[ Falcon Heights - Lauderdale - Little Canada - Maplewood - Roseville ]

As part of our year-long celebration of 100 years of the League of Women Voters, our League invited Dr. Josie Johnson and her co-author Carolyn Holbrook to speak at our Wednesday, September 16 meeting 6:30 - 8 pm. Due to personal circumstances, Dr. Johnson is unavailable to attend, but we are fortunate that Holbrook will cover both Dr. Johnson’s book as well as her own newly released book, Tell Me Your Names and I Will Testify. Both books are published by the University of Minnesota Press and are pertinent to our League anniversary and the times we live in, where we must continue fighting for voting and civil rights. This Zoom meeting is co-hosted by the Ramsey County Library - Roseville.

Here is a link to view the program in its entirely: https://www.rclreads.org/hope-in-the-struggle/

Here is a link to the video of this event recorded by Ramsey County Library: https://my.nicheacademy.com/rcladult/course/20681

League member Mindy Greiling’s memoir, Fix What You Can: Schizophrenia and a Lawmaker’s Fight for Her Son, will be the topic of discussion at the Tuesday, Oct. 20 League meeting. The book, which launches in October and is published by the University of Minnesota Press, chronicles her family's experience and legislative work in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Sue Abderholden, executive director for NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness), Minnesota’s largest provider of family and public education and support and the state’s strongest advocacy organization, will provide additional remarks about the book and our mental health system.

The meeting is co-sponsored by the Ramsey County Library - Roseville and NAMI Ramsey. League member Florence Sprague will moderate.  Registration at: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_T71434l9TRq3IPjKuORdRg

To view the planned program calendar for the 2020-2021 year, click here.  It will be updated as future details are available.

 Beginning August 6 through October 29, 7-8:30 pm via Zoom.  LWV Roseville Area, Do Good Roseville and the Ramsey County Library are hosting a series of discussions called "Talking about Race" from the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History & Culture (https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race)  To register for the event on August 6, go to: rcleads. Each session is limited to 25 participants. Here are the dates and topics of discussion:

If you were unable to attend Secretary Simon's presentation, you can see a recording here.

Both national and local elections are being held in November 2020, but this is no ordinary election year. The health and safety demands of the coronavirus pandemic are affecting both voters and those planning and administering elections. Secretary of State Steve Simon will speak to the practicalities of administering an election in the time of COVID-19. What is the status of voting by mail in Minnesota? How do municipalities recruit and protect election judges? What accommodations and adjustments are being made this year? Listen and learn. Questions can be submitted by chat.

August 18, 2020, 6:30-8 p.m. / Zoom webinar co-hosted by Ramsey County Library-Roseville and LWV of Roseville Area.  Free and open to all.  Advance registration required.  Register here..

1.  Absentee Ballots are mailed out and able to be returned by a prepaid bulk postage rate which is less costly, because of the volume, than each having a first-class stamp.  The Post Office confirmed on Friday, Aug. 14th, that there is NO DIFFERENCE in the speed of delivery.

2.  The specific impact of Federal changes to Post Office funding and operation are unknown at this time.

3.  The recently issued consent decree that removed the witness requirement for registered voters to supply on their Absentee Ballots for the Nov. Election and also extended the deadline by seven days for Ballots postmarked by Election Day, Nov. 3rd, to be received in one’s local Elections Office is no longer being challenged.  It is in effect for this election.

Two Terms are Being Used Related to Not Voting in Person at early voting sites or at the polls on Election Days.  

• VOTE BY MAIL ~ this refers to the process in some states, such as Colorado, where registered voters are automatically mailed a ballot to complete and return.
• VOTE FROM HOME ~ system in Minnesota where by citizens, without any excuse, may apply for an Absentee Ballot on-line or by paper application.  They are then mailed an Absentee Ballot to complete and return.  Only those who apply for Absentee Ballots receive them.  VOTE FROM HOME is being promoted by LWV as a safe and secure way to vote, especially during a Pandemic.

League of Women Voters of Roseville Area reminds you that No excuse Absentee Ballot Voting is allowed in Minnesota!  The first step is to request an Absentee Ballot.  This can be done for both the Primary Election on August 11th and for the General Election on November 3rd.  Requests can be completed on-line at  https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/other-ways-to-vote/vote-early-by-mail/ or by calling the MN Secretary of State Office at 651-215-1440 or your local elections office to ask that a paper application be sent to you.  Ramsey County Elections Office phone is 651-266-2171, or online at https://www.ramseycounty.us/residents/elections-voting/voters/vote-election-day/vote-mail. 

Vote411.org is the site for answers to voting and election questions as well as a source of information on candidates running for local Minnesota and state-wide public office. It is a resource provided by the League of Women Voters.  Sherry Hood is the LWV of Roseville Area member in charge of soliciting and submitting candidate questions. All are encouraged to use Vote411.org for learning about candidates and to become better informed voters.

More judges are needed to insure that people will have the option to vote in person at Early Voting Places as well as at the Polls on Election Day.  Voting by Absentee Ballot is encouraged but the in-person opportunities will be offered also.  This SecretaryofState link can be used to access information on becoming an Election Judge. Despite the previous deadlines, they are still accepting applications.