Recent Information Sessions (2021-22)

VILLAGE ELECTION SYSTEM

On Monday, December 6, 2021, at 10 am via Zoom, LWVS held its annual general membership information session regarding this year’s Citizens Nominating Committee (CNC) election. Procedure Committee Chair Becky Bach presented and answered questions. The information session was open to the public and the video recording is posted below.

Follow these links to the Information Session Agenda with Procedure Committee Written Responses and to the Consensus Questions. Follow this link to the LWVS 2021 CNC Election Consensus Statement.

For more information, please contact Diane Baylor, LWVS Village Election System Chair, at LWVS.ves@gmail.com.

12-6-21 LWVS Information Session re CNC Election

SCHOOL ELECTION SYSTEM

On Sunday, December 12, 2021, at 8 pm via Zoom, LWVS held a general membership information session regarding the proposed amendments to the SBNC Resolution. Sarah Bell, current SBNC Administrative Committee Resolution Vice Chair, presented and answered questions. The Information session was open to the public.

Follow these links to the Information Session Agenda and to the Consensus Questions. Follow this link to the LWVS 2021 SBNC Resolution Amendment Consensus Statement.

On Friday, January 21, 2022, at 10 am via Zoom, LWVS held its annual general membership information session regarding this year’s School Board Nominating Committee (SBNC) election. Laura Liu and Laura Gelblum, current SBNC Administrative Committee Election Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, presented and answered questions. The Information session was open to the public and is posted below.

Follow these links to the Information Session Agenda, the SBNC AC’s Report to the LWVS, and the Consensus Questions. Follow this link to the LWVS 2022 SBNC Election Consensus Statement.

For more information, please contact Jyoti Ruta, LWVS School Election System Chair, at LWVS.ses@gmail.com.

1-21-22 LWVS Info Session re SBNC Election

LOCAL, COUNTY, AND NATIONAL LEAGUE PROGRAM

On Monday, February 7, 2022 at 10 am via Zoom, LWVS held its annual general membership and consensus meeting to discuss programming for LWVS (to be proposed for adoption at the LWVS Annual Meeting in May), for the Westchester County League for the upcoming year (to be communicated to the LWVW board for its consideration in drafting the proposed program to be adopted at its annual June convention), and for the National League (to be communicated to the LWVUS board for its consideration in drafting the proposed 2-year program to be adopted after debate and discussion by delegates at the biennial June convention).

In preparation for the consensus meeting, attendees were asked to review the current LWVS Program for 2021-22, the current LWVW Program for 2021-22, and the LWVUS Program Planning Materials for 2022-24.

Follow these links to the Agenda for the Consensus Meeting, the Proposed LWVS LWVS Annual Program for 2022-23 to be presented for membership approval at the annual meeting, and to the LWVS Comments to LWVW on its programming plans for 2022-23.

As for national programming, the LWVS considered and ultimately supported the LWVUS’s proposed program focus, the Campaign for Making Democracy Work®, which includes Voting Rights, Improving Elections, Redistricting, and Money in Politics. In addition, the LWVS reached concurrence to support including the following two items for discussion and voting at the LWVUS Convention:

  • A proposal adding language from the 2021 LWV NYS Positions on Healthcare and Financing of Healthcare; and
  • A proposal adding LWV CT positions on Universal High Speed Internet Access (Digital Equity) for All Residents of the United States and for Community Access and Public Affairs Media.

For more information, please contact Alissa Baum, LWVS President, at LWVSpresident@gmail.com.

EXTENDING VOTING RIGHTS TO INCARCERATED PEOPLE — Newly added

On Monday, March 14, 2022 at 10 am via Zoom, LWVS held a concurrence meeting regarding a new position proposed by LWV NYS to support extending voting rights to all currently incarcerated individuals.

In New York State, those sentenced to prison for a felony conviction lose the right to vote in federal, state, and local elections while incarcerated. Last year, state law was amended to restore the right to vote for individuals on parole. LWVUS has confirmed that it does not have a position on restoring voting rights to those currently incarcerated.

LWV NYS has asked local leagues to hold a concurrence meeting for its members, presenting pros and cons of its proposal to support extending voting rights to incarcerated people. Provided that sufficient local leagues have participated in order to establish a valid concurrence, the proposal will become a new LWV NYS position upon 2/3 approval of the local leagues participating.

In preparation for the concurrence meeting, attendees were asked to review these additional background materials from LWV NYS prior to participating. Ultimately, LWVS was unable to reach concurrence on whether LWV NYS should adopt the proposed new position.