League Of Women Voters Of Florida

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF FLORIDA IS A NON-PARTISAN POLITICAL ORGANIZATION WHICH ENCOURAGES INFORMED, ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF CITIZENS IN GOVERNMENT AND INFLUENCES PUBLIC POLICY THROUGH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY.

ADVOCACY EFFORTS WERE CONCENTRATED AROUND REDISTRICTING OF FLORIDA HOUSE AND SENATE DISTRICTS AS WELL AS FLORIDA CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS. EFFORTS BY VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF WERE DIRECTED TO EDUCATING STATE LEGISLATORS REGARDING THE IMPACTS OF STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND THE SUBSEQUENT LAWSUIT FOLLOWING THE REDISTRICTING 10 YEARS AGO. MEETINGS WITH KEY LEGISLATORS AND TESTIMONY AT PUBLIC HEARINGS WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN HIGHLIGHTING THE WAYS THAT REDISTRICTING MAPS BEING CONSIDERED BY THE LEGISLATURE COULD BE IMPROVED TO BETTER COMPLY WITH FLORIDA STATUTES. OUTREACH EFFORTS TO LEAGUE MEMBERS AND INTERESTED VOTERS WERE SUCCESSFUL IN HELPING THESE GROUPS UNDERSTAND THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS. NOVEL APPROACHES TO EVENTS MIXING ENTERTAINMENT AND EDUCATION WERE SUCCESSFUL IN REACHING UNDERSERVED VOTERS ON THIS ISSUE. GRANT FUNDING SUPPORTED THESE EFFORTS.

THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED ITS LOBBY DAYS PROGRAM DURING THE 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION GATHERING MEMBERS IN TALLAHASSEE. AFTER TRAINING SESSIONS ON HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH REPRESENTATIVES AND KEY TALKING POINTS ON LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, MEMBERS ATTENDING THE EVENT DISBURSED TO MEET WITH LEGISLATORS AND THEIR STAFF TO PROVIDE EDUCATION ON THE ORGANIZATION'S TOP PRIORITIES AND SPECIFIC ACTION REQUESTS FOR PENDING BILLS. THESE EFFORTS WERE SUPPORTED THROUGH COMMITTEE WEEKS AND THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BY LOBBY CORP VOLUNTEER MEMBERS FROM THE TALLAHASSEE AREA. LOBBY CORP MEMBERS PROVIDED INFORMATION ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF PROPOSED BILLS AND ALSO RECOMMENDED ACTIONS WHEN APPROPRIATE. THE ORGANIZATION ALIGNED WITH OTHER LIKE-MINDED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN COALITIONS ON SPECIFIC ISSUES TO INCREASE THE WEIGHT AND EFFECTIVENESS OF ITS EFFORTS.

THE ORGANIZATION WAS CO-SPONSOR WITH A RELATED ENTITY FOR THE BIENNIAL CONVENTION THAT WAS HELD VIRTUALLY IN JUNE, 2021. MEMBERS DISCUSSED AND APPROVED PROGRAM PRIORITIES FOR THE COMING TWO YEARS, ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS, ADOPTED A BUDGET, AND COMMUNICATED SPECIFIC DIRECTION TO THE BOARD ON ISSUES OF CONCERN. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION BECAME A PLAINTIFF IN A LAWSUIT TO CHALLENGE VOTING SUPPRESSION IN SENATE BILL 90 THAT PASSED AS A PART OF THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THE BILL TARGETED MINORITY, DISABLED, AND SENIOR CITIZEN VOTERS BY MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO VOTE BY MAIL AND FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO REGISTER NEW VOTERS. ALTHOUGH THE ORGANIZATION DID NOT DIRECTLY COMPENSATE ATTORNEYS IN THIS LAWSUIT, COSTS WERE INCURRED FOR STAFF TIME PREPARING THE ORGANIZATION AND VOLUNTEERS FOR DEPOSITIONS AND OTHER TASKS RELATED TO THE LAWSUIT. RESTRICTED DONATIONS FOR GUN SAFETY ARE INCLUDED IN REVENUE FOR THIS PROGRAM AND THE ORGANIZATION PAID ALL REMAINING RESTRICTED DONATION FUNDS TO A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION INCORPORATED TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS GUN SAFETY. COSTS IN THIS PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDE AN ALLOCATION OF INDIRECT EXPENSES NOT SPECIFICALLY ATTRIBUTED TO LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY FOR EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION, OCCUPANCY, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER SUPPORTING SERVICES.