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Date: 6/16/2021
Subject: LWVJoCo Update: Show Your Support for S1
From: LWV of Johnson County



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This week, we provide you with a few ways to support the For the People Act, recordings of recent webinars on local elections and the recent KS legislative session, opportunities to volunteer, and much more. Keep reading, and have a great week!


ActionRequired

Four Ways to Support S.1

The US Senate will have a lengthy debate on S.1 - For the People Act. This act is good for democracy and American voters. Among other things, it makes voting safe and accessible and provides more transparency. Show your support with the following actions:
📧Use this easy template to tell your senator to vote yes. 
🗣Talk to your friends and neighbors about the act.
📱Share your support on social media.
💻Watch the LWVUS's For the People Act webinar on June 16 at 4 p.m. CT to learn what the act will do and why it is important.

ICYMI: A Conversation with Election Commissioners

If you missed the conversation with Johnson County Election Commissioner Fred Sherman and Wyandotte County Election Commissioner Michael Abbott on Saturday, here are a couple of takeaways:
  • If you move, let your election office know!
  • Both commissioners are open to ideas for increasing voter engagement and participation.
  • Elections are immensely complex events requiring an enormous amount of time and resources. If you have questions about the process, ask them. Better yet, volunteer!
👀View the webinar recording here.

What Just Happened - A Summary

More than 50 people tuned in last week as we tried to debrief the 2020 Kansas legislative session. We tapped three community leaders who had closely watched the session: Jacqueline Lightcap, co-president of the LWV of Kansas; Heather Ousley, president of the Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education; and Sherman Smith, editor of the Kansas Reflector.
Some of the issues they touched on included the status of LWVK's lawsuit challenging the anti-voter legislation that passed, funding of public schools and the failed attempt to require high school students to pass a civics class, efforts to pass Medicaid expansion, and many others.
All three panelists urged voters to contact their elected representatives to make their voices heard and to keep pushing legislative leadership to take up these issues.
Watch the webinar here.

DEIMoment-PrideMonth

There Is Still Work to be Done

The LWVUS emphasizes that defending democracy and ending discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community are linked. Read the blog to learn why advocacy is important, and summaries of two current cases that defend the LGBTQ+ community from attacks on their rights. 

Stay Engaged

2020 Election Impact Report
The 2020 election saw the greatest participation the United States has ever had. The League played an instrumental part in providing voters with information and access. Just a few stats:
  • 6 MILLION: The number of voters that accessed Vote411.org for information
  • 25 MILLION: The number of voters protected in 77 lawsuits
  • 233,000: The number of people the League supported in registering to vote.
Read the full impact report here.
 
LWV applauds the DoJ
On Friday, June 11, Attorney General Merrick Garland delivered a policy address on voting rights. In that address, he highlighted leaders throughout U.S. history who have emphasized the importance of the right to vote. He also noted that "moments of voting rights expansion have often been met with counter-efforts to curb the franchise." Referencing the recent actions in several states that create barriers to voting, Garland announced that the Department of Justice will double the division's staff for protecting the right to vote. Read his full remarks here, and the LWV's response here.
 
Competitive Races Explained
Learn about gerrymandering and how it affects competitive races. The LWV of Kansas believes #KansansDeserveFairMaps and People Powered Fair Maps are critical to equitable representation. View the video
 
Two Options to Celebrate Juneteenth
The NAACP of Johnson County and STAND UP for Black Lives+ are hosting a community celebration day from 11 to 4 (on June 19) in Franklin Park in Prairie Village. Learn more here.
 
The Advocacy and Awareness Group of Johnson County, Women of Purpose, and their community partners are hosting the 2nd Annual Advocacy and Awareness Peace March and Rally from 11 to 1 (also on June 19) in Overland Park. Learn more here.
 
Advocacy: Help Needed
We continue to call for volunteers to help reboot LWVJoCo's Advocacy Committee! You can help educate members on advocating for League positions, collaborate on opportunities for group advocacy activities, and brainstorm new ways to use our resources to boost member advocacy and advocacy effectiveness. Please email Leslie Mark  if you are interested.
 
Participate in the State Juvenile Justice Update
The committee for the 2021-2022 State Study on Juvenile Justice, responsible for providing a one-year update on this topic, still needs committee members. Please contact Ann Zimmerman at Gabrielle Thompson Bailey if you are interested in participating. 

Questions or concerns?

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