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League at the Library Events

Look for us at your local library branch

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Call for LWVAC Board Nominations

You joined the League to make a difference. Here is your chance.

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Help us Get Out the Vote (GOTV)

The 2024 Election Season is here

Join us!
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Gun Violence Must Cease

LWVAC Participates in Gainesville's Gun Violence Prevention Summit: Choose Peace

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Complete the City of Gainesville Climate Action Plan Survey

Let the City know that climate action is important to you

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Call for Volunteers

LWVAC is run entirely by volunteers, and we can always use more help.

Get Involved Today!
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All Voters Must Re-Register for Vote-by-Mail

The law has changed, and everyone must re-enroll in Vote-by-Mail.

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Remaining Nonpartisan in Hyper-Partisan Times

Remaining Nonpartisan in Hyper-Partisan Times

LWVUS was founded to be a nonpartisan voice for American women who wanted free, fair, and open elections

League of Women Voters

Alachua County

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

The League does not take positions or make endorsements in any race for political office, and neither supports nor opposes any particular candidate or party.

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News

On March 21, 2024, I was privileged to represent the LWV of Alachua County at an important city commission meeting. A coalition of local leaders and organizations, including the League, the Alachua County Labor Coalition, Gainesville Residents United and unions worked together to pose an ask of the city commission. As the LWVAC president, I made the initial speech and asked the commissioners to create a referendum that would repeal Article VII, thus returning governance of GRU to local leadership.

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News

A group of parents and teachers in Newberry is proposing that Newberry Elementary, Oakview Middle, and Newberry High schools be converted to charter schools. More information for parents is expected soon from county school system leaders. A series of informational meetings is planned in Newberry and the vote to convert the schools to charters is April 5-12, 2024.

Photo collage of 9 photos from the Spring Party
News

On Friday, March 22, LWVAC members gathered at Jon Reiskind’s home in Gainesville to celebrate the Spring Equinox and our 2023 accomplishments. While the weather thwarted plans for a holiday party last fall, the Spring Equinox party went off without a hitch.

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News

By Stefanie Gadalean: I had the amazing opportunity to go with the League of Women Voters to Alabama the first weekend in March to commemorate the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. During that time, we had the pleasure of attending the Martin and Coretta Scott King Jubilee Breakfast, the NAACP Bridge Crossing Banquet, a Southern Poverty Law Center event with John Lewis‘ nephew and Congresswoman Nikema Williams, and the Equal Justice Initiative's museums and memorials. I had the opportunity to speak at a joint event with the Alabama League of Women Voters and the NAACP on youth civic engagement.

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News

This is a great time to consider becoming more involved in LWVAC leadership. The Nomination Committee is looking for volunteers to serve on the LWV Board beginning June of 2024 (after our Annual Meeting near the end of May). The following positions are held by people whose terms expire on that date. We are hoping that some people who already hold positions will agree to be renominated, but the board always needs new people who are willing to serve in leadership positions.

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Blog Post

Dear Members,
A friend asked recently how it feels to be president of the League — whether it feels worthwhile. Absolutely! Politics can be pretty ugly; people, in some cases, have gotten rancorous and democratic principles have been tarnished. But. The principles of the League stand firm and it feels good to be part of that. As election season unfolds, we will engage and inform voters based on facts, sound reasoning and a commitment to a more perfect democracy. Yes, it feels worthwhile to be a Leaguer. I hope you...

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News

Gainesville and Alachua County are in an "unprecedented" time of gun violence against its youngest community members, City Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker told a LWVAC committee last month.

Duncan-Walker, who says the issue often makes her lose sleep, urged members of the League's Gun Violence Prevention Committee to get involved with a community-wide task force that will attempt to tackle the problem at its roots.

A recording of the meeting is now available. Want to get involved with the League's efforts? Contact committee chair Gwendolyn Saffo.

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Event Date: 
Mar 28 2024 01:00 pm to 03:00 pm
Event location: 

Archer Branch Library

This League at the Library event will take place on 3/28 from 1-3 pm at the Archer Branch Library and will be an inside event. We are looking for 2-3 volunteers to man the table.

During LWVAC's 2024 Get Out the Vote (GOTV) Campaign for the 2024 Election Season, the Voter Services team is organizing multiple Alachua County Library tabling events. The goal is to have a table at each of the 12 libraries once a month for 2 hours at peak times until November. We hope to increase League visibility and engage with current and potential voters, especially young people.

Stop Gun Violence red text on black background with gun covered in chain and lock
News

Gwendolyn Saffo, Vice President of the League of Women Voters in Alachua County (LWVAC) and chair of the LWVAC Gun Violence Prevention & Safety Committee was interviewed by The Independent Florida Alligator regarding the January 22, 2024, joint meeting between Alachua County Commissioners and Gainesville City Commissioners and the vote toward developing a plan to stop gun violence in Gainesville and Alachua County.

Stop Gun Violence red text on black background with gun covered in chain and lock
News

On Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at 6:30 p.m., the LWVAC Gun Violence Prevention Committee hosted another in its Listen and Learn series, this time featuring guest speaker Rebecca Darnell from Alachua County Moms Demand Action. The group discussed gun safety programs Moms Demand Action has in place and how LWVAC can augment their efforts. A recording of the meeting is now available.

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News

During LWVAC's 2024 Get Out the Vote (GOTV) Campaign for the 2024 Election Season, the Voter Services team is organizing multiple Alachua County Library tabling events. The goal is to have a table at each of the 12 libraries once a month for 2 hours at peak times until November. We hope to increase League visibility and engage with current and potential voters, especially young people.

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Event Date: 
May 23 2024 06:00 pm
Event location: 

Trinity Methodist Church

All  LWVAC members are invited to join us for our Annual Meeting on Tuesday, May 23 at 6:00 at Trinity Methodist Church. This is the most important event of the year and after a three-year hiatus, we are hosting it in person with

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Action Alerts

The City of Gainesville is currently conducting a survey to help build a Climate Action Plan. Please let the City know that climate change action is important to you by completing the survey on the development of a City Climate Action Plan.

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News

All vote-by-mail requests expired on December 31, 2022. Everyone Must Re-register for Vote-by-Mail. No voter’s Vote-by-Mail ballot status rolls over into the 2023 & 2024 Election Cycles. The law has changed, and everyone must now re-enroll in Vote-by-Mail.

Action Alert - League of Women Voters (Vote for Your Rights)

Action Alerts

Every day, the freedom to vote is under attack. Since the Supreme Court decision of Shelby County v. Holder that gutted the Voting Rights Act (VRA), at least twenty-nine states have passed ninety-four laws that make it harder to vote, with the burden falling hardest on Black voters and other voters of color.

Urge Your Representatives to Prevent Voter Discrimination and Support the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

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News

LWVAC's very own VP Gwendolyn Saffo was recognized by the Alachua County NAACP at their 2023 Freedom Fund and Awards Banquet. Gwendolyn received the Community Service Award for her contributions to Gainesville organizations. We are grateful for her service and appreciate that she shares her time and talents with LWVAC.

Blog Post

Voters deserve to hear directly from the candidates campaigning to represent us at the highest level.

See which candidates have filled out our voter guides and demand the rest follow their example!

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The Alachua County Library District offers an Issues & Controversies Database which aims to provide the most accurate, accessible, and authoritative content about politics, government, business, education, and popular culture. The database presents arguments on both sides of every issue in a clear, balanced, and unbiased manner.

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News

The U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) goes to shape a better future for all and to ensure equality for women. It will shape their future and our future, a better world for all. Justice for women is justice for all, our future, theirs and our children's future. This treaty also speaks to protection for victims of trafficking and other crimes. Your action on it will be very helpful in applying some grease to the stuck wheels of a very important humanitarian issue.

Blog Post

Without the ability to make reproductive decisions for one’s body, those who can become pregnant cannot participate equally in our democracy.

Further, since the Dobbs decision reversing the right to abortion, numerous state governments have introduced legislation directly or indirectly related to reproductive rights, challenging doctrines of US democracy. 

Blog Post

If the mayor is like the CEO of the city, then the city council is like the board of directors. It serves as the law-making body for the city. 

City council members, as the lawmakers of your city, make decisions that directly impact your day-to-day life, so a vote for them is powerful for your community.

 

Blog Post

When redistricting is done fairly, each person’s vote is equal to every other person’s because their districts are drawn in ways that accurately represent the voting power of the people within them.

When redistricting is done unfairly, however, and maps are created to favor one party (partisan gerrymandering) or with race as the predominant factor (racial gerrymandering), voters in certain districts are given more power than others. 

Action Alert - League of Women Voters (Vote for Your Rights)

Action Alerts

Voting is a fundamental right, and all Americans deserve an equal opportunity to make their voices heard in our democracy.

Increased accessibility to the electoral process ensures that every eligible voter can exercise their right to vote. Congress must know how the people feel: empowering eligible voters to cast their ballot strengthens our democracy.

Please add your name to show Congress that we support voting rights!

ERA PASSED

Action Alerts

More than 100 years after some women gained the right to vote, people in the United States are still not constitutionally guaranteed equality on the basis of sex. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) will update the US Constitution to protect the equality of rights under the law regardless of sex.

Tell your representatives they must ensure that the ERA is published.

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OutreachCircle is a fun way to follow LWV and get involved with regular action items on the most important issues of our day.