• 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.
  

Shared Learning Opportunity for Alabama League Members and Friends

AS GOES THE SOUTH:
STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BRIEFING

  Virtual Briefing
** 6 pm, Thursday, March 14, 2024 **
 

"Alabama Values has pulled together a rapid response virtual briefing to highlight the attacks on freedom and democracy happening in AL and across the South this legislative session.   As we follow the narrative drumbeat across the South, we see this as a timely and critical discussion to connect the dots for communities ahead of the upcoming election. 

Alabama Voting Rights Coalition (AVRC) member and NAACP Senior Vice President of Strategy and Advancement Jerome Dees will be speaking on the legislative landscape in Alabama."

The briefing is Thursday 03/14 at 6 p.m. cst.  Please register.

DEI Task Force of LWVAL
Virtual Training Seminar by Zoom
9 am CST, Saturday, March 9, 2024

Topic for the Month of March:
Celebrating Women's History Month:
A Linguist's Perspective on the Essential Importance of DEI in a Democracy

This Women's History Month presentation will offer examples of how we unconsciously perpetuate certain attitudes toward women through the words that we use. The speaker will touch on the issue of pronouns: how English, unlike some other languages, doesn’t provide neutral third-person singular for us, how we have dealt with this in the informal spoken language, and how people are now trying to consciously change the language. The presentation will conclude with a reminder of how essential the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion are to the core values of our democracy as we work toward a “more perfect union.”

Our Featured Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Catherine Davies

Join us for this important
presentation and discussion

Speaker Bio.

Catherine Evans Davies, Ph.D., is a retired professor of linguistics from the Department of English at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. She is a member of the League of Women Voters. Her life has been somewhat diverse (growing up in New York, living in Arizona, being educated for all higher education in California, and then living and teaching in Alabama). Because her Ph.D. in linguistics was from Berkeley, she was required to take a year-long “field methods” course that involved working as a native speaker of a Native American language, in her case Lakhota Sioux. For a white middle-class American, her ethnic background is somewhat diverse (English from the 17th century, German from the 18th century, and Welsh from the 19th century). She sees no contradiction between being a proud American and engaged citizen and also honoring her Welsh heritage by studying Welsh, which is an endangered language.

Join the Next Generation
Powering Democracy

Calling all Young People to Join us in Selma at the

59th Anniversary of
Bloody Sunday Bridge Crossing
March 3, 2024; 12 pm - 5 pm

** League Members Throughout Alabama **

I'm excited to share information about the Next Generation Powering Democracy event cosponsored by the League of Women Voters of Alabama. I invite you to join us in Selma on March 3rd for a powerful program focused on civic engagement and GOTV for young voters. Hundreds of students from across Alabama and Florida will be joining us at the Cornerstone Presbyterian Church for a civic engagement convening. Afterwards we will assemble to march across the Pettus Bridge as a part of the Bloody Sunday reenactment.

While this event is focused on emphasizing the importance of young voters becoming civically engaged as they make their voices heard, there is a place for the rest of us. We will be there to listen in partnership and support for this next generation of leaders who will be largely responsible for getting out the vote for young voters as they are creating a student-led movement to create a more perfect democracy.

Come to Selma and be a part of creating a better future for Alabama and the country.

Kathy

Kathy Jones
President, LWV Alabama


Link to RSVP for More Details bit.ly/3tFPoOG

** UPDATE and CALL to ACTION **

SENATE BILL 129

League Members and Friends

Senate Bill 129 would prohibit state agencies, local boards of K-12 education, and public institutions of higher education, from maintaining a diversity, equity, and inclusion office or department or sponsoring any diversity, equity, and inclusion program or program that advocates for a so-called "divisive concepts" relating to race, sex, or religion. This bill is another example of certain Alabama legislators' ongoing, corrosive efforts to marginalize and target minority and LGBTQ students. This bill would allow all state agencies and political subdivisions, including local boards of education and public institutions of higher education, to discipline or terminate the employment of any employee or contractor who knowingly provides instruction about a topics that relates to race, sex, or religion or that celebrates diversity. The League of Women Voters of Alabama recognizes that bias and prejudice are ingrained in our society and we are convinced that diversity equity and inclusion programs are necessary to create a more perfect democracy that works for every person. The League of Women Voters of Alabama strongly condemns the intent of SB129 which will cause real harm to our children, intimidate educators, and diminish Alabamians ability to compete economically.

We also condemn the efforts of the Republican Party to ram this bill through the legislature without due process. The pleas of those many impacted citizens who are testifying in person, with less than a day's notice, are falling on their deaf ears, as they crash these bills through the legislature. This is not how democracy works.

We are issuing an urgent call to action and ask for all of our members and supporters to contact your Senators to demand they vote no on SB129.


From ALABAMA VALUES PROGRESS

SB 129 Will Be Voted On By the Full Senate on Thursday, February 22

Senate Bill 129 by Sen. Barfoot threatens our progress towards an inclusive and equitable Alabama. SB129 aims to dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and includes discriminatory elements regarding sex-specific bathrooms at public universities.

SB 129 is moving very quickly. The bill was first filed on Tuesday evening and had a public hearing at 11:00 AM on Wednesday. SB 129 is on the special order calendar for the Senate on Thursday, February 22. The Senate will meet at 10AM.

Senate Bill 129 could significantly impact organizations and universities that approach their work through a racial equity lens.

• Restricted Discussions: The bill's ban on "divisive concepts" would limit open discussions on systemic racism and racial equity, hindering education and advocacy efforts.
• DEI Initiatives: The prohibition of DEI programs would impede organizations' efforts to foster inclusivity and engage diverse communities.
• Educational Limitations: Restrictions on teaching or discussing racial equity topics would undermine educational workshops and training sessions.
• Outreach Impact: Community outreach efforts, such as voter registration initiatives in communities of color, could be negatively affected.
• Climate of Fear: Potential penalties for violating SB129 could lead to self-censorship and a reluctance to engage in advocacy work challenging systemic racism.

SB 129 also prohibits promoting the idea that "slavery and racism are aligned with the founding principles of the United States." This restricts discussions that critically examine the historical connections between the nation's founding and the realities of slavery and racism.

Overall, SB129 would limit the effectiveness of organizations in advocating for racial equity and justice.

We cannot be silent. All of our issues are connected, and we must fight back as a collective.

Contact Your Senator

** UPDATE and CALL to ACTION **

SENATE BILL 77

League Members and Friends

A bill passed the Senate this week that would replace the Alabama Archives' non-partisan Board of Trustees with members who are politically appointed and will serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. The Alabama archives is a vital resource for the public to learn about our collective stories and histories. It is also responsible for maintaining Alabama’s legislative records and assists communities seeking to maintain their public records. The Archives was instrumental in organizing and telling an accurate history of the Alabama Constitution, Womens History, and Voting Rights. The League of Women Voters of Alabama opposes the politicization of the Archives Archives that would happen if this bill (SB77) were passed because of the inherent threat to the preservation of all of Alabama’s history and the potential for reduced public access to our state history and records.

IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM THE

FRIENDS of the ALABAMA ARCHIVES

February 17, 2024Dear Friends and Supporters of the Alabama Archives:As a supporter of the Department of Archives and History, we are writing to inform you about a significant and consequential threat the agency is currently facing in the Alabama Legislature and to ask for your help contacting legislators in support of the nation's oldest state-funded historical institution. Everyone who cares about the work and mission of Alabama's State Archives should know what is at stake.

A bill passed the Senate this week that would replace the Archives' governing board of trustees with members who are politically appointed and serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliott of Baldwin County who found issue with the topic of a history lecture held at the Archives last summer. As a result, the agency is facing removal of its non-partisan, stable governing structure that is currently confirmed by the Alabama Senate and has served the Archives effectively for 123 years. You can find a list of its current Board of Trustees at https://archives.alabama.gov/about/trustees.aspx.

SB77 (https://www.legislature.state.al.us/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2024RS/SB77-eng.pdf) will be in the House Committee on Boards, Agencies, and Commissions on Wednesday, February 21, at 10:30 AM in room 123 at the Alabama State House for a public hearing. The Committee is chaired by Rep. Margie Wilcox, who represents District 104 in Mobile County.

We ask you to contact Chairwoman Wilcox and other committee members with the following message:

• Please do not vote on the bill at Wednesday’s committee meeting. The Archives governance structure has worked well for well-over a century and should not be abandoned lightly. Work collaboratively with the agency to find a fair solution that satisfies the desires of the Legislature for more oversight, while still affording the Archives the stability that is essential to continuing its mission to collect, preserve, and share the history of all Alabamians.

• The provision for appointees to serve at the pleasure of the appointing authorities creates the likelihood of high turnover and volatility at an agency whose stability is an important source of confidence for Alabamians who donate their treasured family collections to the State Archives and Museum of Alabama. When board members can be removed at any time for any reason, or no reason, donors lose trust.Room 123, where the committee will meet, does not have livestreaming capability. If you would like to attend and speak in support of the Archives, please let us know by replying to this email or calling Carrie Banks at (334) 546-8908.

Contact information for Chairwoman Wilcox and the other committee members is provided at the end of this email.

If the bill passes as currently written, the instability it would undoubtedly bring would undermine the bedrock of what has enabled the Archives to be one of Alabama’s great success stories for nearly 125 years. Stability breeds faith in public institutions. That faith takes the form of monetary support, as well as the donation of treasured historical materials. Collecting these materials is central to the mission of the Archives and its ability to continue documenting and sharing the history of our state. Over the past several decades, private donor support of the Archives has totaled some $15 million. Such an impressive level of private funding is no accident.

If you walk through the halls and exhibits at the Archives today, you won’t find a political agenda. What you will find are representations of all parts of Alabama’s history, the good, the bad, and everything in between. You will find our stories.

As someone who cares about the future of the Archives, we urge you to join in our efforts to encourage the Legislature to approach this legislation thoughtfully, deliberately, and with what is in the best interest of Alabama history – it’s whole history – in mind.

Sincerely,

Joe Caver, President, Friends of the Alabama Archives

Carrie Banks, Vice President, Friends of the Alabama Archives

THANK YOU FOR USING YOUR
POWERFUL VOICE

Keep using it to KILL SB1 !

The full Senate could vote on the bill as soon as today.
It's important for your senator to hear from you today with
your concerns about this legislation.

Democracy was On The Move in Montgomery today as people opposed to Senate Bill 1 (SB1) showed up and filled the eighth floor State Government committee room for a Public Hearing. Even the overflow room across the hall was filled to capacity!

One lone person from the Eagle Forum spoke in support of SB1. If you’re wondering, the Eagle Forum is the organization formed by Phyllis Schaffly in the 1970s to fight giving women equal rights, under the law, through the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).

Twelve patriots testified in opposition to the criminalization of helping fellow citizens to vote absentee. The powerful, diverse speakers from across the state spoke from a multitude of perspectives.

After all 12 spoke against SB1 the State Government committee went ahead anyway and voted to give the substitute SB1 bill, that no one had seen (even the legislators), a favorable recommendation. SB1 is moving on to the full State Senate for a vote.

You can watch the hearing and committee vote on The Alabama Channel at this link:

https://alabamachannel.ompnetwork.org/sessions/284244?embedInPoint=1130&embedOutPoint=5147&shareMethod=link

SB1 is the latest incarnation of a bad bill started two years ago in 2022 by then Representative Wes Allen. Yesterday, Senator Gudger mentioned he had “data” to prove ballot harvesting was real. We went after the hearing to inspect the data. It was only a list of 4 counties in the Black Belt who had high absentee rates of 10-20% in 2020. Senator Gudger said he was depending on the Secretary of State, Wes Allen, to have the more detailed data.

How can having a high rate of absentee voting, in rural Alabama counties in 2020, with a raging Covid pandemic (with no vaccine) prove ballot harvesting? Added to that, the abysmal lack of public transportation across the state makes it impossible for many to get to the polls. And, in 2020 it was legal for all Alabama registered voters to vote absentee!

The cited evidence that the State has for rampant ballot harvesting is bogus. The “data” that our elected leaders have relied on is an imaginary urban legend of widespread voter fraud, created to justify the actions of 2020 election deniers. It is also a continuation of the effort to fix a non-problem for Alabama by suppressing the vote. Even more disturbing is the fact that this bill is almost identical to bills in other states.

Senator Gudger introduced a 6 page substitute bill for SB1, which he said addressed our concerns. We aren’t convinced or satisfied that the substitute bill “fixed our problem”, until we carefully review it to understand the change. The LWVAL will issue a statement as soon as possible on the revised bill.

Thank you for all your efforts to kill SB1. The Senate listened and has made a few more changes. Keep up the great work and call your State Senators and House members! Kill SB1.

Kathy

Kathy Jones
President, League of Women Voters of Alabama
kjones@lwval.org

If you can't be at the podium, you can still make your voice heard. Call your legislators TODAY!

** SENATE BILL 1 UPDATE **

PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED



If you can attend the hearing, do it!
If you can't attend, call your legislators!
(State House & Senate)
And if you can do BOTH, do both!

Senate Bill SB1 would CRIMINALIZE voters who ask friends for help in getting an absentee ballot application. Any friend who responds would also be guilty of a crime. The 2024 Alabama Legislature goes into session in THREE days (February 7) and evidence is building the bill's sponsors plan to fast-track SB1 into law before the 2024 primary elections.

The League of Women Voters of Alabama is AGAIN issuing an URGENT CALL TO ACTION for our members and supporters to call and write your legislators (State Representatives and Senators) immediately with a clear demand to vote NO on Senate Bill #1.

To locate the email and phone number for your State Senator and for the Senate Leadership, go to this website:
https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/senate-leaders-members

To locate the email and phone number for your State House Representative and for the House Leadership, go to this website:
https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/house-leaders-members

If you need to confirm your elected leaders in the state house and senate, go to the Alabama Secretary of State’s website:
https://myinfo.alabamavotes.gov/voterview

IMPORTANT: Please keep your written and verbal communications on this CALL TO ACTION professional and nonpartisan as you clearly state your concerns and demand elected leader to Vote No On SB1.

A message from the LWVAL President…

The news of the passing [on January 28, 2024,] of my dear friend, Dr. Deborah Turner, our League of Women Voters of the United States President was heartbreaking and a profound shock. Alabama and the entire country has lost a trusted friend and ally in the fight for democracy, for women’s rights, and for voting rights.

Whenever I encountered Dr. Turner at League events, she always began her comments with the gospel spiritual “I Woke Up This Morning With My Mind Stayed on Freedom”. It centered and uplifted us all as we clapped and sang together. It focused us on the business of the League, why we joined the amazing League of Women Voters organization. The fight will go on, as we face down the challenges in 2024 and beyond. She will be with us in spirit and give us strength as we advocate and work to make Democracy work for everyone.

Kathy Jones
President, League of Women Voters of Alabama
kjones@lwval.org

Read the League of Women League of Women Voters of the US statement:
https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/league-mourns-loss-lwvus-president-dr-deborah-ann-turner

*** ANNOUNCEMENT ***
LWVAL Collaborates with the
Girl Scouts of North Central Alabama

Two Events!

• Sunday, January 28, 2024 at 6:00 PM CST
• Sunday, February 4, 2024 at 6:00 PM CST

• Link to register for January 28 session: https://bit.ly/3Od4S3Q
• Link to register for February 4 session: https://bit.ly/4b7XGQb

The League of Women Voters of
Alabama Education Fund and
Alabama State University launch an Alabama Channel Internship program to enhance legislative meeting coverage

Press Release / 1/18/24

Montgomery, Alabama – The League of Women Voters of Alabama Education Fund and the Alabama State University are collaborating to substantially expand public access to Alabama House and Senate meetings during the 2024 legislative session, through an innovative Alabama Channel internship program.

The Alabama Channel project has been recording, archiving, and making Alabama’s legislative meeting recordings searchable by transcript since 2022. Through this exciting League partnership with the Alabama State University Political Science and Communication Departments, student interns will work to further expand coverage of the legislature by in-person recording of public meetings, that are not live-streamed.

"We are thrilled to partner with Alabama State University to bring a new level of depth to our legislative meeting coverage.” said Tara Bailey, director of the Alabama Channel. “This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to enhance access to vital governmental information with the goal of increasing civic engagement throughout the state."

"We are honored, through this internship, to support Alabama State University’s development of America’s future leaders.” said Kathy Jones, President of the League of Women Voters of Alabama Education Fund.

“This particular internship represents a multidisciplinary field for ASU students. It crosses with communication and the political process in real time. We are truly excited for this opportunity.” said Dr. William Robinson, Associate Professor, Department of Communications College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at Alabama State University.

Alabama State University Communications and Political Science students are currently applying through their departments to be selected as Alabama Channel interns in preparation for the beginning of the Alabama 2024 Legislative session.

About League of Women Voters of Alabama Education Fund and The Alabama Channel:
The League of Women Voters of Alabama Education Fund is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501C3 organization that was formed to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government. It shall never support or oppose any political party or candidate.

The Alabama Channel, a project of the League of Women Voters of Alabama Education Fund, is committed to providing comprehensive coverage of legislative proceedings, ensuring citizens have access to critical information for an informed democracy. The Alabama Channel re-livestreams, records, archives, and makes Alabama's legislative meetings searchable. Searchable content includes Alabama's House and Senate floor sessions, House and Senate committee meetings, and joint committee meetings. Search them all at once with a single keyword search!

About Alabama State University:
Alabama State University is a public, historically black college and university, based in Montgomery, Alabama. Founded in 1867, Alabama State University has a history of legacy of perseverance, progress and promise, and a keen focus on developing history makers through its sixty-three (63) degree programs.

###

For more information about the Alabama Channel, contact Tara Bailey, the LWVAL Education Fund's Director of The Alabama Channel at thealabamachannel@lwval.org

Website: www.thealabamachannel.org
Linktree: linktr.ee/thealachannel

[NOTE: Click here to download/print this press release.]

Making Montgomery Work:
January Virtual AL Legislative Preview

Hosted by
'H.I.V.E. Alabama' and
'MAD? Make A Difference'

Date: Tuesday January 16, 2023
Time: 12 pm/Noon to 1 pm
Registration Link: https://bit.ly/4aSTSlQ

LWVAL President Kathy Jones, will be joining other non profit leaders to give the public a preview of what to expect during the upcoming legislative session, along with each organization's legislative priorities.

Participating Policy Advocates:

• Kathy Jones of the League of Women Voters of Alabama
• Akiesha Anderson of Alabama Arise
• Elliot Spillers and Elaine Burdeshaw of Alabama Appleseed
• Cindy Lowry of Alabama Rivers Alliance
• Paula Wilson of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense

League of Women Voters of Alabama

*** CALL TO ACTION ***
Tell Your Legislators:
“Vote NO On SB1!”
Issued January 8, 2024

The 2024 Alabama Legislature goes into session on February 6, 2024 with an extremely harmful elections law bill (SB1) that is expected to be fast-tracked into law by the by the bill’s sponsors. Senate Bill SB1 would CRIMINALIZE voters who ask friends for help in getting an absentee ballot application. Any friend who responds would also be guilty of a crime.

The League of Women Voters of Alabama is issuing an URGENT CALL TO ACTION for our members and supporters to call and write your legislators immediately with a clear demand to vote NO on Senate Bill #1.

To locate the email and phone number for your State Senator and for the Senate Leadership, go to this website: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/senate-leaders-members

If you need to confirm your Senator, go to the Alabama Secretary of State’s website: https://myinfo.alabamavotes.gov/voterview

Please keep your communications on this CALL TO ACTION professional and nonpartisan as you clearly state your concerns and demand that your elected leader VOTE NO ON SB1.

Click here for additional background information on this bill.

Again, if passed into law, this bill will suppress voters of all parties and persuasions. In addition to calling and writing your State Senators immediately, it is important for all of us to stay aware of the status of SB1 since we unfortunately expect it to pass very quickly (possibly by the end of February) if voters cannot get it stopped. If SB1 passes, we expect the State to aggressively look for opportunities to enforce this new voter suppression law in 2024. There is language in SB1 that the bill sponsors see as a money maker for Alabama, due to associated court costs and fines/fees.

Thank you for taking immediate action to STOP SB1!

UPDATE: Thank you for your support for the LWVAL Education Fund on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. We can no longer receive double the dollars for your generous gift, but it's not too late to give! We appreciate your support at any time.

*********

GIVING TUESDAY IS ALMOST HERE.
Please give generously to the
LWVAL Education Fund!

Please support the LWVAL Education Fund on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 28, or anytime. Until Nov. 28, every dollar donated to the LWVAL Education Fund is DOUBLED through a matching gift for 2x the POW!

All donations to the LWVAL Education Fund are tax deductible. Donate to support our efforts to promote voting, civic engagement, and government transparency through The Alabama Channel. The LWVAL Education Fund educates the citizens of Alabama about our government and public policies and encourages active participation in democracy. We cannot do it without your support.

Donate now at https://bit.ly/lwvalef or scan the QR code. Thank you in advance!

#LWVALEF #AlabamaChannel #GovtTransparency #VRR #Vote411 #LWVAL

UPDATE: The video of this panel presentation is now available on the LWVAL YouTube channel.

LWVAL Voter Education Series
Alabama's Maternal Mortality Crisis
Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 6:30 PM via Zoom
Register for the Zoom at: https://bit.ly/48PE5TU

The public is welcomed to attend.

UPDATE: The video of this panel presentation is now available on the LWVAL YouTube channel.

LWVAL Voter Education Series
Inaccessible Transportation - Solutions To Transportation Barrier's for Alabama's Disabled

Monday, November 6, 2023 at 6:30 PM via Zoom Register for the Zoom at: https://bit.ly/48nTWsJ

The public is welcome to attend.

Register to receive a zoom link to this virtual meeting at https://bit.ly/48nTWsJ

UPDATE: The video of this panel presentation is now available on the LWVAL YouTube channel.

LWVAL Voter Education Series
Election Integrity, Voter Rolls, &
the National Voter Registration Act

Saturday, October 14, 2023, 10:00 AM CT via Zoom Register for the Zoom at: https://bit.ly/3Y6wZ8u
The public is welcome to attend.

On Saturday October 14, 2023 at 10am, join the League of Women Voters of Alabama for the next in our Voter Education series, entitled "Election Integrity, Voter Rolls, & the National Voter Registration Act"

We knew dropping Alabama out of ERIC was going to be problematic since that was a major way that Alabama was able to meet the federal law requiring accurate voter rolls, to have secure and fair elections. Now we have a new, home-grown system that is taking ERIC’s place. What are the risks? What are your protected rights under the National Voter Registration Act?

Register to receive a zoom link to this virtual meeting at bit.ly/3Y6wZ8u

We have assembled an expert panel who will discuss the role of the NVRA in protecting Voters and ensuring election integrity. They will also be able to shed light on why the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) was so needed and what the recently announced Alabama developed Alabama Voter Integrity Database (AVID) is doing to replace ERIC’s functionality.

Panelist include: Sylvia Albert, of Common Cause; Mitchell Brown, Professor of Political Science at Auburn University; and Adam Ambrogi, chief of external affairs at the LWV United States. The moderator for this forum is Stephanie Butler who is an officer in the League of Women Voters of Alabama.

I hope you’ll join us for this important conversation.

Kathy

Kathy Jones
President, League of Women Voters of Alabama

The League believes our democracy is
strongest when every voice is heard.

UPDATE: The video of this panel presentation is now available on the LWVAL YouTube channel.

LWVAL Voter Services Education Series
Breaking Barriers in Alabama - A World of Marginalization

Thursday, September 28, 2023, 6:30 PM CT via Zoom Register for the Zoom at: https://bit.ly/3O2oeb7
The public is welcome to attend.

On Thursday, September 28, 2023, at 6:30 pm, join the League of Women Voters of Alabama as we partner with the Human Rights Campaign Alabama for the next program in our Breaking Barriers in Alabama Voter Education series, entitled “A World of Marginalization.”

We will hear about voting barriers that LGBTQ+ communities are experiencing in Alabama and the horrific policies that the state legislature has enacted, which are harming trans children and effectively silencing the marginalized voices of friends, family members, and others in our communities. Through this discussion, we will understand the threats and barriers that many LGBTQ+ Alabamians face so that we can stand together as allies to hold elected leaders accountable for harmful policies and laws that violate civil and voting rights.

Stephanie Butler from the League of Women Voters of Alabama will moderate the forum. Panelists include Carmarion D. Anderson-Harvey (she/her), Alabama State Director of the Human Rights Campaign; Daye Pope (she/her), Director of Civic Engagement at T.A.K.E Resource Center; and Victoria Kirby York, MPA (she/they), Director of Public Policy and Programs at the National Black Justice Coalition.

Register at the link below to receive a Zoom link for the webinar.

 
This program is free and open to the public.
Register to attend at https://bit.ly/3O2oeb7

#LGBTQ #alpolitics #LWVAL #LWV

UPDATE: The video of this panel presentation is now available on the LWVAL YouTube channel.

LWVAL Environmental Education Series
Alabama Waste Sludge Awareness Tuesday, September 19, 2023, 6:30 to 8:00 PM CT Register for the Zoom at: https://bit.ly/46X3KZO

The public is welcome to attend.

Julie Lay will discuss the practice and hazards of the land application of biosloids in this next program in the League of Women Voters of Alabama's Environmental Education Series.  Often referred to as waste sludge, the nutrient value is often promoted while the dangerous toxicity of waste sludge--which poses a serious threat to human health and the environment-- is downplayed or ignored. Julie will discuss actions citizens may take to increase public awareness of this practice and what must be done to stop it.


Julie Lay holds a B.S. Degree from Auburn University in Animal Science and completed an internship with USDA Forest Service Center for Aquatic Technology Transfer, whose main focus was aquatic management issues. She spent the majority of 16 years working in industrial agriculture food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. Julie resigned from her position in industrial agriculture in November of 2019 and has turned her attention towards supporting and bringing awareness to sustainable agriculture methods. Julie and her husband reside in the Tennessee River watershed, in Guntersville, Alabama, where she is a stay-home mom and homeschools her two sons. Julie is a member of the Board of Directors of the Alabama Rivers Alliance and is a cofounder of Alabama Waste Sludge Awareness.  Julie tells her story of researching biosolids in the 2020 Southern Exposure film, Soiled.  

This program is free and open to the public.
Register to attend at https://bit.ly/46X3KZO

#climatecrisis #climatechange #environment #alpolitics #LWVAL #LWV

UPDATE 6/1/23 URGENT CALL-TO-ACTION: There are only a few days left in the Alabama legislative session. HB209 may come to the Senate floor anytime for a vote. Please urge your state senator NOW to VOTE NO on HB209. This bad bill suppresses the vote and actually criminalizes education about absentee voting! Read below to learn how to find your senator and get contact information.

UPDATE 5/23/23: There are only a few days left in the Alabama Legislature's 2023 Regular Session. Find your Alabama State Senator. Find contact information for your Alabama State Senator. Call and urge him/her to vote NO ON HB209. Thank you!

UPDATE 5/4/23: HB209 passed the Alabama House on Thursday, May 4, 2023 by a vote of 76 to 28 with one abstention. Watch the House action on The Alabama Channel. (Click "Watch Meetings" and search for HB209.) HB209 is enrolled and now goes to the Senate for consideration.

URGENT! Please take immediate action! HB209 comes to the Alabama House floor for a vote on Thursday, May 4, 2023. The House convenes at 8:30 AM. Please call your state representative NOW to urge him/her to VOTE NO on HB209. This legislation would criminalize providing assistance to absentee voters. After hours? Just leave a message. Be sure to tell him/her that you are a constituent. THANK YOU for taking action!

The League of Women Voters in Alabama is issuing an urgent call to action for our members, friends, and colleagues to contact your legislator immediately to urge him/her to oppose House Bill HB209.

Summary of Actions and Opportunities:

By Thursday, May 4, 2023, 8:30 AM, PLEASE call 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 Senator or House Representative
• Contact information for your State Representatives: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/house-leaders-members

A public hearing was held on April 19th on HB209 before the Alabama House Constitution Campaign and Elections Committee (CCE) . The LWVAL and many other concerned citizens and nonprofits testified against the bill. See the hearing on The Alabama Channel at https://www.thealabamachannel.org/.

LWVAL and other members of the Alabama Voting Rights Coalition voiced their opposition to this bill in a press conference following the April 19th public hearing. In that press conference, the AVRC informed the press that HB209 imposes voter suppression on Alabama's most vulnerable citizens. See the press conference on the LWVAL YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/lwvalabama

MORE ABOUT HB209

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.

HB209 will incite fear and confusion for vulnerable and underserved voters who have in the past obtained information and assistance from trusted, non-profit, non-partisan organizations such as the League. The Absentee voting process is already complex and prone to mistakes. Allowing volunteer groups to assist in obtaining and filling out the forms eliminates errors and allows more people to have their vote counted. Older adults, the physically challenged or disabled use the absentee ballot when it is difficult or impossible for them to access the polls. Restricting assistance with absentee voting greatly enhances the chance of errors and disenfranchising these particularly vulnerable groups of voters.

The bill defines the list of who a voter is restricted to ask for absentee ballot help that is frankly out of touch with the reality of many in Alabama. This bill would restrict voters to only receiving absentee voting assistance from a) family members of a second-degree kinship - which is legally defined as someone who shares 25% of a person's genes, b) from someone who has lived in your house for six months before making an absentee ballot request, c) and of course, election officials are always acceptable.

Not every person has circumstances that align with the familial relationships, or personal situation, assumed by the bill's author. Not everyone has the ability to drive down to visit an Elections official during weekday office hours. A nurse or caregiver assisting their patient to vote could become a convicted felon and potentially lose their license and job. Teachers, college officials, or coaches who assist students who want to request an absentee ballot application could also become a convicted felon and lose their jobs. The language of the bill raises a question about whether the voter could also be charged with a crime if they knowingly get help from someone that isn’t on the HB209 approved list.

If HB209 passes, voting rights groups, churches, and other nonprofit, volunteer organizations would be prohibited from providing nonpartisan, free assistance to voters with the absentee ballot request process. It would also criminalize individuals who are working to increase voter participation. There has in fact been no voter fraud in the current Alabama absentee ballots process. At its core, HB209 is a tool for voter intimidation and voter suppression, meant to make absentee voting inaccessible for a large number of people who are legally entitled to vote absentee.

The League of Women Voters of Alabama strongly opposes this bill and asks your assistance in defeating HB209. This bill is now before the Alabama Senate. Please call your state Senator NOW and urge him/her to vote NO ON HB209. Thank you!

LWVAL Discussion Series
Examining Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
"The Impact Bias Has on DEI Efforts"

Saturday, June 10, 2023
9:30 to 10:30 AM CT
via Zoom

Register to attend at https://bit.ly/3BYYUgj

The truth is, all human beings have biases that affect our perceptions and influence our behaviors and relationships. Better understand how unconscious biases can be a barrier and learn ways we can address our individual biases to impact efforts in moving the needle toward inclusion.

Our presenter is U'Meeka Smith, Assistant Director, Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion for Huntsville City.

This program is being offered in coordination with the Smithsonian exhibit "The Bias Inside Us". For more information about this initiative or for more resources, please visit: https://biasinsideus.si.edu/homepage

Register now for "The Impact Bias Has on DEI Efforts" at https://bit.ly/3BYYUgj. This program is free and open to the public.

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