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Date: 4/30/2023
Subject: LWV-Wake League Update May 1st 2023
From: League of Women Voters of Wake County



LWV-Wake Update 5/1/2023 


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LWVNC Jo quote re: NCSC
ERA failure quote from LWVUS

Dear ~~first_name~~,
 
Greetings from LWV-Wake.
 
Democracy took another hit last week when the North Carolina Supreme Court reversed rulings on previous court decisions that provided voting rights protections for North Carolinians. 
 
In a 5-2 decision, the court decided that our state legislature should have unchecked powers to create partisan gerrymandered voting maps. The court also reinstated the Voter ID law (SB 824) that had previously been determined to be racially motivated. Lastly, they stripped the voting rights from 56,000 North Carolinians with prior felony convictions who had served their sentences. The quote in the top image was part of LWVNC's response to the rulings. To read the response its entirety, click here.
 
For an in-depth report about these recent rulings, please read Southern Coalition for Social Justice's press release here.
 
In addition, we witnessed a US Senate vote (51-47) to block the ERA removal of an arbitrary deadline in order for states to ratify the ERA. The second image at the top is part of LWVUS's response the the Senate vote. To read the entire statement, click here.
 
 
Increased Voter Advocacy and Outreach
 The recent NC Supreme Court rulings, combined with the introduction of several anti-voter bills, makes the mission and work of the League of Women Voters of Wake County extremely important ahead of the 2024 elections. 
 
We need to advocate for more election funding, fight back against legislation that shortens in-person early voting and absentee ballot mail deadlines, and educate our community on new voting limitations and election changes that will likely be in place for the 2024 elections, including any new Voter ID requirements. If you are interested in helping with these efforts, please join the Voter Services committee on our committees page here.
 
 
LWV-Wake Annual Meeting Notice and Information - PLEASE VOTE!
The 2023 LWV-Wake Annual meeting notice and materials, including an Electronic Ballot link, were emailed to every member on April 17th. While we are still conducting an annual meeting in person, we are pivoting to electronic voting rather than in-person voting to conduct annual meeting business.  Votes will be tallied, and results will be announced during the meeting, allowing all required official business to take place. 
 
If you haven't already, please review the materials (link below) and submit your electronic ballot. Ballots must be submitted no later than noon on May 17, 2023. Ballots may only be submitted by members in good standing (dues paid), and each must have an email address on file. As an alternative for nominations from the floor during the annual meeting, we have provided a space for write-in candidates. 
Electronic Voting Image
You must click on this link to access the electronic ballot:
 
 
 

Blueprint Democracy Report
Blueprint for a Stronger Democracy Report
 
The Institute for Southern Studies and N.C. Voters for Clean Elections recently released a report that presents a positive vision for democracy by laying out a blueprint for improved voter access and election administration.
 
This report is an update to a similar 2021 report and reflects changes in voting preferences and patterns since COVID, as well as addresses the recent increase in mis- and disinformation and intimidation of election officials. It includes contributions from several organizations, including League of Women Voter of North Carolina.
 
Recommendations are organized by topic and while many require legislative action, there are educational outreach opportunities as well, especially around topics such as voter roll maintenance, funding elections, and voter registration and ballot challenges. 
 
 
 
 

Upcoming LWV-Wake Events

TT Brainstorming Planning Meeting


  • May 4th 2pm-3:30pm - League Lit - The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah - From Amazon: "A rich, sweeping novel that stunningly brings to life the Great Depression and the people who lived through it―the harsh realities that divided us as a nation and the enduring battle between the haves and the have-nots. A testament to hope, resilience, and the strength of the human spirit to survive adversity, The Four Winds is an indelible portrait of America and the American dream, as seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice will come to define a generation." To register, click here.
  • May 9th 1pm-2pm - Timely Topics Brainstorming Session - Join League Leaders at the office to brainstorm ideas for speakers for our 2023-2024 Timely Topics Series. Timely Topics is one of our signature events, and we need ideas from our subject matter experts- Committee Chairs and other leaders! This meeting is part of our League Leaders' series, but all members are welcome to attend. The event is in person at the LWV-Wake Office. To register, click here. 
  • May 11th 10:30am - NC Art Museum Tour - Join the Women's Rights Committee at the NC Museum of Art in the East Building for a tour of Women Artists as Influencers. Explore the innovation and influence of women artists from 19th century art movements to contemporary art exploration. Attendees will learn the names, techniques, and intent of women across art genre and form. Reservations are limited to 20 spots and open to all LWV-Wake members. To register, click here.
  • May 24th 5:30pm-6:30pm - Women's Right's Committee welcomes Lisa Finaldi with NC Early Childhood Foundation. Ms. Finaldi will discuss how community collaboration with business leaders is helping to build a strong foundation for lifelong success for North Carolina’s children. Her focus is the Family Forward NC and Campaign for Grade-Level Reading initiatives. To register, click here.
  • August 24th 5:30pm - SAVE THE DATE for Women's Equality Day -  Join us as we commemorate the passage of the 19th Amendment and recognize all women elected officials serving Wake County. Our guest speaker will be Nora El-Khouri Spencer, 2022 CNN Top 10 Hero of the Year and Founder/CEO of Hope Renovations. Event will be held at Dix Chapel in Dix Park. Registration opens June 1st. More details, including sponsorship info, can be found here. 
  • September 20th 5:30pm - SAVE THE DATE for Timely Topics: Reproductive Rights & Abortion - Join us for our first Timely Topics program of the season. This event will feature guest panelists Dr. Beverly Gray of Duke Obstetrics & Gynecology and Tara Romano, Executive Director of Pro-Choice NC. Others will be added. Registration opens soon. 

2023 Annual Meeting Image
 Annual Meeting with Guest Speaker Carmen Cauthen
Wednesday, May 17th 5:30pm - 7:30pm
NCSU University Club
 
We are pleased to announce that local author Carmen Cauthen will serve as our guest speaker for this year's LWV of Wake County Annual Meeting!  Carmen will discuss her recently published book Historic Black Neighborhoods of Raleigh. The meeting will also include a brief update on this year's strategic objectives, the 2023-2024 budget, announcement of new board members and special recognition.
 
There will be a mix & mingle followed by dinner and program. Registration is $35 and includes dinner. There will be an open bar for the first hour. Ms. Cauthen will sign books available for purchase. To learn more about Carmen Cauthen and her book and to register, click the link below.
 
 
 

LWVNC Events

LWVNC Convention 2023
LWVNC Convention May 19th-21st
LWV-Wake Member Delegates Needed
LWVNC’s 39th Convention ­will take place May 19-21, 2023 in Charlotte. We are excited to announce that Dr. Deborah Turner, the 20th president of the League of Women Voters of the United States, will speak at the Saturday evening banquet.
 
We really need our members to attend and participate in important League decisions and show support for our state League and LWVUS President. Among the agenda items:
  • Analysis of 2022 Elections—Who’s Voting, Who’s Not
  •  Upcoming Legislative Trends: Initiatives We Need to Prepare For
  • Misinformation/Disinformation in the Media and the League’s Role
  • ERA—What’s Happening and What We Need to Do
  • Tax Policy Presentation
  • Effective Advocacy in Education
In addition, there will be two plenary sessions for official League business. This is an excellent opportunity for newer members to learn about important issues as well as how the League works. 
 
The registration fee is $275. LWV-Wake will reimburse the registration fee for members who attend. We encourage any member who wants to learn more about the League to join us for a weekend full of fun and learning.
 
Please email Cheryl Tung if you have registered so we can arrange reimbursement. Reimbursements will be sent at the conclusion of the convention. Click on the links below to register and to make hotel reservations:
 
 
 
 
 
 

To see all upcoming LWVNC sponsored events, please view their Events Calendar
 
 
 
 
 

NCGA Legislative Update
 
2023-2025 Budget 
House Republicans passed their budget April 6th with a 78-38 vote. ABC11.com provides a good review of the NC House budget.  As mentioned in the last update, while it provides raises for teachers and other state employees, it also contains a lot of bad legislation. It is now the Senate's turn to pass their budget before a compromise budget is created and sent to Governor Cooper. 
 
Governor Cooper released his 2023-2025 $32.9 billion dollar budget proposal on March 15. You can read about Governor Cooper's budget here
 
Legislative Deadlines:
Senate Bill Filing Deadline: April 4th   
House Bill Filing Deadlines (not for appropriations or finance bills): April 18th
House Bill Filing Deadlines (appropriations or finance bills): April 25th
Crossover deadline is May 4.
Bills that do not involve money (appropriations or revenue) or are not part of a legislative study must pass either the House or the Senate by May 4 in order to be eligible to be passed in the remainder of the Long Session or in the 2024 Short Session.
All bills related to elections and redistricting are not subject to crossover and can be considered and newly introduced at any time.
 
Good Bills Continue To Be Filed but are not moving forward
HB 835 Expand the Wage$ Program. Filed April 19th. Expands the Wage$ program to all 100 counties and provides an increase to salary supplements for early childcare providers. Referred to Appropriations Committee on April 24th.
SB 642 Independent Redistricting Commission - Filed April 5th. Creates an Independent Redistricting Commission and establishes processes. Referred to Rules April 6th.  
 HB 569 (SB 555) Working Families Act - Filed April 4th. Would provide an increase in childcare tax credits, raise the state minimum wage to $15/hour and allow local jurisdictions to set higher minimums, increase income eligibility limit for property tax credits, establish a first-time homebuyers assistance fund for public servants, and create a paid family leave insurance fund paid by employers. Referred to Rules Committee on April 5th.
HB 581 (SB 562) Investing in North Carolina Act - Filed April 4th. Would provide salary increased for all state employees, including community and state colleges and early childhood educators, provide a cost of living increase for state, legislative, judicial, and teacher's retirement system, and provides a small business tax credit. Passed 1st reading. Referred to Rules Committee April 10th.
HB 552 (S467) 2023 MOMnibus Act - Filed April 3rd. Would provide a Maternal Mortality Prevention Grant to prevent maternal mortality/severe morbidity among black women. Referred to Rules Committee on April 4th.
 
 
Bills Filed on Watch List
HB 613 Access to Voted Ballots - Filed April 13th. Changes access to voted ballots, other than by election officials, to include response to public records requests for all voted ballots of a precinct, ward, or other election district. Records requested must redact all voter identifiable information as well as how voter voted. Also makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for violation of statute. The implications of this bill are added administrative tasks for Board of Elections staff from an overload of records requests. 
 
 
HB40 Prevent Rioting and Civil Disorder Law Update: On April 11th, ACLU filed a lawsuit against the state, claiming parts of this law are unconstitutional. Governor Cooper allowed this bill to become law without his signature in March, but expressed concerns about "disparate impacts on communities of color." Details can be found here.
 
You can see a complete list of bills on the LWVNC bill tracker. You can also view bills discussed in previous League Updates, here.
 
Please note: This list does not include all bills for which the League may take a position or that may be important for advocacy. To see a description of bills filed each day, see the UNC School of Government Legislative Reporting Service Daily Bulletin Online here.
  

League Advocacy

Encouraging effective advocacy on issues that align with our mission of Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy is the heart of what we do. And while we can send emails and provide public comment, we must also advocate to our family, friends and neighbors, social groups, etc. and encourage them to contact their representatives as well.
 
Find your representatives here.
Find 2023-2024 NC House Leaders here.
Find 2023-2024 NC Senate Leaders here.
   

 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.
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