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Date: 9/17/2020
Subject: LWVJoCo Update: Less than 2 months to go
From: LWV of Johnson County



JoCo League logo

Hi ~~first_name~~:

The election is just around the corner. Request your mail-in ballot, learn more about the candidates, volunteer at the election office, continue the DEI conversation, join Souls to the Polls, and meet Jerry. Keep reading to learn more.


Vote by mail!

Voting by mail is easy to do, and not new to Kansas or the country. In the August primary, 56% of total Johnson County voters cast ballots by mail, and 38% of Wyandotte County voters did the same. To do so for the November primary:
  • Register if you have not already done so.
  • Update your information if you have moved or changed your name - by Oct. 13.
  • Request your ballot now! The deadline is Oct. 27, but LWVJoCo suggests requesting it by Oct. 6 or earlier.
For more information on voting by mail, view the Voting by Mail in Kansas FAQs article here.
Register, update your information, and request your ballot at ksvotes.org

DA candidate forum

Tune in to our Johnson County DA candidate forum

Take time to learn about the candidates currently running for Johnson County District Attorney, Dist. 10 and important issues surrounding this race. The two candidates running for the one available seat are expected to attend.
Tuesday, September 22 at 4:30 pm | Zoom
Candidates: Steve Howe, Zach Thomas
Moderators: Haile Sims, Advocacy and Awareness Group: Johnson County and Kendall Seal, ACLU Kansas
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email one or two days before the event with instructions for joining the meeting.

Hosted by the LWVJoCo, Mainstream Coalition, Advocacy and Awareness Group: Johnson County, ACLU Kansas, Johnson County Latina Leadership Network, and NEJC Chamber.

 
Register Now

VoterProtectionsandElectionSecurity2

Join us for a discussion on elections and COVID-19

LWVJoCo's October meeting will focus on voting during and after COVID-19. This meeting will address the impact of the pandemic on the upcoming election and future elections, how we can overcome voting hurdles, and how we can boost voter confidence and turnout. Our guest panelists are:
  • Connie Schmidt, Johnson County Election Commissioner
  • Nadine Johnson, Executive Director, ACLU of Kansas
  • Jessica Jones Capparel, LWV Policy & Legislative Affairs Senior Manager
These topics are of utmost importance ahead of the November election, and we hope you will join the discussion.
 

Q&A at DEI meeting

DEI discussion recap and recording

We had over 60 people join us for a conversation about diversity, equity and inclusion last Saturday, September 12. The speakers, Juan Rangel and Dr. Andrea Hendricks, shared personal stories, constructs for thinking about our biases and how to change them, a way to assess your current cultural context, and more.
 
If you missed the virtual discussion or want to watch it again, you access the recording here.
If you attended or if you watch the program on YouTube, please complete this short survey so we can make future events even better.

Stay engaged

Continue the DEI conversation
The national LWV offers monthly webinars on DEI. September's webinar explores the topic of microaggressions: how they form, how to recognize them and how to prevent them.
Sept. 24, 7 p.m. ET
 
Census update: undocumented individuals
A federal court has blocked attempts to exclude undocumented individuals from the 2020 Census count. The LWV organizations of California, Texas, and Florida joined the case to fight the adverse effects placed on their states, but this decision is important for all states. 
Read more here.
You can still fill out the census form online here.
 
Souls to the Polls, continued
After a successful caravan event in August, KCK Souls to the Polls is planning another event Oct. 10. An an offshoot of the national Souls to the Polls initiative, KCK Souls to the Polls is a nonpartisan, grassroots initiative designed to ensure ALL voices are included at the “tables of power” by increasing voter turnout. Learn more about how you can get involved here.
 
The election office needs your help
Volunteer opportunities are now open for the Johnson County Election Office. Volunteers will open envelopes and flatten applications and ballots in four-hours shifts. Shifts are available Monday through Friday, October 19 through November 6, from 8 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information and to sign up, email Jan Brunks at jmbrunks@gmail.com.
 
Member Spotlight: Jerry Gilson
Our September member spotlight introduces Jerry Gilson, a LWVJoCo member since 2018 and League treasurer since March 2020. Jerry believes that the work the League does in its Souls to the Polls, candidate forums and voting rights initiatives are well done. He'd like to see more focus on racial justice and the elimination of the Electoral College. And, if you ever see a 65-foot giant whale kite at Heritage Park, there's a good chance Jerry is there.
 

Questions or concerns?

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