A LOOK AT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN DENTON

The program February 9 will provide information concerning the local incidence of domestic violence. The speaker will be Toni Johnson-Simpson, Executive Director of the local organization, Friends of the Family. This organization, which serves about 7,000 people annually, has a "holistic approach to serving families" by helping both the victim and the abuser, when possible.

Presently, the state League (LWV-Texas) has a position, which "supports adequately funded state and local programs to reduce the incidence of domestic violence and to alleviate its effects." The local League does not have a statement supporting programs to reduce the incidence of domestic violence .

Come and learn more about the local problems, intervention strategies, funding, and the contribution of volunteers.

DON ALEXANDER TO UPDATE LWV ON VOTING MACHINES

On Thursday, February 23 Don Alexander, Elections Administrator of Denton County, will demonstrate the capabilities of the new voting equipment from Hart Intercivic that will be used in the March 7, 2006 Primary Elections. Both eSlate and eScan machines have been purchased with funds allocated to Denton County from the Help America Vote Act. Every precinct throughout the county will have one eSlate unit that makes voting accessible to people with disabilities. Optical scan machines will complete the array of voting equipment at each precinct.

Mr. Alexander, the recipient of the League’s LOLITS award in 2005, has been at the forefront of election management in the county for several years. His office has been instructing dozens of people who will be working in the primaries as election judges or poll workers on the operation of the new equipment. We have also asked Mr. Alexander to brief us on any changes in the election laws that will be in effect in March.

League members are concerned that the new voting machines enhance the ability of citizens to cast their vote in either the Republican or the Democratic primary. Come gain a better understanding of the new equipment! The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the usual meeting room on the first floor of the Environmental Education, Science & Technology (EESAT) Building on the University of North Texas campus, corner of Hickory and Avenue B. The meeting is open to the public. Know someone curious about how the voting machines will work? Ask them to join you for this informative session.

WHAT’S NEW IN VOTERS SERVICE

This year the Denton League will prepare and disseminate a Voters Guide to contested races on the ballot in the March 7, 2006 Republican Primary. While the state League will publish a Voters Guide to the top-of-the-ballot races (the governor and other state-wide representatives) in the same primary, the Denton League’s guide will focus on answers from the 30 candidates for elected office in Denton County who have opposition.

Our local guide will feature the Republican primary only because the Democratic party candidates are running without an opponent in that party’s primary.

We have ordered 200 copies in English and 100 copies in Spanish of the LWV-Texas Education Fund Voters Guide. These will be distributed to our League members, regular contributors to our Finance Drive, and public libraries throughout the county. We will print as many copies as our budget permits of the local guide. Since the local guide may be very lengthy we anticipate fewer print copies will be made. We do plan, however, to distribute flyers to various sources (the Voter Registration Office, City Hall, school and public libraries) indicating the web sites where these Voters Guides may be accessed. Our plans are to make these guides available by the time early voting begins.

Sondra Ferstl
Community Relations Vice President

PRESIDENT’S PODIUM

February may be a short month, but we’ve managed to schedule two general meetings. The first one on February 9 will be a discussion on family violence in Denton. We have a lengthy position at the state level, but nothing locally. On February 23 the featured speaker will be Don Alexander, Denton County Elections Administrator. He is a walking encyclopedia on all things related to voting. You won’t want to miss his discussion on the new voting machines.

Early voting for the March 7 election begins February 21. Voters Guides have been ordered from LWV-Texas and thanks to Sondra Ferstl’s hard work, we will be printing our own local Voters Guides which will be mailed to members, contributors and posted on our website.

Sue Smith

WELCOME NEW MEMBER

Add this name to the list of members in your Member Handbook:

Mary Staub-Hall
2303 Foxcroft Circle
Denton, TX 76209
(940) 368-6621
mstaub1@yahoo.com

Welcome, Mary!

New members joining LWV-Denton at this time pay reduced rates for the remainder of the League year (until August 31, 2006). Individual memberships are $22.50. Household memberships for those residing at the same address and willing to share one copy of LWV-Denton materials are $22.50 for the first member and $11.25 for each additional member. Student membership remain at $20. Send a check payable to League of Women Voters of Denton to P.O. Box 424945 TWU Station, Denton, TX 76204.

CHECK WWW.LWVTEXAS.ORG FIRST

Use the LWV-Texas website as your first resource for League information. You can find answers to many of your questions at www.lwvtexas.org.

• Voting information
• Voters Guide order forms
• Voters Guide to download
• Local League contacts
• Donation opportunities
• League positions
• League study information
• Action alerts
• Contact information for elected officials
• Texas Legislature bill search
• Texas Voters for download
• TEF project forms
And MORE!

The website is constantly being updated to provide you with the most comprehensive information possible. Give the phones a break and check the website first!

Reprinted from the Winter 2005 Texas VOTER (article by Elaine Wiant)