Articles posted in this year on the LWVAL website are archived here. The fiscal year is June 1 - May 31 of the following year.
- For an overview of LWVAL projects, goals and accomplishments, also see past issues of The Voter, LWVGB's newsletter.
- See the LWVAL home page for the most recent news.
UPDATE: The video of this panel presentation is now available on the LWVAL YouTube channel.
In conjunction with LWVAL Convention 2023
Join us for the panel discussion
"Changemakers for Democracy”
Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 2:00 PM
at the SpringHill Suites at UAB
Birmingham, AL
This panel discussion is free and open to the public. It will not be live-streamed and will be available only to those who attend in person. Registration is not required to attend.
PANELISTS
Evan Milligan - Alabama Forward, Executive Director
Shalela Dowdy - 2nd Vice President, Mobile Branch of the NAACP and Founding President, Stand Up Mobile
Carla Crowder - Alabama Appleseed, Executive Director
As a civil rights lawyer for the last decade, she has challenged mass incarceration and excessive punishment in Alabama and won release for 11 men originally sentenced to die in prison.
Carla leads Appleseed’s reform agenda centered at the intersection of poverty and the criminal justice system. Under her leadership, the organization has implemented a hybrid approach to criminal legal reform combining research and advocacy to confront systemic injustice with direct legal and reentry services to free Alabamians suffering under excessive sentences.
Carla’s work as a newspaper reporter earned multiple awards including the Thurgood Marshall Award from the Death Penalty Information Center. She has twice been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. She is a frequent speaker on the human rights crisis in Alabama prisons and has contributed to statewide and national publications on the topic.
A native of Florence, Alabama, Carla earned a B.A. in English and History from Huntingdon College in Montgomery. In 2009, she earned a J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law with a certificate in Public Interest Law.
Ramsey Sprague - Mobile Environmental Justice Action Coalition, President
Ramsey's faith drives their resolve to help develop a more just and safer economy for the benefit of future generations and to honor the wisdom of all traditional caretakers of our lands.
MODERATOR
Stephanie Butler - LWVGB member
UPDATE: Video of the program below is now available on the LWVAL Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/live/H5BgpgNobW8?feature=share
To access more outstanding educational content, Please subscribe to the LWV Alabama YouTube Channel. You will have access to a curated, powerful series of LWV educational forums and informational videos that are organized in playlists such as "Natural Resources"
LWVAL Environmental Series
"Lessons of Resilience & Practicing Hope in the Face of the Climate Crisis
(and other injustices)"
Monday, May 1, 2023
6:30 to 8:00 PM CT
via Zoom
Register to attend at https://bit.ly/3zWN8ly
Join us for a discussion about the intersections of environmental justice, social justice, and climate justice through an Alabamian lens on Alabama. Abigail Franks will walk folks through the importance of practicing interpersonal resilience in the face of it all. This is the next program in the League of Women Voters of Alabama's Environmental Education Series, "Lessons of Resilience & Practicing Hope in the Face of the Climate Crisis (and other injustices)". The program will be presented via Zoom on Monday, May 1, 2023, 6:30 - 8:00 PM CT. Register to attend at https://bit.ly/3zWN8ly.
Abigail Franks is the Programs and Policy Manager of Southeast Climate & Energy Network (SCEN). She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a B.A in Political Science and Peace, Justice, and Ecology and was a 2019 Rhodes Finalist for the University of Oxford. She is especially passionate about transforming the South into a sustainable and resilient region through advocating for and, eventually, crafting climate mitigation and adaptation policies. Abigail’s interests include nonviolent social movements, environmental policy, community-based leadership, clean energy, and grassroots climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. Previously, she has worked for the nonprofits People’s Justice Council and Black Warrior Riverkeeper, and in college she founded and led the organization WEARE (We Envision Alabamian Renewable Energy). In her free time, Abigail enjoys listening to podcasts, exercising (whether it be dancing, yoga, or running), and cuddling with her dog: Ginny.
This program is free and open to the public. Register to attend at https://bit.ly/3zWN8ly
#climatecrisis #climatechange #alpolitics #LWVAL #LWV
The League of Women Voters in Alabama is issuing a call to action for our members, friends, and colleagues to contact your legislator now and urge him/her to VOTE NO ON HOUSE BILL 209. If HB209 passes, individuals who help a voter participate in the absentee voting process would be prosecuted and convicted of a Class D felony or worse.
HB209 by Rep. Kiel is a bad bill that likely violates Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act. It likely also violates the Americans with Disabilities Act by restricting who can assist a qualified person with a disability with their ballot. Similar legislation has already been struck down in Texas in the 5th circuit1. Additionally, this bill would criminalize civic organizations and individuals who are merely attempting to help their neighbors exercise their right to vote. Call your Alabama State House Representative and urge him/her to VOTE NO ON HB209!
The League of Women Voters of Alabama strongly opposes this bill and asks your assistance in defeating HB209.
Find your Representative here: https://bit.ly/42d54V5
Then get contact information here: https://bit.ly/40RvTNB
#HB209 #alpolitics #votersuppression #voterintimidation #absenteevoting #LWVAL #LWV 
UPDATE: HB209 passed favorably out of the House Committee on Constitution, Campaigns, and Elections on April 19, 2023. It will now have a Second Reading on the House floor. Although the bill was not stopped in the House CCE, your voice is still needed to vote down HB209 by the House. Please contact your state Representative to urge a "NO" vote on HB209.
The League of Women Voters in Alabama is issuing a call to action for our members, friends, and colleagues to contact your legislator before Wednesday April 19th, when House Bill HB209 will be presented to the Alabama House Constitution Campaign and Elections Committee.
Summary of Actions and Opportunities:
1. Email your State House Representative to express opposition to HB209 which would criminalize providing absentee voting assistance. Use this email and the HB209 Talking Points as input for your own powerful message.
State Representative Contact Information:
Find your state Representative
Contact information for your State Representatives: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/house-leaders-members
2. On Wednesday April 19, 2023, if you are available, please join us at the Alabama Statehouse, 11 S Union St, Montgomery, AL 36130, in Room 418, at 9 AM, where LWVAL will testify at a public hearing against HB209.
3. After the CCE hearing ends, we will move to the Statehouse 3rd floor Press Room where the members of the Alabama Voting Rights Coalition will conduct a press conference to highlight the problems with HB209. You will be able to watch the live streamed press conference on the LWVAL Facebook page.
4. The CCE meeting is not being live streamed but the Alabama Channel will be in the room to record the committee meeting. The video will be added to https://www.thealabamachannel.org/ as soon as possible after the meeting.
Forty-Two Alabama House Representatives have come together to co-sponsor anti-democratic HB209 legislation, which "would prohibit any person from distributing, ordering, requesting, collecting, completing, obtaining, or delivering an absentee ballot application or absentee ballot of another person in certain circumstances and would provide for exceptions. This bill would prohibit any person from receiving a payment or providing a payment to another person for distributing, ordering, requesting, collecting, completing, obtaining, or delivering an absentee ballot application or absentee ballot of another person in certain circumstances. This bill would also establish criminal penalties for violations."
If HB209 passes, individuals who help a voter participate in the absentee voting process would be prosecuted and convicted of a Class D felony.
UPDATE: Video of this program is now available on the LWVAL Youtube channel at https://bit.ly/3MncSiL
LWVAL Voter Services Education Series
Understanding Open vs Closed Primary Elections
Thursday, March 30, 2023
6:00 to 7:30 PM CT via Zoom
Join us on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 6:00 PM to learn more about Alabama's current "open" primary elections and what it could mean to voters if legislation is enacted to "close" the primary elections in Alabama. Update - This program can be viewed on the LWVAL YouTube Channel at https://bit.ly/3MncSiL.
We are being joined by Jeremy Gruber, the Senior Vice President at Open Primaries, a national election reform organization. He is a lawyer, writer, and public policy advocate and has helped pass over 60 state and federal laws. He has previously worked for the American Civil Liberties Union and several other civil rights organizations. Gruber is the author of three books and dozens of articles and is regularly featured in the media. He received his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from St. John's University School of Law and a B.A. in Politics from Brandeis University.
The public is welcomed to attend.
#closedprimaries #openprimaries #makingdemocracywork
#alpolitics #LWVAL #LWV
LWVAL Environmental Education Series
The Inflation Reduction Act:
What It Means for Alabama
Thursday, February 23, 2023
6:30 to 8:00 PM CT via Zoom
Register for the Zoom at: https://bit.ly/3XpcodR
Laurel Holmes is a proud 2020 graduate of The University of Alabama. She is also an alumna of George Washington University, where she earned her Master of Public Health degree in May, 2022. Laurel is a champion of rural public health, and hailing from a small town in Georgia, she is a southerner through-and-through. This brought her back to Alabama where she now applies her expertise in community health education and promotion to her role as Education Manager at Energy Alabama. She resides in Huntsville with her fiancé, two cats, and a puppy.
Jaxon Tolbert is a senior Political Science and Earth Ecosystems student at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He has spent his previous two summers with the Environmental and Energy Study Institute and the Natural Resources Defense Council's E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs) affiliate. As an Alabama native, he is inspired by efforts to decarbonize and electrify the Southeast's most vulnerable communities. He now interns for Energy Alabama, where he helps to support the organization's pillars of clean energy education and advocacy across the state.
About the Presentation: Inflation Reduction Act--What It Means for Alabama
Laurel and Jaxon will be presenting on the Inflation Reduction Act. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law on August 16, 2022, is a budget reconciliation bill aimed at addressing climate change, lowering energy costs, and investing in America’s energy security. It is the most comprehensive climate and energy bill ever passed in the United States, with $50 billion in clean energy, climate, and decarbonization provisions for states. During their presentation, they will break down the IRA, share what it means for Alabama and how individuals and communities across the state can take advantage of this opportunity. Much remains to be determined about the rollout of many IRA programs, so Laurel and Jaxon will provide resources to learn more and let you know where action may need to be taken to ensure Alabamians are able to benefit from this monumental bill.
The public is welcomed to attend.
Register for the Zoom at https://bit.ly/3XpcodR
#InflationReductionAct #Alabama #climatechange #climateaction #cleanenergy
#alpolitics #LWVAL #LWV
LWVAL Voter Education Series
Breaking Barriers in Alabama -
Voter Suppression
Monday, February 13, 2023
at 6:00 PM CT via Zoom
Register for the Zoom at: https://bit.ly/3hCluVx
On Monday February 13, 2023 at 6pm central, the League of Women Voters of Alabama is hosting an online panel of experts who will discuss barriers that make it difficult for many Alabama citizens to be able to exercise their constitutional right to vote.
Panelists:
- Dillon Nettles, Policy & Advocacy Director, ACLU of Alabama
- Kathryn Sadasivan, Assistant Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense Fund
- Bryan Lorge, member of the LWV of the Tennessee Valley and LWV Alabama Education Fund Voter Rights Restoration Lead
The public is welcomed to attend.
Register for the Zoom at https://bit.ly/3hCluVx
#votersuppression #Alabama #protectthevote #makingdemocracywork
#alpolitics #LWVAL #LWV
Civic Engagement and Advocacy Training
Monday, January 9, 2023
at 6:00 PM CT via Zoom
UPDATE: Video of this program is available at
https://youtu.be/rNpHN3T8TEg
Panelists:
- Patricia Todd, former Alabama State Representative
- Tara Bailey, LWVAL Education Fund Director of The Alabama Channel
- Robin Buckelew, LWVAL Advocacy Director
The League of Women Voters wants our members to be involved and active in making democracy work for all of Alabama! This forum will provide important you will need to be more effective in advocacy! The public is welcomed to attend.
#ALlegislature #advocacy #civicengagement #thealabamachannel #Alabama #alpolitics #LWVAL #LWV
Voter Rights Restoration (VRR) Basics
for LWV Members and Volunteers
Thursday, January 5, 2023
at 6:00 PM CT via Zoom
Register: https://bit.ly/3WnM9Vr
UPDATE: Video of this program is available at
https://bit.ly/3WPCrLz.
Panelist: Ellen Boettcher, Legal Fellow at the Campaign Legal Center
Moderator: Bryan Lorge, LWVAL Education Fund VRR lead
The Alabama Constitution of 1901 was intentionally written to be confusing regarding voting rights for individuals with a felony conviction. This was used to deny citizens their voting rights. In 2017 Alabama passed a new law that clarified which convictions disqualify a person from voting, effectively giving the right to vote back to a large number of people who had lost or thought they lost that right. Based upon recent estimates at least 250,000 people are either eligible to vote immediately or have their voting rights restored. The LWVAL Voting Rights Restoration efforts works with these citizens to get them registered and eligible to vote. The LWVAL can do a detailed analysis to help determine an individual’s status as it relates to registering to vote. This training session will provide an overview of the voter rights restoration process and the list of Alabama's disqualifying felony convictions. A separate training session will be held for those members wishing to learn more about how to use the Alacourt database and other court records to support VRR.
Register to attend at https://bit.ly/3WnM9Vr.
#votingrightsrestoration #voterrightsrestoration #vrr #votingrights #Alabama #alpolitics #LWVAL #LWV
The Alabama Channel is LIVE!
Photo "AL House of Representatives Transmercator Projection"
by Joel/Exothermic @ https://bit.ly/3UIhjF2
The LWVAL Education Fund is excited to announce that The Alabama Channel has gone live! This is a major step forward for government transparency in Alabama. Watch the Alabama Legislature's sessions and committee meetings live. The recordings will now also be archived and easily searchable. You can easily follow the legislature's actions on bills and issues of interest to you. Many thanks to Director Tara Bailey for initiating, developing, and managing this project. The Alabama Channel is made possible by a LWVUS "Making Democracy Work" grant.
Learn More
- Access The Alabama Channel at https://thealabamachannel.org.
- Read the press release issued Dec. 10, 2022.
- Learn more about The Alabama Channel in this aldotcom article by Mike Cason.
#alpolitics #thealabamachannel #governmenttransparency #ALLegislature #alabama #lwval #lwv
Mark your calendar for the next
LWVAL Environmental Series Program
"A Future Free of Fossil Fuels"
Thursday, December 8, 2022
6:30 to 8:00 PM CT
REGISTER on Zoom
Join us on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022 at 6:30 PM CT for the next virtual program in LWVAL's Environmental Education Series, "A Future Free of Fossil Fuels". The Sierra Club Beyond Coal campaign (BCC) is working to replace coal and gas with clean, renewable energy and advocates for meaningful energy changes in communities across America. Retiring existing coal plants, preventing new fossil fuel plants from being built, and striving to cease the expansion of fracked gas will stop dirty energy from being used in buildings, end fossil fuel exports, and build a world that doesn’t rely on these polluting and dangerous fossil fuels. Charline Whyte, Campaign Representative of the Sierra Club Alabama Chapter (@SierraClubAL), and Amy Kelly, Campaign Representative of the Sierra Club Tennessee Chapter (@SierraClubTN), will share how the BCC is working in Alabama, informing the public and promoting best, safe energy practices for the areas served by the Tennessee Valley Authority and Alabama Power, to ensure a clean, sustainable and affordable energy future for the good health of the citizens and the environment.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Amy Kelly is the Tennessee Beyond Coal Campaign Representative with Sierra Club and brings a deep sense of dedication to a just and clean energy transition in the southeast. Amy's familial roots date back to the 18th century mountain region of Tennessee. Her work with partner organizations in the region has focused on grassroots leadership in green jobs, anti-racism, and utility programs. She holds a master’s degree in Community Development and her most recent study focused
on applying participatory economic development models in coal-dependent regions of Appalachia. Amy considers herself a world citizen and has lived in Ghana, Peru, and most recently Québec, Canada. Amy currently lives in Maryville, Tennessee with her husband and two daughters.
Charline Whyte was born and raised in Costa Rica, where she earned degrees in Special Education and Management of Natural Resources. Charline embraces hard work and raises up to any challenge. In 2005, she, along with her husband and young daughter, uprooted their entire life and moved to the USA. Her first job in Alabama was as a zookeeper for the Birmingham Zoo. There she fed the animals and cleaned their stalls, including picking up after rhinos and elephants with a shovel and a wheel barrel!
Then, for over ten years, she worked for the Jefferson County Department of Health, where she started as an Environmental Health Specialist, and shortly thereafter, she became the Tobacco Prevention Program Manager. In 2010, she secured a seven-million-dollar grant to work on public health campaigns. Her leadership and dedication resulted in comprehensive smoke-free ordinances that protect workers across the state from secondhand smoke.
With a full-time job, in 2016, Charline graduated top of her class from the Birmingham School of Law, where she now enjoys teaching. For several years, Charline worked as an attorney serving the Latino community in cases related to personal injury, minimum wage or overtime violation, and family law. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she realized she could no longer be on the sidelines of climate change solutions. It was then that she decided to combine her skills, expertise, and passion for focusing on protecting the planet.
As a result, in 2021, Charline joined the Sierra Club as the Senior Representative for the Beyond Coal Campaign, working in the states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. In her role as a seasoned change maker, her goal is to retire all coal plants, prevent new gas plants, and advance clean energy in Southern Company territory.
To no surprise, Charline loves to be outdoors. Her happy place is walking her two furry ones, Mia and Buddy, at the Turkey Creek Preservation in Jefferson County.
REGISTER
THIS FORUM IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
#alpolitics #cleanenergy #airquality #environment #lwval #lwv @sierraclub
is Tuesday, November 29, 2022!
Please give to the LWVAL Education Fund!
Your generous gift will support this work…
BREAKING: A supporter has offered to MATCH your contribution up to $500! What a great opportunity to double your impact!
Support the LWVAL Education Fund
on Giving Tuesday or ANY day as we
Grow, Empower, and Protect the Vote!
ELECTION DAY IS HERE!
TIPS FOR VOTING IN ALABAMA ON NOVEMBER 8, 2022
Before you vote...
- Check at bit.ly/3TaGDms to find your correct polling place.
- See what's on your ballot at bit.ly/3NMjp4T or vote411.org. You can study the candidates and amendment information, make your choices, and print out a sample ballot at vote411.org.
- If you need a ride to the polls, schedule as soon as possible by calling the "Lift Our Vote" hotline at 256 701-4182. Not available in your area? Lyft is offering 50% off up to $10 in ride credits to help people in need get to the polls. Enter code VOTE22 in the Lyft app, and #RollToThePolls.
When you go to vote...
- Take your sample marked ballot (It's a very long ballot. You'll be glad you did.) and a valid voter photo ID like your driver's license. Your driver's license does not have to have your current address, it does not have to be an AL driver's license, and it can be expired but not more than 60 days. See other acceptable voter photo ID at bit.ly/3fFJiqJ
- The polls are open in Alabama 7 AM to 7 PM. If you are IN LINE by 7 PM, you can vote so STAY in line.
- If you have a problem voting or see a problem, call an Election Protection Hotline:
* SPANISH/ENGLISH 888-VE-Y-VOTA. That's 888-839-8682.
* ASIAN LANGUAGES/ENGLISH 888-API-VOTE. That's 888-274-8683.
* ARABIC/ENGLISH 844-YALLA-US. That's 844-925-5287.
After you vote...
- If you vote a provisional ballot, be sure to visit your county courthouse by Monday, Nov. 14 with the validating information you need to make your vote count!
#vote411 #voteready #alpolitics #election2022 #Alabama #lwval #lwv
UPDATE: Thank you to the participating candidates, Pamela Laffitte (Dem) and Matt Shelby (Lib) in this forum and to moderator Dr. Marissa Grayson, Assoc. Professor of Political Science, Samford University. Wes Allen (Rep) chose not to participate in this forum due to scheduling conflicts. See the video of this forum at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sgWZGedJzw
The League of Women Voters of Alabama presents
A Candidate Forum for
Alabama Secretary of State
Tuesday, October 11, 2022 @ 6:00 PM
The League of Women Voters of Alabama (LWVAL) believes that one of the most consequential elected positions in Alabama for 2022 is the Secretary of State (SoS). As Alabama’s Chief Elections Official, the SoS protects and ensures voting rights for every eligible citizen; provides fair, accessible, and secure elections.
LWVAL invited all Secretary of State candidates on your ballot to participate in this forum. The public always benefits from first-hand information about a candidate’s positions, statements, and values. In the hyper-polarized political environment of Alabama, we encourage everyone to take advantage of nonpartisan learning opportunities to listen to candidates express their views and opinions. An informed voter makes better decisions at the ballot box.
We also invite you to visit www.vote411.org for all your 2022 election information. This is an online voter guide where you will find unbiased information about all Alabama statewide races and candidates in that "one-stop shop".
Video recording of this forum is now available on the LWVAL YouTube Channel at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sgWZGedJzw
THIS FORUM WAS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
#vote411 #vote2022 #alpolitics #LWVAL #LWV
Are you ready to vote? Go to VOTE411.ORG to get all your voting and election information - how and when to register, how and when to vote absentee, voting rights restoration, races on your ballot, candidates on your ballot and their positions on the issues, and more! VOTE411.ORG is your nonpartisan, one-stop shop for all your election needs. Be #voteready on November 8th!
NOTE: This article is available as a standalone page for printing at:
https://bit.ly/3gPu1nd
There are ten amendments and a recompilation of the Alabama Constitution on which Alabama voters will be asked to vote "yes" or "no" when they cast their ballot in the November 8th General Election. To receive a personalized ballot that includes these ballot measures, Alabama voters should go to Vote411.org, click "Find What's on Your Ballot", and enter their home address. Vote411.org is a voter education project of the League of Women Voters Education Fund. The Alabama ballot amendment language that is included in the Vote411 system was developed by the Fair Ballot Commission for the Alabama Secretary of State. The statement on Vote411.org includes the text that you will see on your ballot, sponsors and cosponsors, a plain language summary of the measure, the cost to tax payers if it passes, what will happen if the measure passes, and what will happen if it doesn't pass.
As an advocacy service for the voters of Alabama, the League of Women Voters of Alabama (LWVAL) has reviewed the proposed ballot measures against LWV of the United States and LWVAL issue positions and principles and identified which ones we support or oppose. We have taken no position on some of the amendments.
The LWV Alabama presents the following recommendations for the Alabama 2022 General Election ballot measures:
- Constitution of Alabama of 2022: If passed, this ballot measure would adopt the recompiled Alabama Constitution which removes racist language, cleans up the document such that prior changes are easier to read and understand, and will provide a more transparent framework for future changes. It is a step in the right direction to ensuring the Alabama Constitution protects people in the exercise of their civil liberties. Also, it could enable future improvements in the Alabama Constitution in the areas of taxation and home rule. The LWVAL supports this recompilation of the Alabama Constitution.
- Amendment 1: Creates Aniah's Law related to bail restrictions. The LWVAL takes no position on Amendment 1.
- Amendment 2: Broadband Infrastructure. The League supports having expanded access to information shared on the internet to enable better access to educational information and civic engagement. This would allow easier access to public information in communities that do not have high speed internet. The LWVAL supports Amendment 2.
- Amendment 3: Notification of victim's family for commuted death penalty sentences. The LWVAL takes no position on Amendment 3.
- Amendment 4: Election Law Changes within six months of a general election. This amendment, if passed, would add a law to the state Constitution which would make it illegal for the State Legislature to help local election officials make voting safe and secure for aged, disabled, and immune compromised citizens if we have another pandemic state of emergency like we had in 2020. This amendment would block the legislature from responding to emergencies within six months of a general election. The LWVAL opposes Amendment 4.
- Amendment 5: Deletes the outdated/obsolete terminology of Orphan’s Business. This amendment would remove an obsolete term which will make the probate court more transparent. The LWVAL supports Amendment 5.
- Amendment 6: Local Municipality Advalorum taxes - This amendment encourages citizen participation in government decision-making. When locally elected officials make decisions on how to spend tax revenues, they are much more likely to include local voters in the decision process. The LWVAL supports Amendment 6.
- Amendment 7 - Elimination of requirement to use largest distribution newspapers for advertising Economic and Industrial Development. The LWV AL opposes this amendment based on the citizen’s Right to Know what their government is doing (or planning to do). This amendment will allow less transparency in government decision-making, because it will allow the publication of notices in obscure publications. Incidentally, it also allows for favoritism toward individual publications, because the publications that publish usually get paid for the publication. As it is, the requirement to use the publication with the largest circulation is totally objective. The LWVAL opposes Amendment 7.
- Amendment 8: Private Sewer (Shelby County) - The LWVAL believes that communities should have the right of Home Rule so that measures such as this can be decided by local government. The LWVAL takes no position on Amendment 8.
- Amendment 9: Private Sewer (Jefferson and Tuscaloosa Counties) - The LWVAL believes that communities should have the right of Home Rule so that measures such as this can be decided by local government. The LWVAL takes no position on Amendment 9.
- Amendment 10: Continue to keep the Constitution updated if the Constitution of Alabama of 2022 Amendment passes - The LWV Alabama supports this amendment because it supports government transparency. The Alabama Constitution needs to be updated regularly after ballot amendments are passed to prevent it from again becoming a cluttered mess of revised, unincorporated changes. The LWVAL supports Amendment 10.
UPDATE: Video of "What is Capital 'W' Wilderness" is now available on the LWVAL YouTube Channel.
LWVAL Environmental Series
"What is Capital 'W' Wilderness?"
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
6:30 to 8:00 PM CT
Panelists:
- Kim Waites, Wilderness Stewardship Coordinator, Wild Alabama
- Maggie Johnston, Executive Director, Wild Alabama
Moderator: Cindy Lowry, President, LWV Greater Birmingham
Imagine a tract of land as small as 5 acres or as large as 9 million that will forever be untouched by the intelligent tinkering of humans. How is it that we protect lands in their pristine state and ensure no future development or mechanized transport ultimately protecting landscapes to benefit wildlife and to provide outstanding recreation opportunities for humans?
The Wilderness Act of 1964 set aside the National Wilderness Preservation System which does just that, leaving certain areas of land in the United States in its primitive state where "man is a visitor that does not remain". How did this beautiful piece of legislation begin? What are the pre and postmodern ideas that coalesced into one of the most powerful pieces of legislation ever written?
Join Wild Alabama's Wilderness Stewardship Coordinator, Kim Waites, and Executive Director, Maggie Johnston, to learn more about how The Wilderness Act came to be, the current state of affairs for Wilderness areas in Alabama and potential future initiatives to bring more Wilderness to our wild and wonderful state.
#leavenotracealabama #environment #naturalresources #alpolitics #lwval #lwv
LWVAL Voter Education Series
"Reproductive Health in Alabama -
The Legal Landscape"
Thursday, September 22, 2022
6:30 to 8:00 PM CT
Panelists:
- Atty. Stephen Stetson, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Alabama
- Atty. Tish Gotell Faulks, Legal Director, ACLU of Alabama
- Atty. Adrienne Frazior, Shareholder, Polsinelli Law Firm
Moderator: Atty. Margaret Enfinger Pace
Please join the Alabama League of Women Voters for this free community forum on September 22, 2022 at 6:30 PM CT as we discuss the newly implemented Alabama reproduction laws. Our panel of healthcare and constitutional law experts will discuss and answer some of our most pressing questions, such as…
- Can I still get birth control?
- Are miscarriages really regulated?
- Can my wife get proper emergency care if we want children?
- Is it illegal to travel with someone out of state if they need an abortion?
- What does the Supreme Court's ruling on a Mississippi law have to do with Alabama?
More about our panelists and moderator:
- Atty. Stephen Stetson is Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Alabama and a public policy expert dedicated to Alabama's citizens.
- Atty. Tish Gotell Faulks is the Legal Director of ACLU Alabama and a constitutional law and civil rights attorney and law professor protecting equal rights of all Alabamians
- Adrienne Frazior is a Shareholder in the Polsinelli Law Firm and a healthcare compliance expert with almost two decades of experience as a state and federal prosecutor in Texas. Her law firm specializes in healthcare compliance and guidance to clients nationwide.
- Margaret Enfinger Pace is an attorney practicing appellate, domestic, civil and personal injury, and criminal law in Baldwin County.
FOR ATTORNEYS
For submission to legal organizations once approved for CLE credit:
The Alabama League of Women Voters is hosting a free CLE on the post-Roe legal landscape in Alabama.
Baldwin County attorney Margaret Enfinger Pace will moderate a panel of healthcare and constitutional law experts who will discuss the legal and practical implications of the 2019 Human Life Protection Act and the 2017 personhood constitutional amendment. Stephen Stetson is the Executive Director of Planned Parenthood; Tish Gotell Faulks is the Legal Director of the ACLU Alabama; Adrienne Frazior is a shareholder at the Polsinelli law firm specializing in healthcare compliance and guidance to clients nationwide. Registration required.
#mybodymychoice #alpolitics #lwval #lwv
UPDATE: Video of "Healthcare in Alabama - Your Vote Can Make a Difference" is now available on LWVAL YouTube Channel.
Thank you to all who attended "Healthcare in Alabama-Your Vote Can Make a Difference" on Sept. 15, 2022. We especially thank our excellent panelists, Shailey Barnes, Callie Greer, and Jane Adams, and moderator Dana Ellis.
If you were unable to attend or would like to view again, the program was recorded and is now available on the LWVAL YouTube channel. Please feel free to share with those who were unable to join us live and would like to learn more about the accessibility and quality of healthcare in Alabama.
********
LWVAL Education Series
"Healthcare in Alabama:
Your Vote Can Make a Difference"
Thursday, September 15, 2022
6:00 to 7:30 PM CT
Panelists:
- Shailly Barnes, National Policy Director, Poor Peoples Campaign Kairos Center
- Callie Greer, Community Navigator, Alabama Appleseed
- Jane Adams, Cover Alabama Campaign Director, Alabama Arise
Moderator: Dana Ellis, former President, LWV Greater Birmingham, and member, Alabama Poor People's Campaign Coordinating Committee
Alabama is the 6th poorest state in the nation. As a result of our legislator's decision not to expand Medicaid, thousands of our fellow Alabamians lack access to healthcare. In addition, many rural hospitals have closed and many communities struggle to be able to access services.
We are fortunate to have three experts to join us for a discussion on Thursday, September 15, 2022 at 6:00 PM CT via Zoom.
Shailly Barnes is the Policy Director for the Kairos Center and the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. She will discuss a report released earlier this year which demonstrates the impact of poverty on Covid death rates.
Callie Greer is a Community Navigator with Alabama Appleseed. Callie will share her personal experience of living without health insurance.
Jane Adams is the Cover Alabama Campaign Director with Alabama Arise. She will discuss efforts to expand Medicaid In Alabama.
Please join us for this discussion as we expand our knowledge of the issues and learn how we can impact this current crisis. Your voice and your vote can make a difference!
#coveralabama #expandmedicaid #coveragegap #medicaid #alpolitics #lwval #lwv
UPDATE: Thank you for attending "Power the South" on Sept. 10! Check back soon for information about this event.
LWVAL and LWVUS invite you to
POWER THE SOUTH
A Coalition Strategic Planning Session focused on building Alabama Disability Inclusion and Empowerment
You will be given the opportunity to register to attend virtually or in person.
If attending in person, please register by September 8th.
In partnership with the League of Women Voters U.S., and hosted by the League of Women Voters of Alabama, we are excited to invite you to a Coalition Strategic Planning Session focused on building Alabama Disability Inclusion and Empowerment scheduled for Saturday, September 10th from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at the Doubletree Suites by Hilton Hotel located at 6000 Memorial Parkway, SW, Huntsville, AL 35802. We will kickstart our time together with a continental breakfast with lunch and snacks also being provided for all in-person attendees.
This Coalition Strategic Planning Session will serve as a non-partisan convening that provides a space for sharing, learning, brainstorming, and collaborating to elevate and tackle the issues that have raised barriers to voting for disabled citizens. According to the CDC, in Alabama there are an estimated 1,208,179 adults with disabilities, which is approximately 1 in 3 adults who have disabilities including mobility, cognition, independent living, hearing, vision. (ref 1) We cannot effectively have democracy work for Alabama until the needs, concerns, and priorities of disabled Alabama voters are addressed.
We envision that the products of this gathering are:
- a prioritized list of issues,
- a multi-step proposal to guide our groups as we work to solve the voting related inequities that disabled citizens face, and
- a common understanding that will help us work together more effectively over the next two years, and beyond!
Here is the Eventbrite registration link that can be shared with potential attendees for registration purposes: Power the South: Huntsville, Alabama Tickets, Sat, Sep 10, 2022 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite. When registering, you will be given the option to indicate whether you will attend virtually or in person. This meeting is FREE to attend either way.
Thanks in advance for your participation. We look forward to learning and sharing with each of you in an effort to expand our collective efforts!
UPDATE: Thank you for attending the information event on Sept. 8! Check back soon for more information about The Alabama Channel coming soon!
The Alabama Channel
Be a part of this exciting, new LWVAL team that will promote government transparency in Alabama!
Register for the Information Event
Thursday, September 8, 2022 @ 6:30 PM
Volunteer for TAC * Learn more about TAC (short video)
The League of Women Voters of Alabama is looking for volunteers to participate in an exciting new government transparency project called “The Alabama Channel.”
If you believe open government is good government and would like to be a part of making meetings of Alabama’s legislature more open and accessible, we want you on our team!
- To learn more about The Alabama Channel click here.
- To see a description of all of the volunteer positions click here.
- If you're interested in volunteering please fill out this form and someone will be in touch soon!
Thank you for your interest in
The Alabama Channel!
PANEL DISCUSSION UPDATE: Thank you to Rev. Valtoria Jackson, Scotty E. Kirkland, and Othni J. Lathram for an excellent discussion about the history of the Alabama Constitution, the impact of its white supremacist roots, and how recompilation through ballot initiatives could affect the constitution and the people of Alabama.
Did you miss it or want to share? View the video recording of this panel discussion.
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Join us for a panel discussion.
Free and open to the public.
"The Alabama Constitution's Racist Roots and the 2022 Ballot Amendment”
Saturday, June 4, 2022 at 12:30 - 2:00 PM
Milo B. Howard Auditorium
Alabama Department of Archives and History
624 Washington Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36104
Attend in person or to attend virtually, register on Zoom or view the live-stream on LWVAL Facebook.
Download panelist biographies (flyer).
This event is in conjunction with LWVAL Council 2022. Doors will be opened at approximately 12:20 PM to the public.
Moderator: Stephanie Butler - LWVGB member
Panelists:
- Scotty Kirkland - Historian and Archivist at the Alabama Department of Archives and History
- Othni Lathram - Director Alabama Legislative Services Agency
- Regina M. Moorer, PhD - Assistant Professor, Political Science, Alabama State University
- Rev. Valtoria Jackson, Poor People's Campaign, Coordinating Committee Member, Montgomery