The 2020 edition of our Voters Guide is in mailboxes and live! The Voters Guide is an annual initiative by the League of Women Voters of New Canaan to provide timely, unbiased information about candidates ahead of each election. Check out the candidates responses as they tell us:
1. How they feel CT should balance economic development and health/safety in response to COVID-19; 2. The three things that need to happen for CT's economic expansion and what would they would do to facilitate that; 3. Two social issues that they expect to address in the state legislature in the next two years and what their positions are; 4. What committees have they been involved in as a legislator, or what committees would they plan to serve on; and what have they accomplished and/or do they plan to accomplish in such roles; 5. Write up to two questions they think voters should be asking General Assembly candidates and state their position on those issues; and 6. A video response: Voter apathy is highest in the 18-35 age bracket. What message do they have for those voters that will inspire them to go to the polls and vote? 4TH DISTRICT DEBATE (VIRTUAL)
Jim Himes and Jonathan Riddle Sunday, October 18th, 4pm Advance registration required through Westport Library. Upon registration, you will have the opportunity to submit your questions for the debate. LWVNC DEBATE (VIRTUAL) Lucy Dathan and Fred Wilms Will Haskell and Kim Healy Ryan Fazio and Alex Kasser Monday, October 19th, 7pm Will be live streamed on NCTV 79. Submit candidate questions in advance here. Questions must be submitted by 12 pm on Monday, October 19th. Following the policy of the National League of Women Voters, the New Canaan chapter will host the 2020 debate for contested State seats only. The LWV Policy follows the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) requirement that a “debate must include at least two candidates.” Additionally, the FCC Regulations forbid the broadcast of any event with empty chair debates. The FCC’s rationale is that an empty chair debate would give one candidate an opportunity to promote his/her campaign, conferring a real benefit on that candidate which could be interpreted as improper electioneering activity. Debates will be held for State Senate 36th District (Voting District 1), featuring candidates Ryan Fazio (R) and Alex Kasser (D); State Senate 26th District (Voting Districts 2 & 3) featuring Will Haskell (D) and Kim Healy (R); and State Assembly 142nd District (Voting District 3) featuring Lucy Dathan (D) and Fred Wilms (R). For State Assembly 125th District (Voting Districts 1 & 2), Tom O’Dea (R) is uncontested. We hope you are enjoying our new look! We think it is much easier to navigate, which is particularly important during a presidential election!
Stay tuned for important additions, including our 2020 Voters Guide! We've been hard at work and cannot wait to share our candidates' answers to your most pressing questions. Check out our newly designed Events page, and be sure to check in so you don't miss a beat! 🗳 New Canaan Votes!
You asked for one stop shopping for the timeline and other important voting info, and we consolidated the information we've been sharing into one graphic. Please share with family, friends, and neighbors when you ask them, "Do you have a plan to vote on November 3rd?" Click here for our Voting Timeline. Americans have a superpower: voting. Voting is the most constructive mechanism our democracy has for self-improvement.
For both public health and election integrity, right now is the time to plan for a safe election in November. Precautions will certainly be taken at in-person polling sites, but for many of us the risks are too great. The danger and uncertainty posed by COVID-19 demand the mailing of applications for no-excuse absentee ballots, and careful preparation must begin immediately. Join the League of Women Voters of New Canaan in asking Governor Lamont to: (1) Call a Legislative Special Session ASAP (2) Allow no-excuse absentee voting for November during this public health emergency (3) Begin November election preparations immediately. We cannot delay. If we start right now, all citizens can have safe access to voting—safe for our health, safe for election integrity. Call Governor Lamont at (860) 566-4840 or (800) 406-1527 or email him here. Ask him to take immediate action to ensure safe and immediate planning for no-excuse absentee voting in November. Karen Ferguson — pictured with Frances Ferguson, age 3 — describes the thrill of reading her family’s 1890 and 1900 Census reports, knowing her genealogy is a gift her grandchildren will treasure.
Census records are safe and confidential, not released until 72 years after being taken. Census data is critically important for local funding and representation. Fill out your Census report TODAY here. ADD YOUR NAME TO OUR LETTER BY CLICKING HERE!
Connecticut’s Primary has been reschedule along with the Presidential Primary to Tuesday, August 11th, 2020 🗳 The League of Women Voters of Connecticut believes all CT citizens deserve easy and safe access to the elections that will not jeopardize their health. We urge the Governor to issue an executive order that would eliminate restrictive language in the statutes during this emergency, and we need your help! WHAT YOU CAN DO:• READ our letter to the editor – included below in its entirety – which we submitted to publications across the state: Dear Editor, Election accessibility requires Governor Lamont’s immediate attention. The League of Women Voters of New Canaan believes that no-excuse absentee ballots will make participation in upcoming elections easier during these extraordinary times. All citizens deserve safe access to elections. Join us in calling on Governor Lamont to issue an executive order (1) eliminating restrictive language in the statutes pertaining to absentee ballots and (2) simplifying the process for obtaining absentee ballots during this public health emergency. Today, for instance, while the application for an absentee ballot is available online, it must be printed on legal-sized paper (8 ½” x 14″) to be valid. We cannot delay. Call Governor Lamont at (860) 566-4840 or (800) 406-1527 or email him HERE. Ask him to take immediate action to ensure safe voting options for Connecticut’s upcoming Primary and Presidential Elections. Please sign our group letter by going to our website. Respectfully, Micaela Porta President League of Women Voters of New Canaan SIGN THE PETITION BY CLICKING HERE! YOU’VE SIGNED THE LETTER AND SHARED THE LINK WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW. WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?• CLICK HERE to send your own letter to the Governor urging him to take this action. • ENCOURAGE your family, friends, and neighbors to do the same, as individual constituents. • TALK to your town’s election officials about the best ways to make this possible. Resources available: League Urges Chairs of DNC and RNC to Push for Flexibility in Upcoming Primary Elections Coronavirus and State Legislatures in the News **Please note that the League of Women Voters of New Canaan is not asking for monetary donations toward this petition. Change.org does ask for funding to help in their mission, but that money does not go toward the League nor their work to provide safe voting during COVID-19. We are not asking you to donate at this time. Should you wish to donate to us, you may do so here. Thank you for your support! |
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