real-life House of Horrors. Buckle up for the ride and remind everyone you see to VOTE! Early voting ends November 5th.
LWVUS Files Amicus Brief in Moore v. Harper
Speaking of the future of our country...Moore v. Harper, a case that originated in North Carolina, is scheduled for oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court on December 7th.
The case, which involves the Independent State Legislature Theory, has very serious implications for our country's elections and on democracy. To learn more about the case, read the Brennen Center's Moore v. Harper, Explained here.
On October 26th, LWVUS and all 50 state League chapters and DC, filed an amicus brief outlining the negative implications that such a theory, if adopted, would have across the country. For details about the amicus brief, click here.
Election Security
We are into the second week of Early Voting. While we haven't heard about organized voter intimidation efforts in Wake County, it is important to remain vigilant and understand the process for reporting bad behavior. Poll workers (which include many of our members) have a responsibility to report any suspicious behavior to their precinct Chief Judge. According to NCSBE's website,
"Under N.C.G.S. § 163-48, chief judges of polling places shall work to maintain order at the polling place. This includes ensuring those who wish to register, or vote have access to the place of registration and voting. Judges shall monitor and stop attempts to obstruct, intimidate, or interfere with any person in registering or voting. They may remove any person from the polling place for violation of any provisions of the election laws."
In addition, anyone who has witnessed suspicious activities or attempts of voter intimidation can call 1-888-OUR-VOTE and should encourage others to do the same. Speaking of staying vigilant.....
On October 25th, Protect Democracy, on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Arizona, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona against organizations and individuals who have conspired to intimidate voters this election season through “Operation Drop Box.” Dressed in tactical gear, these individuals have intimidated people into not voting and either directly or indirectly accused people of voter fraud.
Two days after the lawsuit was filed, one of the defendants, Lions of Liberty, released a statement that they would cease "Operation Drop Box". LWVUS responded stating, "While the board of the Lions of Liberty’s announcement to end their surveillance of drop boxes is a positive development, we are committed to continuing our litigation until all groups cease their illegal activities and Arizonans are again able to cast their vote in peace".
To read more about this lawsuit, click here. This is one of many lawsuits Leagues across the country have filed to defend voters, and demonstrates the impact of our organization.
Ballot Challenges
While the League, along with other voting rights groups intend to observe the absentee ballot counting process to ensure every legitimate ballot is counted, there are others lining up to challenge ballots and prevent them from being counted.
LWVNC and LWV-Wake Director Marian Lewin, was featured in a recent NC Policy Watch article about the rise of election deniers intent on challenging ballots in the upcoming election, and the League's efforts to recruit observers to counteract this movement.
Wake BOE Observers
LWVNC has provided several resources for Members who are interested in observing County Board of Elections meetings. During these meetings, board and staff will begin to process absentee ballots and provisional ballots.
Members/observers are asked to document any relevant comments about the process, including discussions involving guidance board members/staff are receiving from the NCBOE. The observation form can be found here.
A full schedule of the Wake County Board of Elections meetings can be found here.
Environment Committee - Effective Advocacy - November 1st 4:30pm
Are you interested in learning how to advocate more effectively? Attend LWV-Wake Environment Committee's next meeting on October where Leaguer Tom Vitaglione, a seasoned and effective lobbyist, will provide tips and answer questions about how best to promote environmental legislation and programs. Strategies learned can be applied to many different issues. Open to ALL LWV-Wake members. To learn more and to register, click here.
|  | | Giving Tuesday is coming November 29th!
Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving, is returning November 29th. Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. LWV-Wake has participated in Giving Tuesday since 2019, and in 2021, we raised over $4000 to help LWV-Wake carry out our mission of Educating Voters and Defending Democracy.
This year, we are reaching out to membership and beyond to ask again for your support as we work to fulfill our strategic priority of increasing the diversity of the League. To ensure our League continues to grow and creates a pipeline of younger volunteers, we are creating a Youth Engagement Program.
We've spent the past year, researching other Leagues' Youth Engagement programs and sought feedback from youth activists at ECU to determine what would motivate high-school and college students to join LWV-Wake. However, we need funds to help develop these outreach programs.
Over the next few weeks, we will embark on a social media campaign to reach donors and describe the program and the successful impact LWV-Wake has had in our community.
Please be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter, and of course, read more about our impact in the next newsletter! To be recognized as one of our early donors and to show your support for our program and the League, please click on the link below to donate:
| | Timely Topics
Understanding the Real Root of America's Divide
November 16th 12 noon
Please join our November Timely Topics: Helping Citizens Understand the Real Root of Today's American Divide with Dr. Rupert W. Nacoste. Dr. Nacoste, Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor of Psychology at North Carolina State University and author of Taking On Diversity: How We Can Move From Anxiety to Respect, will discuss the societal changes that have led to polarization (the divide) and the dangers of simply opting-out of the political process. To register, click below:
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- November 10th 10:30am - Field Trip to Oberlin Village - League members will visit the historic Oberlin Village and meet for lunch after at La Carretta. The tour is a short walk around historic Oberlin Village with information about the history, biographies, challenges, and values of residents and descendants. For more information and to register, click here.
- November 17th 2-3pm - League Lit - Pelosi by Mollie Ball - From the Library Journal Review, "Ball has written a thorough and enjoyable political biography moving from Pelosi's childhood as the daughter of the mayor of Baltimore to her evolving political sense stemming from her time as a party fundraiser and whip. Ball describes how Pelosi learned to only bring legislation to a vote when she knows it will pass, and how many votes it will receive". To register, click here.
|  | | New Documentary Highlights the Sacrifice and Heroism of Election Workers
Released on October 7th, this documentary follows election workers in Rhode Island and highlights the extraordinary efforts they took to ensure every eligible vote counted. In addition, it describes the immense pressure and the personal attacks they endured while trying to do their job.
A national viewing of this film occurred on October 27th and was promoted by League of Women Voters, Election Hero Day, the Brennan Center for Justice and the Democracy Fund. The film was produced by a group of documentary production companies. For more information about the film and to purchase $10 virtual screening links, click below:
|  | | "Wheat the People" Special Brew for LWV-Wake through November 9th
If you have not yet visited Clouds Brewing in Raleigh to try "Wheat the People", time is running out! Our Get Out The Vote collaboration with Clouds Brewing in Raleigh ends November 9th. Clouds brewmasters have formulated a special brew called "Wheat the People" just for LWV-Wake! As part of Clouds nonprofit Silver Linings beer collaboration, Clouds will donate $1 for each beer sold to our League. While they have sold out of cans, "Wheat the People" is still available on tap.
LWV-Wake and Clouds Brewing were recently highlighted on ABC News 11, which can be viewed here.
Clouds has an amazing weekend brunch menu and has become a brunch destination for both locals and visitors. League volunteers have been at Clouds every weekend since September 19th greeting patrons and encouraging use of VOTE411.org.
We've not only reached a good number of locals, but have also engaged a large number of out-of-state visitors who are surprised and excited to learn that VOTE411.org is useful for them as well. Clouds menu is available here (scroll down past beers to see the food menu).
| LWV-Wake Candidate Forums | | City of Raleigh Candidate Forums
Please help us promote these candidate forum and share links with friends
| Wake County Board of Commissioners Candidate Forums
Participating candidates include:
District 1: Chanel N. Harris, Donald Mial
District 2: Matt Calabria, Mark McMains
District 3: Irina Comer, Cheryl F. Stallings
District 7: Vickie Adamson
| | Wake County Board of Education Candidate Forums
Please help us promote these candidate forums and share links with friends
|  | | LWVNC Releases Video "What Happens After You Vote in NC"
Most North Carolinians are familiar with what voting looks like – they know about the various voting opportunities that are presented before and on Election Day; they have seen a sample ballot, and they have likely interacted with a poll worker.
But to have full confidence in our elections, it’s crucial to understand:
- the safeguards in place to prevent double voting
- the tools that the N.C. State Board of Elections utilizes, such as BallotTrax, so that voters can track their ballot
- the ways in which ballots cast before Election Day are processed prior to the closing of the polls on Election Day
- the opportunities for North Carolinians to take part in the transparent process of tabulating votes
- the intricacies of the post-election canvass process, when the election results are checked and finalized.
Knowing that the best protection for any election system is the vigilance and participation of voters, the League wanted to cover these topics in a video, with the hopes that the factual and helpful information contained within would be shared far and wide.
We encourage you to share this video, which is also on our website homepage, with friends and other organizations of which you are a part.
| To see all upcoming LWVNC sponsored events, please view their Events Calendar
| Looking for information from a past newsletter? Previous League Updates can now be viewed on our website's home page. Look for the "League Updates" blue tab on the top menu.
Thank you for continuing to support the League of Women Voters of Wake County.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Tung
President | | The League of Women Voters of Wake County is a designated 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization by the IRS. Donations and membership dues are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. | | Support the LWV-Wake with Amazon Smile donations
You can now select our League as your charity of choice and support LWV-Wake at no cost to you. A portion of all your Amazon purchases will be donated to LWV-Wake by Amazon. To learn more about Amazon Smile and how to sign up, click here. Once you have signed up and chosen League of Women Voters of Wake County as your charity, you can bookmark the Amazon Smile page. Thank you! | | | |