2016 and Beyond: Serving New Jersey Voters

The League of Women Voters of New Jersey is in a unique position to combat New Jersey's historically low voter turnout. While we will see greater participation in this presidential election year, we want to ensure voter engagement continues in the years to follow. This forum will focus on League trainings to help your members better serve New Jersey voters and incorporate best practices into your voter education work.
 

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Shauna Shames

Dr. Shauna Shames, an Assistant Professor in the Political Science Department of Rutgers-Camden, is an expert in American political behavior, with a focus on race, gender, and politics.

Dr. Shames has published and lectured widely on political inequality, marginalization, and gender politics. She has also published on child care policy, work/family conflict, abortion, feminism, gay and lesbian rights, and U.S. public opinion. Dr. Shames will provide us with insight into women's political participation, as voters and as candidates, the magnitude of political inequality in the U.S., and offer some solutions to improve our political system going forward.

Workshop Sessions

This forum will focus on providing training prior to the busy fall voter education season. Each participant will have the opportunity to attend 2 of the following trainings (you will be asked to make your selections when registering).

League Basics 101

League Members Marie Curtis and Doris Weisberg

Did you or others rise to a leadership role quickly in your local League without  receiving a thorough introduction to every aspect of the League? Or maybe you want to be able to provide new members with the basics of our organization (nonpartisanship, our work, the consensus process, etc). This is a great training for new members, seasoned members looking for a refresher, or those members responsible for educating their local League.

Targeting Low Voting Populations: Registration and Beyond

League Immigration Committee Members Deborah Macmillan and Terry Thompson

Markedly lower percentages of eligible voters among Latino and Asian populations actually vote than among white and black populations, and this is true even when looked at by age, income, and education. What are you already doing to counter this pattern of low voting through registration, voter information, and get-out-the-vote efforts? What are other Leagues and other states doing? What organizations might you work with in your own communities to further your efforts? The League's Immigration Committee will offer recommendations for best practices during this session.

Organizing Candidate Forums: Updating the Tried and True  

League Voters Service Experts Michelle Bobrow and Dawn Clarke 

Candidate forums are one of the greatest services Leagues can provide our communties, but is your League using the best techniques to get the most out of your efforts? Do you know how to partner with other organizations, increase your chances of candidates participating, and widen your audience? Your League will want to send a few members to this session to get ready to improve your forums in the fall.

Vote411

League of Women Voters of the United States Elections Coordinator Megan Brown

Thousands in your community are accessing Vote411 and not finding the information they need because New Jersey Leagues are not participating in this program offered by LWVUS. We want to change that in time for the General Election. Vote411 provides nonpartisan information to the public concerning the elction process, including access to online voter guides. You will need to bring your own laptop to this training to learn more about how your League can use Vote411. Megan Brown will be leading the session remotely.

We look forward to seeing you there. Be sure to also join us the evening before the forum for the "Making Democracy Work" cocktail reception and awards ceremony at the Madison Hotel in Morristown, NJ. There is a discounted price available when you register for both events.

 

Register Now!