Juneteenth

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This Friday, June 19th and throughout the weekend people of color and their allies will be celebrating Juneteenth – a holiday that was first celebrated in Texas, where on that date in 1865, in the aftermath of the Civil War, slaves were declared free under the terms of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation.

I always thought it was odd that blacks would celebrate that date – which seemed to me to be just one more example of the discrimination and bad treatment that slaves were subjected to – having the news of their emancipation withheld from them for three years. But now I understand that they celebrate Juneteenth because it was the formal end of slavery in the United States. Unless we count sharecropping, Jim Crow laws, sub-minimum wages and mass incarceration as forms of slavery.

Those of us who are not black are graciously being invited to join in and speak out for justice:

Barbara Thomas June 17, 2020




LWV Statement on the Justice in Policing Act

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6/10/2020

WASHINGTON – Today the CEO of the League of Women Voters, Virginia Kase, issued the following statement in support of the Justice in Policing Act:

"Americans agree, federal policing laws in our country must be changed. For far too long, Black people and communities have been subjected to unimaginable abuse at the hands of law enforcement. The issues with policing are not simply the result of a few bad apples. It is the result of systems and policies born from the legacy of racial discrimination and oppression where Black people and people of color are treated as dangerous enemy combatants, rather than human beings with equal rights under our constitution. This problem cannot be trained away. The Justice in Policing Act of 2020 is a necessary first step towards creating systems of accountability that will make our communities safer and begin the process of eliminating police brutality in America.

"This bill follows the strong police accountability framework that the League contributed to along with nearly 500 civil rights and justice organizations across the country. It includes measures that would ban police chokeholds like the one that killed George Floyd and prohibit police from using no-knock warrants in drug cases, like the one that killed Breonna Taylor. Additional pieces of the bill would transform how we handle police abuse in this country by creating a police misconduct registry and providing the Justice Department authority to investigate and prosecute police misconduct.

"Like all legislation, this is not a perfect bill, and we look forward to continuing to work with leadership in Congress to improve it before it reaches the floor of the U.S. House. The League of Women Voters looks forward to working with our partners in the civil rights community to support this important effort to advance a comprehensive justice reform bill towards passage."

Contact: Sarah Courtney | 202-263-1332 | scourtney@lwv.org

Black Lives Matter

Diversity – Equity – Inclusion

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June 8, 2020

It was energizing and inspiring to be a part of Sunday’s March and Protest Against Police Brutality and Racism in Saratoga Springs. This event was organized by an ad hoc group of young people, who were initially expecting about 50 people to show up, and planned to march on the sidewalk. When it became evident that the crowd would be much bigger the Saratoga Springs Police Department blocked vehicle traffic from Broadway to allow marchers to fill the entire street as they marched from High Rock to Congress Park. Lots of League members were among the 1,000 people who turned out to call for an end to racism. See the pictures from this march on June 7th and from an earlier rally on June 3rd.

The Saratoga Springs police were friendly and supportive of the marchers, but that doesn’t invalidate the negative experiences people of color have had with police and the justice system on all levels – or the immediate impetus for the protest: the death of George Floyd.

What is the League doing about racism? At the last LWVUS convention (Chicago, 2018) we adopted a plan for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and we are now training members of local leagues to be D.E.I. representatives. Lori Dawson is taking the training and will be helping our League to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive. LWVNY is calling for changes in 50-a of the Freedom Of Information Law, which shields police misconduct from public knowledge. Locally, we are trying to become more aware of systemic racism and our own unthinking actions that perpetuate bias, collaborating with other community groups working on these issues – and showing up and speaking out. We are working to have a membership that is as diverse as Saratoga County.

Barbara Thomas


LWVUS Responds to Police Killing of George Floyd

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5/29/2020

WASHINGTON – The League of Women Voters of the United States issued the following statement in reference to the murder of George Floyd:

"The League of Women Voters grieves the murders of George Floyd and the countless other Black lives that have been tragically taken at the hands of rogue law enforcement officers who are rarely held fully accountable for their actions.

"We also mourn those who have lost their lives or been harmed, mentally or physically, as a result of America’s pervasive culture of anti-blackness. The systems of oppression that have perpetuated the myth of white supremacy in our country must be dismantled if we are ever to become the nation we pledge to be—indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

"As an organization whose mission is to empower voters and defend democracy, we stand in solidarity with all Black communities. The League shall do so not only by speaking out against racism in all forms, but by doing the work required of us to be anti-racist. We are committed to listening to and amplifying Black voices, and educating ourselves and our children on the historic and ongoing systemic racism that plagues this country.

"The League acknowledges, painfully, that America is a nation founded on racism. Therefore, all who live in this country must contribute to and participate in organizations actively working to achieve full liberation and inclusive freedom. We must all advocate for anti-racist policies at every level of government.

"We join the League of Women Voters of Minnesota in calling on law enforcement officials to provide transparency during this investigation, and to seek justice for George Floyd, his family, and his community.

"Finally, we echo the call of our partners at the NAACP: we must all vote in November – the road to change lies at the ballot box."



Changes in Election Practices

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Last year (2019) the Legislature passed a lot of election law reforms, some of which went into effect last Fall, and others that are taking effect for this year’s primary election. And the Governor issued some executive orders that have also changed the way the Board of Elections operates. So these are the changes to be aware of:

Early voting is in effect for every election. Counties must offer at least one early voting site for every 50,000 eligible voters. So last Fall Saratoga County offered 3 sites. But for the upcoming Primary election it will offer only one site because the number of registered Democrats, plus the number of Independence Party voters in Malta, does not exceed 50,000. Early voting for every election begins 10 days before election and continues for 9 days. There is no early voting on the day before Election Day. Early voting for the primary starts on June 13 and continues through June 21 this year.

Consolidated Primaries. The Election Law has combined the Congressional primaries with the primaries for state and local offices on the 4th Tuesday in June. For this year only, due to the Governor’s executive order, the Presidential Primary will also be held on June 23. Polls will be open 6am-9pm statewide. Only voters enrolled in parties holding primaries may vote.

The last day to change your Party registration was February 14, 2020. Previously, people had to change their party registration prior to the fall general election to have it take effect for a primary. Changes made after that date go into effect 7 days after the June primary.

Voting by Absentee Ballot. Due to the Governor’s executive order anyone may apply for an absentee ballot for the primary, checking off temporary illness as the excuse. This is a 2-step process. First you must fill out an application for an absentee ballot. You should have received an application in the mail by now. Fill it out carefully and mail it in using the postage paid envelope provided. Instructions are in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TelBppBjKNY Then you should receive an absentee ballot. Carefully follow the instructions for signing and dating the envelopes the ballot goes in. Then put the ballot in the ballot envelope and use the return envelope provided. The postage is provided (red ink for $.50) even though there is a square saying to place a stamp on the envelope. The square was there before the postage was affixed.

Absentee Ballots ARE all counted, but the counting takes place 7 days following the election. This give time for ballots to arrive and to cross check whether the voter has voted in person. It is legal to change your mind and vote in person, if you wish.

Also, electronic poll books are now in use and 16 & 17 year olds may pre-register to vote, but still can’t vote till they are 18.

Constitutional amendments have had first passage to allow no excuse absentee balloting and same day voter registration. We’ll be continuing to lobby for these things.

Barbara Thomas, Presidential Steering Committee
May 27, 2020