Vote with Confidence Event

 Get out the vote event on oct 12

VOTE WITH CONFIDENCE brings Information to Voters

Carbondale, IL. “Vote with Confidence” is the theme for an event to boost voters’ knowledge of our voting systems and ways to interact with the political system. The citizen-education project will be held Thursday, October 13, from 6 to 8 pm at the Carbondale Civic Center and is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Jackson County, the Carbondale Human Relations Commission, the Carbondale NAACP, and Carbondale United.

Sarah Heyer, one of the organizers, stated: “There is a real gap between people’s understanding of how our government and our elections function and what happens before and after and behind the scenes. Our goal is to empower voters and get younger people fired up about participating.”

Doors will open at 5:45, with an option for high school students to register and get a “passport” for the various activities. Opening remarks will be made by Carmalita Cahill, Human Relations Commissioner and Coordinator of the Carbondale Warming Center.

The main part of the program will be run like a conference, with presentations in different rooms that attendees can choose from, and tables set up in the main room with information on various topics, all staffed by someone who can answer questions.

Walking around Room 108, people can get answers to questions like

• Am I registered to vote? (and if not, get help registering or clarifying status)

• Where do I vote?

• What offices are on the ballot and what is involved in those jobs (requirements, duties, compensation, etc.)?

• What is the schedule for this and upcoming elections (Voting Calendar Poster)?

There will also be a place for people to note what issues they care about most in this election. Other tables will answer questions beyond the November 8th election:

• How can I communicate with the government to resolve problems or express my opinion on an issue?

• How does instant run-off voting work (in other states)?

• How can I serve my community now? What boards or commission have openings that I could apply for?

• What other organizations are active in the community? Which ones align with my goals for improving this place?

And there will be a sign-up sheet for people interested in running for office or helping with a campaign.

In other rooms, short presentations will be repeating. One room will be set up like a voting station, with poll watchers and election judges to explain their roles, including what happens before polls open and after they close. Other expected topics are the history of voting; campaigning for office;

debates and what to listen for (by SIU’s debate coach Todd Graham); media literacy and disinformation (material provided by Alee Quick); finding websites that identify where candidates stand on issues and how representatives are voting on bills(by NAACP’s Linda Flowers); and what’s behind the ballot question, “Shall Carbondale cease to have Home Rule?” (material provided by LWVJC).

Questions about the event can be answered by contacting Sarah Heyer at heysar41@yahoo.com or 618 525-3075, or Nancy Maxwell at nrmaxwell46@gmail.com or 618 306-5885.