11/7/202: Statement from National League of Women Voters

 

From LWV Park Rapids Board:  A special thank you to all the LWVPRA members and friends who helped people with voting in Hubbard County by registering voters, explaining procedures, putting up signs, talking to their friends & neighbors etc etc. Also a huge Thank You to Hubbard County Auditor and her team including all the election judges for all the preparations, timely information and of course counting all those votes.  Participation like this is what makes our democracy work. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following statement is from the National LWV website.

11/7/2020

WASHINGTON – League of Women Voters board president Dr. Deborah Turner and CEO Virginia Kase issued the following joint statement on the results of the electoral college count for our next president:

“The American voters have spoken, and we now know the result of the presidential election. We commend the election workers and administrators who helped facilitate the 2020 elections and the post-Election Day counting of ballots under the most challenging of circumstances.

“The 2020 elections saw the most ballots cast in U.S. history. We applaud the will and determination of the American public to participate in elections amid an ongoing pandemic. This unprecedented turnout is a testament to the determination of the American voters and the strength of our democratic system. It is also a testament to the tenacity and power of Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian, Muslim, LGBTQ+, and young voters who turned out in record numbers demanding their voices be heard. We are truly inspired.

“Voting is our most sacred constitutional right, and elections are our greatest national project. While we know the outcome of the presidential election, there are still hundreds of local and state races yet to be decided. As we await the full results, we respect the process and professionalism of our election administrators. When all votes are counted, all candidates must respect the outcome.

“There will be many lessons learned from the 2020 elections, and we should celebrate our successes, including the expansion of voter access, record-breaking early voting, and the wide-scale use of absentee and mail-in voting options. This is what creating a more perfect union looks like, and we hope to see these expansions become a more permanent part of our voting system.

“The League’s work this year informed and protected millions of voters. The League was instrumental in the ongoing fight to preserve American democracy in a nonpartisan manner even in one of the most partisan and contentious elections in our nation’s history. One hundred years after our organization was founded, we remain committed to our mission of empowering voters and defending democracy.

“As we look to the weeks and months ahead, our nation must begin the process of reconciliation and seek to identify those things that bind us together rather than divide us. In this moment, we must come together as Americans, respect the process, and work toward a peaceful transition of power.

“Democracy defines America, and democracy has prevailed in the 2020 elections.”

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Election News: Returning Ballot Directions from LWV MN

 

Return Ballots On or Before November 3!

 

Due to a federal appellate court opinion, ballots returned after November 3 might not be counted. 

 

Previously, Minnesota had deadline where ballots had to be postmarked on or before Election Day. Now, due to the court opinion, ballots should be received by election officials on or before Election Day. 

 

If a voter plans to return the ballot by hand, it must be returned to the local election office on or before 3 p.m. on Election Day.  (This means the drop box at our Court House also)

 

Therefore, we advise all voters to return their absentee ballots in person before Tuesday, November 3rd at 3 p.m OR to vote early in person before Tuesday, November 3rd. 

 

Voters whose absentee ballots have not yet been accepted may vote in person instead of returning an absentee ballot. Voters whose ballots have not yet been accepted may alternatively choose to vote on Election Day (Tuesday, November 3rd). 

 

IF A VOTER HAS NOT HAD THEIR ABSENTEE BALLOT ACCEPTED BY THEIR LOCAL ELECTION OFFICIALS, THEY SHOULD NOT RELY ON THE POSTAL SERVICE RETURNING THEIR BALLOT IN TIME TO BE COUNTED. VOTERS SHOULD NOT MAIL THEIR BALLOTS AT THIS TIME BECAUSE THE BALLOTS LIKELY WILL NOT ARRIVE IN TIME. BALLOTS ARRIVING AFTER NOVEMBER 3RD, REGARDLESS OF WHEN THEY ARE POSTMARKED, LIKELY WILL NOT BE COUNTED. 

 

Voters can track whether their absentee ballot has been accepted at mnvotes.org/track. If the ballot has been "accepted," no further action is needed. If the ballot is not "accepted," the voter should plan on voting in person (either early or on Election Day) to ensure their ballot is counted. 

 

Read the court opinion here.

 

Read news stories at the following sources:

• Pioneer Press
• Minnesota Public Radio
• Star Tribune
• National Public Radio
• KARE 11
• FOX 9

 

Our Candidate is Democracy

 

 

 According to the Braver Angels website,

“Politics is tough. It always has been. American politics is competitive, thrilling, frustrating – and infuriating. The stakes are high. Issues are important. Outcomes matter. This is why we care, and should care, about our politics.
But do our politics have to be demonizing? Does it have to bring out the worst in us? Do our politics have to destroy the goodwill of our society?  Is the dehumanizing of our fellow Americans something we should accept?”

 

 

We, the members of the Park Rapids Area League of Women Voters, are troubled by the recent actions of some people during this political season.  We have been witnessing interference with peaceful demonstrations and motorcades, reports of gestures, name calling, the theft or destruction of political and non-political signs, to name just a few.   These are all symptoms of bigger issues in our polarized society.  LWVPRA strongly believes that these behaviors detract from the seriousness of our election process and destroy the community.

The League of Women Voters  has always encouraged respectful and civil discourse among people with different political views.  It is through such discourse that voters are educated about candidates’ beliefs and positions.  We do not, however, take partisan positions that support one candidate or one party.  In short, our candidate is democracy.  We support anything that furthers people’s rights to learn about candidates, respectfully express their views, civilly persuade others, and to vote their conscience.

We implore everyone to take the time to study each candidate, make a serious choice and follow the rules.  Then the goal is to count the votes, show respect to all involved and  come together after an election to make the best decisions for this community. We must not tear our community apart before the elections. 

LWV PRA email:  lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org.
our website: lwvparkrapidsarea.blogspot.com/

Sincerely
League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area

click here for more information on Braver Angels

Click here for more information on LWVMN civil discourse advice 
 

Voting is well on the way in Hubbard County

The Star Tribune has a website with fascinating information on the record number of Minnesota voters who have requested absentee ballots. But with the tracking system that the Secretary of State's team has in place, we can see how many ballots have already been returned..right down to the county level.  

Today: Monday October 12th:  Hubbard County has about 14,020 registered voters:  so far 7,870 absentee ballots have been requested and 2,916 of those ballots have been returned. (note: absentee ballots include anyone who has voted early at the county court house also.)  This is a 291.4% increase in absentee voting from the last election.
Have you made your plan to vote?

Have you made your plan to vote? 

October 13

 

Pre-registration ends for the general election. This year, registering early means you won’t need a witness signature on your absentee ballot! Go to MNVotes.org to register today and request your absentee ballot. 

From October 14th until November 2nd you can register and vote in person at the courthouse.   Or on Nov 3rd you can go to your local polling place, register and vote.  

For more information check out these links:

Voting information for Hubbard Cty 2020 

Full website for statistics from the Star Tribune

Enterprise Article on Absentee Ballots Record

 

Video from Candidate Round Up in Heartland Park Sept 19, 2020

On September 19, 2020 League of Women Voters Park Rapids and the Park Rapids Enterprise teamed up to cosponsor an opportunity for each local candidate to address their voters.   All candidates that would have been invited to League candidate forums in a "normal" year were invited to give a 10 minute speech introducing themselves and address 3 main issues that the League felt local voters were interested in.  

Not all candidates were able to attend due to other commitments.  We thank the following candidates for being able to rearrange their schedules. 

 

Candidates Attending

Bob Wills :  Park Rapids City Council
Liz Stone: Park Rapids City Council
Alan Roy: Senate District 2
David Suby: House 2B
Jeremiah Liend: House 2A
Dan Stacy: Hubbard County Commissioner
Char Christenson: Hubbard County Commissioner
Cliff Tweedale : Vote Yes Committee
Dana Kocka: Statement read by League member 

The Park Rapids Enterprise streamed this event on Facebook Live and the video below is the back up video.  

Our Election Procedures are secure: Hubbard County is Ready

 

As the Voter Service Co-Chairs for the League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area (LWVPRA), we would like to thank both the Park Rapids Enterprise and Kay Rave, Hubbard County Auditor, and her team. Part of LWVPRA’s mission is to educate the voters about the election process. Over the last month there have been a couple of articles published that address this year’s elections. We particularly applaud the article published in the Enterprise (“Filing opens July 28 for local seats: Written By: Enterprise staff  Jul 23rd 2020”). It provides local voters with the information they need in order to run for a local office and instructions on how to handle either mail-in ballots (as used by 40% of our townships) and absentee ballots that are available upon request to all other voters in Hubbard County.

As part of our education mission, the League would like to remind voters in Hubbard County that using an absentee or mail-in ballot is safe, but you need to follow the instructions carefully. One rule is that all ballots postmarked by Election Day (Nov. 3) will be counted even if the Post Office delivers them after Nov. 3. But if you mail a letter here at the Park Rapids Post Office or other nearby Post Offices, that letter travels to the Twin Cities to get a postmark. Please allow a couple of days for this travel time. The best advice is to get your ballot early and vote immediately. Don’t wait until the last minute. There is a drop box on the east side of the Hubbard County Courthouse to deposit your ballot by 3 p.m. on Election Day.

Kay Rave and her team are working very hard to have precincts ready for voting Nov. 3. They have new DS200 ballot counters to replace old, worn out M100’s. They also now have a super-fast DS450 Central Count ballot scanner to count all the ballots coming in by mail, dropped off or completed in person at the Courthouse. Plans are in place to make sure our voting in Hubbard County is secure and accurate. Now the voters just have to do their part and vote.

LWVPRA is also working on plans to help voters get to know local candidates. Our plan with the help of the Park Rapids Enterprise is to have a series of Facebook Live candidate forums during the week of Sept. 28. LWVPRA will be contacting the campaigns by the end of August with more details. (If a candidate does not get this letter please contact us.) The forums will host the candidates, a moderator, a timekeeper and camera operator but no in-person audience. All questions will be submitted by email from the public before the forum.

Another way for voters to get information is to check the LWVUS website called Vote411.org. Local candidates are being invited to answer 3 or 4 policy questions relevant to this area and then provide contact information and their website. This is a site that everyone can check to compare candidates. Please encourage your candidate to respond to these questions as it will give everyone a way to educate themselves on the issues. 

Lastly LWVPRA will be posting yard signs, posters and other reminders around the county for how to Vote From Home. If you have any questions or concerns please contact LWVPRA at lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org.

Carolynne White and Barb Wiebesick 
Co Chairs LWVPRA Voters Service

We need help with the Census count in Hubbard County

Challenge your neighbors, friends, family, everyone, now, to increase Hubbard County's self-response rate and beat our 2010 Census self-response rate of 57%.

Encourage people to respond on their own now. Minimize the need for census takers to visit households beginning in mid-August. Do what you can to help Hubbard County reach a complete and accurate count.

Completing the Census is easy, on-line at 2020census.gov, by phone to 844-330-2020, or by completing and returning the form that was sent to your home around April 1. If you don't remember getting a form just call 844-330-2020 for assistance. Every person from newborn infants to elders counts. Whether or not you're a citizen YOU COUNT!

Responses to the census help shape the future of our community and inform how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding are distributed for important programs and services. Among them are healthcare, emergency and disaster response, education, roads and bridges and other infrastructure. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to get support for these and other vital services in our community for the next 10 years. Respond online, by phone, or by mail by October 31. 

If you have other questions or concerns call 218-732-9226 and we'll do our best to help you!

Honor our history of voting rights

This was supposed to be a year of special celebrations for the League of Women Voters (LWV) Park Rapids. LWV had planned several events to celebrate women getting the right to vote 100 years ago and the League of Women Voters being formed.

The League was created to educate voters on issues and voting procedures. LWV Park Rapids had planned to host a Traveling Exhibit on national and local League history during May. The exhibit had to be postponed, but members hope to greet you all when you visit the exhibit in May 2021.

In the meantime in our world of virtual celebrations, LWV has another way to celebrate this historic occasion.. PBS is airing a new documentary, The Vote. It is “a two-part, four-hour documentary chronicling the dramatic culmination story of the hard-fought campaign waged by American women for the right to vote.” According to a League of Women Voters US newsletter, “The Vote brings to life the unsung leaders of the movement and the deep controversies over gender roles and race that divided Americans then - and (that) continues to dominate political discourse now on the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment.“

 The documentary will air Monday, July 6 at 8 p.m. and Tuesday, July 7 at 8 p.m. on Lakeland Public TV. You can also view it online or your streaming service.

This is a great opportunity to learn about the campaign waged by American women for the right to vote that results in the largest expansion of voting rights in U.S. history. The next step is to go to the Secretary of State’s website https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/register-to-vote. Check to make sure you are registered to vote and you can check out the “other ways to vote” tab with information about absentee voting.

Honor the struggle of our ancestors by exercising your right to vote. Anyone with questions about registering and voting can ask a local league member by emailing lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org.

Watch for information about local candidate forums at the end of September on the website (lwvparkrapidsarea.blogspot.com) and in newspapers.

If you want more information about this documentary: click here

Thoughts on the upcoming Census: March 12th

I was doing some research today about how people are going to respond to the census. (People should start getting the notices to fill out the census on March 12th.)

Then I was talking with a younger friend who doesn't watch much TV, or read newspapers etc. but does see things on Facebook.   She was unaware that the census was coming: what it is used for and its importance.  That took me by surprise.  I explained as much as I could and her reaction was WOW, we need to tell people this!  As far as she knows she has never filled out the census. She is not sure if others in her extend family fill it out either.  When she was living with her grandfather 10 years ago, he probably filled it out for the household.  She does not know.

Therefore I'm adding this blog to the conversation:  Everyone and especially everyone in rural counties need to make sure everyone is counted. To do this, talk with your neighbors, your extended family, any young adults you have contact with... tell them this census is important.

The census gathers the data that business, government, etc use to make decisions for the next 10 years.

Everyone needs to read their mail!  Don't throw away envelopes as junk mail.  Open the ones from the government.. find your unique ID number...go online and fill out the census.. Be counted...Help your county plan for the next 10 years. 

Your public library can help you get online if you need a computer. 

LWV Park Rapids celebrates 100th anniversary

The City of Park Rapids has proclaimed that Feb. 14 is a Day of Celebration for the 100th Anniversary of the League of Women Voters (LWV).  LWV Park Rapids Area joins more than 700 other local and state chapters to celebrate this historic milestone. 

 On Feb 14, the local League will be holding a Birthday Party at the Third Street Market. The community is invited to join LWV members at 4:30 p.m. for birthday cake (pick your own beverage from the menu). The celebration will also have a program to present information about a traveling exhibit coming to Nemeth Art Center during May, some local League history and the beginnings of League of Women Voters. Please RSVP to the birthday celebration invitation by calling 218 732 9226. 

Looking to the future on the threshold of the next 100 years, League is excited that dedicated members across Hubbard County continue to steadily attract significant numbers of volunteers, who share League’s commitment to Making Democracy Work. LWV is a citizens’ organization that has fought since 1920 to improve our government and engage all citizens in the decisions that impact their lives. LWV operates at national, state and local levels through more than 700 state and local Leagues in all 50 states as well as in Washington, D.C., the Virgin Islands and Hong Kong.  

LWV was founded by Carrie Chapman Catt in 1920, just six months before the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, giving all American women the right to vote after a 72-year fight for women’s suffrage. From the beginning, League has been a non partisan, grassroots organization whose leaders believed that citizens should play a critical role in advocacy for the issues that affect their lives. In order to support that role, the local League has sponsored numerous educational programs on local issues as well as candidate forums. For more information, please look at our website (http://lwvparkrapidsarea.blogspot.com/) or email lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org.