ELECTIONS
- Florida members can create an account: https://www.mobilize.us/fl2020victory/
The National Association of Social Workers- Political Action for Candidate Election (NASW-PACE) is participating in a Healthcare Workers for Biden/Harris campaign. The campaign is hosting phone banks on Sundays from 4:00-6:00 pm EDT and social workers are encouraged to volunteer: Sign Up Here
Feedback Requested
The ballot in November will list 6 constitutional amendments for Florida voters to accept or reject. The following article explains each amendment and list groups which support or oppose it.
We ask you to review the amendments and provide feedback to Jim Akin at jakin.naswfl@socialworkers.org . The NASW-FL Executive Committee will review the feedback and decide if we will support, oppose or take no stand on the amendments. Thank you.
Florida Amendments
By Christina Cazanave, MSW
Florida Amendment 1, Citizen Requirement for Voting Initiative
Purpose of this Amendment 1
Amendment 1 would amend Section 2 of Article VI of the Florida Constitution to state that only citizens of the United States who are 18 years old or older are qualified electors in Florida.[1]
The Florida Constitution currently says, "Every citizen of the United States who is at least eighteen years of age and who is a permanent resident of the state, if registered as provided by law, shall be an elector of the county where registered."
Under the ballot measure, the Florida Constitution would say, "Only a citizen of the United States who is at least eighteen years of age and who is a permanent resident of the state, if registered as provided by law, shall be an elector of the county where registered."
Click here to read the full article.
NASW-FL's Positions on The Amendments
Amendment 1 — Citizen Requirement for Voting Initiative – NASW-FL opposes
Amendment 2— $15 Minimum Wage Initiative – NASW –FL supports
More information about Amendment 2:
"Exploring the Many Benefits of Amendment 2's Gradual Minimum Wage Boost," on Oct. 13, 2020.
- Click here to access the slide deck.
- Click here to access a recording of the webinar.
Amendment 3 — Top-Two Open Primaries for State Offices Initiative – NASW –FL opposes
Amendment 4 — Require Constitutional Amendments to Be Passed Twice Initiative – NASW- FL opposes
Amendment 5 — Extend “Save Our Homes” Portability Period Amendment – No position
Amendment 6 — Homestead Property Tax Discount for Spouses of Deceased Veterans Amendment – No position
Why I Vote - Listen to Social Workers share why they vote.
Early Voting Is Now!
Florida Early Voting has started. You can find Early Voting dates, times, and locations on your county’s Supervisor of Elections website: https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/supervisors
Not sure of your county? Check what county your city or town is in here:
https://dos.myflorida.com/library-archives/research/florida-information/government/local-resources/citycounty-list/
If Early Voting is part of your voting plan and you haven't voted yet -- don't delay!
Note: During the past week, there were issues related to the secure dropboxes for Vote-by-Mail ballots under legal discussion between the Florida Department of State and Florida Supervisors of Elections, creating lack of clarity. Given this situation, the Statewide Communications Manager for the League of Women Voters of Florida, Blake Summerlin, has provided the recommendation that voters use dropboxes within the same hours as Early Voting.
If you have a Vote-by-Mail (VBM) ballot that you haven’t sent in yet, and would like to vote in person instead, you can still do so. Bring your VBM ballot (blank or filled out) with you to your polling place, where poll workers will cancel it so that you can vote by regular ballot.
Your vote is your voice—use your voice in 2020
Countdown to Election Day
The countdown to the November Election has begun. On September 24th, Florida counties begin sending out Vote-by-Mail (VBM) ballots to people who requested them. Keep an eye on your mailbox!
If you didn’t yet request a VBM ballot, there’s still time—do it now by clicking here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DhNiauYt__ggLF8xCIyHT40ULAIR5qCtvJhp1sLFsp8/edit#gid=1723970489
The last day to register in order to be able to vote in the November 2020 Election in Florida is October 5. You can register online at: registertovoteflorida.gov
Early Voting follows later in October – see your county’s Supervisor of Elections website for dates, times, and locations: dos.elections.myflorida.com/supervisors
And although time is short before November 3, there are still plenty of ways to get engaged for safe and fair elections, particularly participating in get-out-the-vote activities, or to signing up as an Election Day poll worker or election monitor. Be involved!
Here are a few important election protection volunteering options with Protect the Vote:
On Election Day
➔ Poll Monitor [on site]: Be a poll monitor at a specific polling location on Election Day.
➔ Roving Poll Monitor [on site]: Drive or bike between polling places to collect information and report problems on Election Day.
Before the election and on Election Day
➔ Social Media Monitor [remote]: identify misinformation and disinformation online and help voters cast their ballots.
➔ Voter Contact [remote]: Rapidly respond and proactively textbank voters.
For more information, or to participate in one of these volunteering opportunities, click here: Protect the Vote
Volunteers with legal background (attorneys, law students, and paralegals) are particularly needed. (But volunteers of all backgrounds wanted!)
Don’t Lose Your Right to Vote in Florida:
Check Your Voter Status by October 5!
Did you know that if you’re registered to vote but didn’t vote in the past two national elections you may have been removed from the voting rolls? In Florida, if you don’t vote in one national election and don’t return voter address confirmation mailers, you can be marked as an “inactive voter,” and—depending on your county—after two elections without voting you may be marked as an “ineligible voter,” and removed.
Thankfully there’s a simple fix: Go to registertovoteflorida.gov and check your voter registration status. If you don’t show up in the system as a registered voter, you can register online immediately. But you must do it before October 5 -- the deadline to register and be eligible to vote in the 2020 election.
Three other important reasons to go to registertovoteflorida.gov before October 5:
- If you haven’t registered to vote before and want to vote for the first time.
- If you’ve moved or changed your name since you last voted.
- If you just want to make sure—sometimes voters have been flagged for removal because of a computer error.
Don’t lose your right to vote in the 2020 election! Your vote is your voice.
Go to registertovoteflorida.gov to register or to update your registration today.
Elections Bulletin
Bulletin Contents
- Volunteer for a Campaign
- Important Election Information
- Why I Vote
- Early Voting Is Now!
- Track Your Ballot
- Report Voting Problems on Election Day
- Election Challenge
- Voting and Legislative Advocacy Podcast with Dawn Brown, MSW
- Ethics Alive! Elections in Light of Social Work Values
Bulletin Contents
- Make Your Vote-By-Mail Ballot Count
- Election Challenge
- NASW-FL's Position on The Amendments
- Get Out The Vote for Biden
- Lyft Offers 50% Off on Election Day
Bulletin Contents:
- Student Get Out the Vote
- Polling Information
- Voting Rights for Returning Citizens
- Ideas for Practitioners and Community Agencies
- Advocacy for All
2020 Presidential Election - A PPT the NASW-WI interns put together comparing President Trump and Vice-President Biden on issues of importance to social workers and our clients.