• For an overview of LWVGB projects, goals and accomplishments, also see past issues of The Voter, LWVGB's newsletter.
• Visit this page to view the news archive for other years.
• See the LWVGB home page for the most recent news.
  

Thanks for coming!


Cahaba River Walk and Picnic
June 15, 2019
10:30 a.m. Program and Walk
11:30 a.m. Picnic
2171 Grants Mill Road
Birmingham, AL 35210
(In Irondale)

On June 15, 2019, LWVGB members and friends had a very pleasant and educational field trip to the beautiful Cahaba River. Thank you, Cindy Lowry, Executive Director of the Alabama Rivers Alliance and LWVGB member, and LaTonya Scott, Environmental Educator with the Cahaba River Society, for speaking to LWVGB members and guests . What a great day to be out for a Cahaba River Walk and Picnic! The group gathered at 2171 Grants Mill Road in Irondale (riverside) before going down to the river. Lowry and Scott led the group and lectured on the Cahaba River and the value of and challenges faced by all of Alabama's water systems. We were happy to have Cub Scouts and leaders from Pack 351 visiting with us. We were also glad to have Myra Evans and Andrea Pennington with us from the LWV of Mobile. Thank you for making that long drive up from "L.A.", Myra and Andrea! And thank you to LWVGB Vice President Leonette Slay for keeping the group cool and refreshed with water and lemonade. Go to https://trekbirmingham.com/places/Cahaba-River-walk to learn more about our meeting location. As are all LWVGB educational events, this riverwalk and picnic were free and open to the public.

See photos of the day in this Facebook album. Do you have photos taken on the field trip? We would love to see them! If you're willing to share, please send to jjohnson@lwvgb.org for posting with the other photos. Thanks!

Thank you to all who participated in
"Pardons, Restoration of Voting Rights, Expungement, Pro Bono Legal Consultation" (P.R.E.P.)!
June 8, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
1500 Daniel Payne Drive
Birmingham, AL
in the Daniel Payne Community Plaza Dining Hall
Download the flyer for printing.
Share the Facebook event.

On this Memorial Day [May 27, 2019], we honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Thank you Maj. Gen. (Ret.) James G. Darden for your presentation
on April 16, 2019 at the Pelham Public Library on
Global Coalitions and the
Relevance of NATO 
Facebook Event
Flyer

This event was live-streamed on Facebook.
The video is available for public viewing
on Facebook and on Youtube.


Speaker:  Maj. Gen. (Ret.) James W. Darden

Tues., April 16, 2019, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Pelham Public Library, Room B
2000 Pelham Park Boulevard
Pelham, AL 35124

The League of Women Voters welcomed members and the public for a discussion about national security issues, specifically NATO and other global coalitions. We were honored to have as our guest speaker Maj. Gen. (Ret.) James. W. Darden. MG Darden brought decades of military experience to this conversation, including the fact that he is the former Director of Mobilization and Reserve Affairs/Deputy J5 of the European Command in Stuttgart, Germany. Read MG Darden's bio.

This was an important and timely event. In April 2019, we are celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the creation of NATO. As reported by NATO, "NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addressed a joint meeting of the United States Congress in Washington DC on Wednesday (3 April 2019), making him the first leader of an international organization ever to do so. The Secretary General’s speech focused on the bond between Europe and North America, the enduring strength of the NATO Alliance and the importance of unity in an unpredictable world." Read the complete statement at: http://bit.ly/2uNv1wS

Admission to this event was free and it was open to the public. This event was live-streamed on Facebook. The video is available for public viewing on Facebook and on Youtube. Photos will be available soon.

LWVGB Voting Rights Restoration Workshop
Great turnout at the LWVGB Voting Rights Restoration Workshop! Thank you, John Paul Taylor! There is much to do in educating ex-felons, legal community, and the public. The Voting Rights Project welcomes your active involvement. See event photos.

LWVGB hosted a Voting Rights Restoration Workshop on April 4, 2019 at Beloved Community Church, 1:30 - 3 p.m.. About 20 attendees learned about voting rights in AL and how to help felons and other disenfranchised citizens to restore their right to vote - under what circumstances one loses the right to vote, when and how to get the right restored, and what we can do as citizens to make voting re-enfranchisement more universally accessible. Thank you to John Paul Taylor with the Alabama Voting Rights Project (AVRP) for instructing. The AVRP is a collaboration between the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Campaign Legal Center. Persons interesting in learning more about the Alabama Voting Rights Project can contact John Paul Taylor at john.paul.taylor@splcenter.org or 334-235-6789

Many thanks to Rev. Jennifer Sanders and Beloved Community Church for hosting this event. Thanks also to Nancy Sales for coordinating this event and to Connie Arnwine for providing refreshments.

The was a free event and the public was encouraged to attend. It was publicized in several ways such as social media (including this FB event) and on Birmingham365.

Want to know more about the AVRP? Read this al.com article…
"‘Long way to go’ on voting rights restoration, say advocates"
by Lawrence Specker, March 27, 2019

LWVGB January Membership Meeting
Criminal Justice: Effect of Recent Reforms
and a Look to the Future
Monday, January 28, 2019, 6:30 p.m. at
Beloved Community Church
131 41st Street South
Birmingham, AL 35222

SEE FOLLOWUP INFORMATION AND Q&A FOR THIS MEETING.

Guest Speakers:

• Rep. Judge James E. Hill, Jr. (Dist. 50), Chair House Judiciary and retired Circuit Judge (left)
• Officer Patrick Bishop, AL Dept. of Pardons and Paroles (center)
• Foster Cook, UAB Assoc. Professor and Director Emeritus Govt. Affairs and Special Programs (right)

SEE FOLLOWUP INFORMATION AND Q&A FOR THIS MEETING.

Thanks also to all who braved pending bad weather to attend this program. We hope you found it well worthwhile!

ABOUT THIS MEETING

At our member meeting in January, LWVGB focused on criminal justice reform in Alabama and in the metro-Birmingham area. Our guest speakers were Ala. State Representative and retired Circuit Judge James E. "Jim" Hill, Jr., Officer Patrick Bishop with the AL Board of Pardons and Parole, and Professor Emeritus Foster Cook, former Director of Government Affairs and Special Programs at UAB.

Representative Judge James E. "Jim" Hill, Jr. is serving his 2nd term in the Alabama Legislature. He represents the 50th District (Moody, Odenville, Margaret, Argo in St. Clair Co.) and serves as Chair of the House Judiciary Committee. Judge Hill is Of Counsel to Hill, Hill, & Gossett, P.C. and has practiced law for over 19 years with an AV Rating Martindale Hubble. Judge Hill has served as the City Attorney for the City of Leeds, City of Moody and as President and Vice President of Alabama League of Municipalities City Attorney Association. He was elected as St. Clair County District Judge in 1994 and is a Member of Juvenile Judges Association Legislative Committee and a District Judge Representative to the Judicial Committee. He was also elected as St. Clair County Circuit Judge in 2004 and is a Member of the Executive Board for the Circuit Judges Association.

Patrick Bishop is an officer with the AL Board of Pardons and Parole. He is also a second year student at Birmingham School of Law and associate minister of Trinity Baptist Church. He is a 1990 graduate of Ramsay High School and is retired from the Army Reserve, where he served in positions requiring expertise in antiterrorism, public affairs, and training/leader development. He holds degrees in law enforcement, criminal justice, and public administration.

Foster Cook is Associate Professor and former Director of the Substance Abuse Programs in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He was director of the Jefferson County TASC program (Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities) which administers four drug courts, a mental health court, a veteran’s court, a restitution drug court for property offenders and the electronic monitoring services for the county's court system. TASC is the designated Community Corrections Program for Jefferson Co., providing system sentencing alternatives for non-violent offenders and reentry programs for inmates returning from prison. He is consultant to many state and national criminal justice commissions and associations. He serves on the Alabama Prison Reform Task Force.

This was a free event and the public was invited to attend.

LWVGB enjoys Holiday Luncheon 2018 with Judge Robert S. Vance, Jr.

Did you miss the big day, Giving Tuesday, Nov. 27th? No worries! We still need and would love your support! Please GIVE GENEROUSLY. With your help, LWVGB will continue to empower and protect voters.

Thank you!

The reservation deadline for this event has passed. If you did not make the deadline, we hope to see you at a future LWVGB event. Please check the LWVGB calendar regularly to see what is in store.

Judge Alan King speaks on 2018 Mid-terms in Jefferson County and beyond

L to R: LWVGB Voter Service Chair Nancy Sales, Jefferson Co. Probate Judge Alan L. King, LWVGB President Leonette Slay

On Thursday evening, November 8, Judge Alan King spoke to League members and the public about the 2018 mid-term election. Judge King has been a probate judge in Jefferson County since 2000 and has served as the Presiding Judge of Probate and the county's Chief Election Official since 2006. Despite rainy, chilly weather, Jefferson County residents turned out to the Vestavia Library in the Forest, and were very interested to hear his review.

Judge King covered several topics in his presentation and followed up by responding at length to audience questions. Among the topics, he discussed the training of election officials, the choice of voting machines, use of vote pass pads (for checking in voters at the polls), the choice of election sites, compilation of the inactive voter list, and hearings for disenfranchised voters. He shared some problems that have arisen before and on election day and how they were resolved. And he discussed the fast-moving advances in technology and how these affect the election process. Judge King compared the election process in Jefferson County to that in other Alabama counties and in other locations across the nation.

Judge King was recently a member of the now-dissolved Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity (sometimes referred to as the Kobach Commission). He shared his experience in being selected and serving on that commission.

The League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham greatly appreciates that Judge King was willing to share his expertise and long-time experience in overseeing Jefferson County elections. Thank you, Judge King!

See more photos from this meeting.

UPDATE: Readers may know that Judge King, wife Karen, and daughter Kendall were struck by a hit and run driver in Denver, CO on Thanksgiving night, Nov. 22. Karen was killed. Judge King and Kendall were severely injured. Judge King is home in Birmingham now. Kendall is also out of the hospital. She lives in Denver. Judge King and Kendall continue in our thoughts. We send our deepest sympathy to the King family and wish Judge King and Kendall a speedy recovery. Members who would like to send a card or message to Judge King, please contact Jean Johnson for further information.

The citizens of Greater Birmingham have made their voices heard!

Voter Registration is Over in Alabama.

The deadline in Alabama to register to vote or update registration information for the Nov. 6 election was Monday, Oct. 22. Now that you're properly registered, get informed at VOTE411.ORG about the candidates and the constitutional amendments.

Make a plan to VOTE ON NOV. 6!

Make your plan to VOTE on November 6!

And when it's all said and done, we will examine the election with Jefferson County's Chief Election Official, Presiding Probate Judge Alan L. King. Join us at the Vestavia Library in the Forest on November 8, 2018, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.. This is a free event, and the public is invited to attend.

Download the flyer below. Share Facebook event. Share on Twitter.

IT'S UP TO YOU!


VOTE AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018
7 A.M. - 7 P.M.

REGISTER TO VOTE OR
UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION BY OCT. 22!

• Check your registration status!
• Register or update by Oct. 22.
• If needed, apply for absentee ballot by Nov. 1.

Get candidate and amendment info. and much more at Vote411.org. It's your "one-stop-shop" for election related information.

See below for more election information.

ELECTION 2018 CALENDAR

• OCT. 22 - Last day to register to vote or change registration information for the Nov. 6 General Election (Online registration application is available in Alabama.)
• NOV. 1 — Last day for voter to make application for an absentee ballot.
• NOV. 5 — Last day for voter to hand-deliver or postmark an absentee ballot.
• NOV. 6 — VOTE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION! - Polls open 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• NOV. 13 — Absentee UOCAVA ballot receipt deadline*

ALABAMA REGISTRATION AND ELECTION INFORMATION

• Are you registered to vote? Are you sure? Check!
• Register to vote or change your registration information. Do it by Oct. 22 for election on Nov. 6. Register online, download an Alabama Voter Registration Form for mailing (can also be used to update your address or change of name.) Or see all locations where you can register or change your registration information in person.
• Can you vote absentee?
• Contact your county Absentee Election Manager
• Apply for an absentee ballot.
• Find your polling place. (Note these recent Jefferson Co. voting precinct changes. If you haven't voted recently, scroll down to see changes in previous years, too.)
• What are the acceptable forms of Voter ID? (ACCEPTABLE PHOTO ID is required to vote with certain exceptions.)
• Learn more about Photo Voter ID and how to get one if you need it.
• Follow the money! Online Campaign Finance System. Get contribution/financial reports for state and federal candidates and political action committees PACs).
• How to get former felon voting rights restored. Also, get voting rights restoration information from the ACLU here and here.
• Know your voting rights as established by the Help America Vote (HAVA) Act of 2002.
• See sample ballots for all Alabama counties.
• Visit Vote411.org for candidate and amendment information. Type in your address and get information about the candidates running statewide in Alabama (directly from the candidates) and unbiased information about the constitutional amendments on all Alabama ballots.
• Fair Ballot Commission Executive Summary of AL statewide amendment proposals
• Election Officials - Get contact information for your Board of Registrars, Circuit Clerk, Absentee Election Manager, and Probate Judge (Chief Election Officer of your county).
• Voting information and assistance from American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)

MORE ELECTION INFORMATION

• Download the Alabama 2018 Voter Guide
• Get Alabama Photo Voter ID information
• Visit the AL Secretary of State's websites here and here.

OTHER ELECTION RESOURCES

• Jefferson Co. Registrar - 205 325-5550
• Shelby Co. Board of Registrars - 205 669-3913
• Jefferson Co. Absentee Election Manager - Bessemer Division - 205-497-8510
• Jefferson Co. Absentee Election Manager - Birmingham Division - 205-325-5355
• Shelby Co. Absentee Election Manager - 205-669-3760
• Jefferson Co. Probate Judge (Chief Election Officer of County) - 205-325-5428
• Shelby County Probate Judge (Chief Election Officer of County) - 205-669-3713
• Election Officials in All Alabama Counties
• AL Secretary of State - Elections Division - 1-800-274-8683
• Alabama Vote
• LWVGB 205 583-5000

6 THINGS TO KNOW
BEFORE AND WHEN YOU VOTE

1.) Be informed about the candidates, races, and constitutional amendments on your ballot. The League of Women Voters has the resources you need to make you knowledgeable before you cast your ballot. Visit Vote411.org and check the registration and election information on this page for more answers.

2.)  Find your polling place (where to vote). Be sure to enter information that exactly matches your voter registration record. If you do not get the information you need, call your county Board of Registrars. And if needed, here is contact information for all county election officials in Alabama.

3.)  Take acceptable photo voter ID to your polling place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and VOTE! What's acceptable photo voter ID? See the list here. If you forget your photo voter ID, tell the polling official that you want to vote a "provisional ballot." And if two polling officials can vouch for your identity, you can still vote a regular ballot without photo voter ID.

4.)  You cannot be denied the right to vote. If your name is not on the polling list or you do not have acceptable photo ID, say that you want to vote a provisional ballot. Try your best to vote a regular ballot. (If you have moved to another Alabama county since you registered, you may need to go back to the polling place where your name is on the polling list.) If you vote a provisional ballot, you will have until Friday, Nov. 9, to present proof at the county court house (perhaps acceptable photo ID?) that your vote should count.

5.)  You can vote for anyone! It doesn't matter for whom, or if, you've voted before. Vote for anyone you choose no matter if you voted in the Democratic Party Primary, the Republican Party Primary, or if you didn't vote at all. You can vote for a candidate or candidates in either party, mix your vote between political parties, or you can write in a person who is not on the ballot. It's all up to you!

6.) You don't have to vote in every race. We hope you get information about all the candidates, races, and constitutional amendments and make an informed decision at the polls on all or most. BUT you do not have to vote in all races and on all amendment measures. Your vote will count however you mark your ballot.


Learn about the candidates and get election information.

• Visit Vote411.org
• Visit al.com, BirminghamWatch.org, or your local newspaper website

• Call your county Board of Registrars.
• Call the Election Division of the Alabama Secretary of State at 800-274-8683.
• Visit alabamavotes.gov

VOTE ON NOV. 6 AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!

DECISION 2018 Candidate Forum has been CANCELED!

Voter registration and election information will be available.

DECISION 2018, the nonpartisan Jefferson County judicial forum co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham (LWVGB), Upsilon Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA-UEO), and the Magic City Bar Association (MCBA), has been canceled. The event was scheduled for Monday evening, October 8, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Gardendale Civic Center. The event has been canceled because a majority of candidates opted for other election events occurring during the same time period and scheduling overlaps could not be ironed out.

Our organizations are committed to registering and educating voters. Therefore, LWVGB, AKA-UEO, and MCBA will be present at the Gardendale Civic Center at 5:30 p.m. to register voters and provide election information. Biographical information about the Jefferson County judicial candidates and unbiased information about the four constitutional amendment referendums that will be on Alabama ballots statewide will be available on Monday evening and posted online at www.lwvgb.org.

We encourage voters to be informed and vote on Tuesday, November 6! Register and get more election information at www.VOTE411.org and at www.lwvgb.org.

Great success on National Voter Registration Day!

• Midfield High School 
• Bessemer City High School 
• Tarrant High School 
• Lawson State Community College .
• The Lovelady Center

#NVRD #NationalVoterRegistrationDay 
#MidtermsOnMyTerms #MakingDemocracyWork

Thank you for voting, Alabama!

• WBRC - State-wide races, congressional races, state legislative races across the state
• WHNT - State-wide races, congressional races, state legislative races, county-wide races across the state
• WKRG - State-wide races, area congressional races, state legislative races and county-wide race results in the LA area - Mobile, Baldwin, Clarke, Monroe, Escambia, Conecuh

Alabama Party Primary Runoffs are July 17, 2018.
ARE YOU READY TO VOTE?

NOW ONLINE!
VOTE411.ORG
Get the candidate and
election information you need in
LWVAL's Voter Guide
to the Alabama Party Primaries!

Read details in this 5/22/18 media release.

Join us for a

  State of the City
 
Discussion with Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin

Thursday, May 17, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.
at Beloved Community Church
131 41st Street South
Birmingham, AL  35222
in Avondale - map

Presented by League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham. 

We look forward to meeting with Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and a discussion about the future of the Magic City. What issues take highest priority for you? LWVGB members and the public are invited to attend. Check the LWVGB website at www.lwvgb.org or like and follow LWVGB on Facebook @LWVGB and Twitter @LWVGB for more information, and...

SAVE THE DATE!
THURS., MAY 17, 2018 @6:00 P.M.

Read about future plans for Birmingham

• Mayor Woodfin Previews FY 2019 Budget, the City’s Largest Ever
• The Next 100: Woodfin Outlines Recommendations Committees Made on Neighborhoods, Economic Development and Schools, Among Others

LWVGB, thank you for attending and participating in the Annual Business Meeting!


LWVGB DINNER AND BUSINESS MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 24,
5:00 - 7:00 P.M.
SWEET TEA RESTAURANT
2205 3rd Ave. South
Birmingham, AL 35233
— MAP —

Business Meeting Booklet
Requires LWVGB member username and password.
Contact Jean Johnson at jjohnson@lwvgb.org if you need assistance.

Read more!