The Voter is going on vacation in August.
We'll be back in September.
Wishing you a wonderful Summer!
| | | In This Issue
LWVUS Response to the Supreme Court's Overturn of Roe v Wade
2022 LWVWA Council
Voter Services at Pride
Threats to our Democracy
Tribal Voting on Sovereign Lands
Learn How to Become Involved in the Comprehensive Plan Update
Speak Out for Equity (SO4E) Program Update
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LWVTC & LWVTPC Candidate Forum for Congressional District 10
Comprehensive Plan Update 101
LWVWA Candidate Forum for Secretary of State
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Committee Speakers
LWVTC Walk: Squaxin Park
Save the Date: New Member Orientation
Upcoming DEI Speaker Events
DIY Candidate Forums
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!
Membership Information | | |
President's Message
By Darlene Hein
It was great to attend the Annual Meeting in May and follow it up by attending the LWVWA Council in June. At both meetings we got to hear about two important water related studies. The LWVWA released its new study on the shorelines, which was an update of a study from 2001, while the Thurston County League released highlights of their Thurston County Water Study Report “Where’s the Water? Everywhere! But…Will There Be a Drop Left to Drink?” That study was extended for another year. | | | Studies are one of the main ways to ensure that all the views put forth by the League of Women Voters are well thought out and based on careful research. We only act on an issue when we have studied and come to consensus on it. These studies reinforce our nonpartisan stance because they are not political in nature. There are a multitude of studies that have been and are currently being done in leagues across the country at all levels from local to state to national. Finished studies, studies in progress, and new studies are reported at annual meetings across the country. New issues are presented and voted on to decide if a study should be undertaken.
There are many League members who volunteer to help with these studies. It is a way to take a deep dive into a subject mater that is important to you. Although it is a labor intensive undertaking it provides a way to work with others who share your passions. Being part of a study can provide great satisfaction and will influence the League of Women Voters stance on specific issues for years to come. | LWVUS Response to the Supreme Court's Overturn of Roe v Wade
LWVUS Board President, Dr. Deborah Ann Turner, also serves as associate medical director of Planned Parenthood North Central States. When the US Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade was announced, Friday morning of the 2022 LWVUS convention, Dr. Turner had a response. See her remarks and read more here.
Also, convention delegates adopted an emergency resolution moved by Lunell Haught, LWVWA President, that night. It states, "Be it resolved that the LWVUS supports the rights of women and those who can get pregnant, to self-determination related to, and including, but not limited to bodily autonomy, privacy, reproductive health, and lifestyle choice." | 2022 LWVWA Council
By Karen Tvedt
Thinking about the LWVWA Council on June 10-12, I’m impressed by how strong the Thurston League is and how that reflects our history. Eight of us attended as delegates along with one of our newer members.
Shelley Kneip was elected to the state board and, of four state Programs of Work (studies and approved actions), three were represented by Thurston members (Peggy Smith-Criminal Justice Concurrence; Jody Disney-Public Hospital District Committee; and Shelley Kneip-Shorelines Study). Susan Fiksdal presented on a Voter Services panel and Karen Verrill on one about Civics Education.
In preparation for a panel with local League presidents, I revisited LWVTC Decade Stories: The First Five Decades of Helping Democracy Work in Our Community, State, and Nation 1961-2011 at About Us - League of Women Voters of Thurston County
Early stories include an Olympia City Council member telling League member Barbara Gooding that he hated seeing her at meetings because “you’re my conscience.” LWVTC members helped lobby to protect the Nisqually from a proposed deep-water port, challenged the Olympia Yacht Club’s state lease because women were excluded from full membership, and supported creation of LOTT, Olympia’s Percival Landing boardwalk, and “The Black Culture Book Fund” to buy books for the library.
For more about Council, check out the detailed workbook here. At the Council webpage, in the Documents section, you will find presentations, including the results of a member survey conducted as part of LWVWA strategic planning and Polarization; Incivility in American Politics: Is Congressional Gridlock Affecting U.S. State Legislatures?
Finally, while I have enjoyed the privilege of serving as LWVTC president the past two years, given new President Darlene Hein’s management skills and Shelley Kneip’s in-depth knowledge of all things League, I have decided to step-down as co-president. I’m fine and I’m not going anywhere. I hope to spend the summer reflecting on all I’ve learned working with you, decluttering, and pondering what’s next. | Voter Services at Pride!
Last month, Voter Services was at Olympia's Pride celebration. The focus of VS was to make sure 16 and 17 year olds know they can pre-register to vote. Teens were given a bookmark designed by VS that had all the information needed about registering and a QR code to register. In the left photo above, Wendy Meluch displays the bookmarks. The Pride event was the first of several events the League hopes to attend in the coming months to spread the word about pre-registration and registration. Look for the League at Lakefair this month! | Threats to our Democracy
By Susan Fiksdal
Our constitution guarantees the right to vote and voting rights have been expanded and contested throughout our history. That right is again in peril because of conspiracy theories about our elections. According to the Brennon Center for Justice, 19 states have passed laws since the 2020 election restricting access to voting by reducing ballot boxes or requiring IDs. On the other hand, 25 states have eased restrictions by moving to all-mail elections and expanding automatic voter registration.
We now have election deniers running for offices that control ballot collection and counting. They are calling into question the actions of officials who have sworn to uphold strict election laws and repeating false claims such as voting machines being connected to the Internet. Read this story about an election in Mason County.
Here is a voting fact: Our elections are safe, and your vote is secure. According to a Brennan Center for Justice report, an American is more likely to “be struck by lightning” than be impersonated at the polls. America’s elections are among the safest and most secure worldwide. | Tribal Voting on Sovereign Lands
By Eleanor Walters
Native Americans and Alaska Natives have “dual citizenship” when it comes to voting; as enrolled tribal members and as U.S. citizens. Tribal members in Thurston County not only have the right vote in local, state and national elections, but for seats in their tribal governing bodies.
Local tribes have their own constitutions, bylaws and/or tribal codes that identify and describe election processes. For example, the Squaxin Island Tribe Constitution identifies the number, classes and terms of those to be elected. The Nisqually and Chehalis tribes have similar processes with general elections taking place annually.
All tribes have election committees that play an instrumental role in the election process. The Chehalis Tribal Code, for example, states that the election committee is in charge of voter registration and preparation of the elections. Interestingly, all of the tribes hire outside consultants each year to help ensure a smooth election process. This year the Nisqually tribe hired a business called “Next Vote,” a third-party election auditor to help with the 2022 election cycle.
Tribal voting for U.S. national, state and local elections, on the other hand, has been plagued with difficulties. Although the 15 th Amendment to the US Constitution, passed in 1870, spelled out the right to vote for all U.S. citizens, it wasn’t until 1924 that Native Americans were specifically given that right.
In 2017-2020, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) investigated barriers to political participation faced by Native American voters, finding that many Native Americans don’t have residential mail delivery, experience housing insecurity and lower levels of literacy – to name a few.
On the brighter side, in 2019, Washington state enacted the Native American Voting Rights Act, becoming the first state to have one. It specified that ballot drop locations be situated on tribal lands, and allowed the use of a tribal building as a voter’s home address.
References:
Squaxin Island, Nisqually and Chehalis tribal websites.
Klah-che-min News Publication for the Squaxin Island Tribe (May 2022)
Voting for All Americans: Native Americans National Conference of State Legislatures, (July, 2021).
Addendum to “Obstacles at Every Turn: Barriers to Political Participation Faced by Native American Voters" | Learn How to Become Involved in the Comprehensive Plan Update
By Nathaniel Jones and Loretta Seppanen
Have you ever made comments to oppose a developer’s building plan only to learn that the offending proposal is consistent with government policies and cannot be stopped? Do you worry about what happens when our neighbors are priced-out of an affordable place to live? Do you hope to find a way to effectively bring about the reforms needed to achieve a more sustainable Thurston County? Would you like to see our local jurisdictions work more collaboratively to provide regional services and address common needs? These concerns seem to be intractable frustrations that we’ve been hearing about for a long time. But with fortitude and some foresight we can address these and many other local problems.
By state law, our local cities and our county are about to undergo a two-to-three-year planning process to update their local “Comprehensive Plan”. The plan articulates the values and goals of the community, and it will control the programs, regulations, and actions of our cities and Thurston County for the next 20 years with adaptations as needed 10 years from now. Everything the cities and the county do will need to be consistent with their updated Comprehensive Plans.
You can learn how to speak out during this multi-year planning period at events hosted by the Local Good Governance Coalition, a growing alliance of nine Thurston County based community groups, including LWVTC. The first session “Comprehensive Plan Update 101” will be held virtually via Zoom on Thursday, July 14 at 6:30 pm. As a participant, you will learn the basics of Comprehensive Planning, and how you can help set the standards for our future. Register for the July 14 session here. | Speak Out for Equity (SO4E) Program Update
By Peggy Smith
The SO4E Program to evaluate the effectiveness of equity efforts by Thurston County governments was approved at the 2021 LWVTC Annual Meeting. Program Work Group members Loretta Seppanen, Sandra Herndon, Darcy Huffman, Jody Disney, Keitha Bryson, Nicole Miller, and Peggy Smith set about examining new and emerging policies, programs, processes, and products of the cities of Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater, as well as those of Thurston County. We were able to provide comments or letters of support for diversity/equity commissions or councils that were established by these jurisdictions.
We evaluated the work done during the 2021-2022 program year and found:
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The local jurisdictions are moving more positively than we had imagined in 2021.
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There are several League groups taking actions similar to those outlined in the program proposal associated with a number of local governmental policies and such. We had not imagined this over a year ago either.
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Work group members are contributing to equity enhancement efforts as part of other League or community partner groups.
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The LWVTC website provides a platform for telling members about progress being made in local equity efforts, as well as a venue for letting members and the community know about events of interest.
At the 2022 Annual Meeting it was reported that our one-year effort had been sufficient to provide a foundation for continuing this work in the context of other League structures and functions. Keep an eye on the DEI web page for further news. | LWVTC & LWVTPC CANDIDATE FORUM FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 10
Tuesday, July 12, 6:30 pm
Register to see this forum via zoom here. All candidates have been invited. Submit a question for the candidates here. For more information, contact Cynthia Stewart.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE 101
July 14, 6:30 pm
Learn the basics of what comprehensive planning is and how you can help shape the focus and results of these Comp Plan updates from League member Nathaniel Jones.
Register here.
LWVWA Candidate Forum for Secretary of State
Thursday, July 14, 6:30 pm
This LWVWA Primary election forum will be broadcast live by TVW and can also be viewed live on TVW or https://tvw.org/. All eight candidates have been invited. Submit a question for the candidates here no later than July 10. After July 14, the debate can be viewed here. For more information, contact Shelley Kneip. | DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & JUSTICE COMMITTEE SPEAKERS
Every 3rd Wednesday at 5:30 pm
July 20, 5:30 pm (see more information below)
To attend, contact: Membership@LWVThurston.org
LWVTC WALK: SQUAXIN PARK
Formerly Priest Point Park
Tuesday, July 26, 12:30 pm (See more information below)
SAVE THE DATE
New Member Orientation
August 25, 6:30-7:30 pm
On zoom
Who should attend? For new and newish members who haven’t attended a LWVTC member orientation or want a refresher.
Questions? Contact: Membership@LWVThurston.org | | | Watch the calendar for additional upcoming events. | Join us for our next LWVTC walK
Tuesday, July 26, 12:30 pm
We’re meeting informally to connect and celebrate the Olympia City Council renaming Priest Point Park to Squaxin Park honoring the Squaxin Island Tribe.
| | | This is a beautiful setting with trails, views of the Olympics, beach front, and stunning gardens. (Restrooms and benches, too.) We’ll meet at the Picnic Shelter in the rose garden. The Squaxin Island Tribe has occupied the lands in and around the city of Olympia since time immemorial through the Steh-Chass people, according to the tribe. See more information on the renaming here.
Have ideas about future walks? Suggested criteria - accessible benches, restrooms, centrally located via car or bus, not too steep. Contact: cgosslwv.tc@gmail.com. | UPCOMING DEI SPEAKER EVENTS |  | | Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Committee Speakers
July 20, 5:30 pm
Olivia Salazar de Breaux (pictured above)
Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Specialist with the City of Olympia’s Parks, Arts and Recreation Department regarding her role ensuring that Parks spaces, programming, and art reflect and equitably serve our community. |  | Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Committee Speakers
August 17, 5:30 pm
Merritt D. Long, author, discussing his book, My View From the Back of the Bus.
Through his lens as a “colored” child, “Negro” teenager, “Black” young man, and finally successful African American state official, this book reveals how Merritt D. Long was shaped by – and helped to shape – American history. | | |
thoughts on league Issues | DIY Candidate Forums
By Shelley Kneip
What does it take to produce a LWV Candidate Forum? Planning, patience and persistence! While we try to do as much advance planning as possible before candidates file to run the third week in May, once the candidates have formally filed and we know exactly which candidates are running for which races our forum process truly starts.
Step 1: Set a date with our partner, Thurston Community Media, to produce our candidate forums. TC Media typically tapes our forums in their studio on weekends, so their staff go above and beyond to work with us. For the primary races, we will hold forums if there are three or more candidates for the same position.
Step 2: Send out invitations to all candidates immediately after the official filing deadline. While some candidates respond promptly, many candidates do not respond quickly, or at all. Start contacting the missing candidates by phone, through their websites and social media, trying to persuade them to attend. Repeat contact until we hear back from the candidates or all options have been exhausted.
Step 3: Simultaneously: Solicit and develop forum questions; line up moderators and timers; write the scripts.
Step 4: Remind the candidates of the time and place of taping or, if virtual, send them the zoom link. Once the forums are completed, TC Media edits, airs and posts them on their website. TC Media sends the League the recordings and links to post on our site.
Step 5: Send thank you notes to the candidates who participated and inform them where to find the forum videos.
Step 6: Even before the primary election happens, send a “save the date” to all primary candidates reserving their time for the general election forums.
Starting in July, for the general elections, repeat Steps 1 through 5.
LWVTC produced three forums for the primary election: Legislative District 22 representatives, positions 1 and 2, and Legislative District 35 representative position 2. The first weekend in October we will be producing the forums for the general election, which could include up to 12 different races, including United States Congress, state legislators, and six different County elected officers. Look for the forums on our website later this month.
If you’d like to help on the forums, please contact: elections@lwvthurston.org | | Thank You!
To Karen Tvedt for having served as President for the past two years. Karen is stepping back from the Co-President's role, knowing that the League is in Darlene Hein's very capable hands. Karen will still be very "hands on" in her continuing involvement with the LWVTC and we'll all still see her smiling face at many meetings and activities!
| | | To Susan Fiksdal for having conceived the Be A Voter campaign. The Be A Voter idea and logo have been so effective, they have been adopted by the State League and promoted as a finalist at the national level as one of the outstanding programs of the past year.
To Dee Ann Klein, Susan Fiksdal and Donna Cobb for being moderators for the Candidate Forums for the primary elections. Thank you, Shelley Kneip, for serving as overall coordinator and timekeeper for the forums. Look for the forums on our website mid-July.
To Julie Frick, Wendy Meluch, Kate Walsh and Karen Tvedt for representing the League at the Pride event, working to let 16 and 17 year olds realize they can pre-register to vote.
To Brenda Paull, in recognition of all her vaccination volunteer efforts. See a Jolt News article about her here. | Membership Information
We currently have 193 members. Thank you to all who have renewed their membership for the 2022-2023 year!
If your membership is set to expire, you will receive a reminder to renew via e-mail 30 days prior to expiration, two weeks prior and five days following expiration date. To join or renew, go here. Before you log on to renew, please note the following changes:
TO RENEW ON-LINE, YOU MUST SET-UP A MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT. PLEASE FOLLOW STEP--BY-STEP.
When you log-on - please take a moment to answer questions about how you might like to get involved and other interests and skills/experiences. No commitment required.
You can still join or renew by check by printing an invoice and mailing a check after renewing using the website.
No time for volunteering - but still want to support the LWV? We understand juggling busy schedules! By renewing - your dues continue to support LWV legal teams in other states fighting against voter suppression and for voter rights.
If you have not yet renewed and have questions, please contact: Membership@LWVThurston.org
Your continued support is very important to the success of the League because the need to defend our democracy has never been so great.
| EMPOWERING VOTERS. DEFENDING DEMOCRACY.
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
Copyright © 2022, League of Women Voters of Thurston County, Washington
Our mailing address is:
P.O. Box 2203
Olympia, WA 98507
http://www.lwvthurston.org/ | |