Oak Ridge Today

League of Women Voters to help register new citizens as voters

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The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge has been awarded a national grant from the League of Women Voters of the U.S. to increase the voter registration of the country’s newest citizens following their participation in a Citizenship and Immigration Services ceremony.

LWVOR and the U.S. District Court of Eastern Tennessee will work together to celebrate the swearing in of immigrant residents who have chosen to call the United States their new home, a press release said. Volunteers will provide a celebratory reception and guide the new citizens through the voter registration process at six naturalization ceremonies before November 8, 2018. Other dates may be added, the press release said.

The ceremonies will take place at the Big South Fork National Recreation Area on April 26, at 10:30 a.m.; in Chattanooga (900 Georgia Avenue), on May 11, at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; in Knoxville (800 Market Street), on July 24, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; and again in Knoxville (800 Market Street), on October 19, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Other dates may be added. [Read more…]

Letter: Understanding process, significance of changing Anderson County government

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By Mary Ann Reeves

The Tennessee constitution and subsequent legislature lays the ground for changing the the government of a county (e.g. Anderson County) from its constitutional form to a charter form (also known as home rule).

To make this change in Anderson County three things must happen:

  • A charter commission must be created. There are several ways that this is permissible but the one selected was by the petition of registered voters whose number must at least equal to 10 percent of the total number of votes cast in the county in the last governor’s race. In Anderson County, 17,760 votes were cast for governor; therefore 1,776 signatures were required (and obtained) on the petition.
  • The election of the Charter Commission members. The election for the candidates must be held 75 days or more after the resolution becomes effective. The charter commissioners are elected from the same districts and in the same manner as the county commissioners. The cost of the election is paid out of county funds. In Anderson County, the Charter Commission election is concurrent with the general election (November 8) and Anderson County will incur no cost. The elected charter commissioners will set a budget and they may incur expenses for administrative costs up to a maximum of $50,000. These expenses will be paid by Anderson County.
  • Voters must approve any changes in the form of Anderson county government recommended by the Anderson County charter commissioners. Anderson County voters must approve, via a referendum, any recommended changes by the charter commission. The referendum will be done concurrently with the August 2018 election to avoid additional costs to the county. This will be a “for” or “against” vote.

[Read more…]

A few tickets left for Saturday fundraiser for Roane State scholarships

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High Tea Roane State Fundraiser

From left, Sally Peterka with Roane State’s Roane County site support team and Roane State Foundation board member Dana Peterka prepare items for a silent auction that will be part of the Foundation’s Jan. 24 Upstairs/Downstairs High Tea. (Submitted photo)

 

A few tickets remain for Roane State Foundation’s Upstairs/Downstairs High Tea on Saturday. Proceeds will be used for student scholarships.

The fundraiser is inspired by the hit show “Downton Abbey.” It starts at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 24, at the Whitestone Country Inn in Kingston.

In the picture above, Sally Peterka, left, with Roane State’s Roane County site support team and Roane State Foundation board member Dana Peterka prepare items for a silent auction that will be part of the Upstairs/Downstairs High Tea. Roane State Foundation board member Mary Ann Reeves helped collect the auction items, and the Foundation invites you to enjoy a traditional tea and bid on your favorite goodies.

A limited number of tickets ($50 for individuals, $75 for couples) remain. To order tickets, contact the Roane State Foundation at (865) 882-4507 or [email protected].

League, AAUW have registration events on Voter Registration Day

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The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge and the American Association of University Women, Oak Ridge Branch, will host National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday, September 23.

“This major registration event will help people to register to vote or update their voter registration if they have moved or changed names,” a press release said.

The registration will be held at Oak Ridge High School, Clinton High School, and Anderson County High School during lunch periods. Roane State Community College registration will be held on both September 23 and 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration at this site will be open to the public.

“Voter registration is the front door to voting in U.S. elections,” the press release said. “Research has shown that the majority of eligible voters who register, turn out to vote. Oak Ridgers and Tennesseans have much at stake this year with our many community elections and with the proposed amendments to the Tennessee Constitution.” [Read more…]

Guest column: League works to educate voters, protect voting rights

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League Matters: Making Democracy Work

The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge is beginning its 2014-2015 year, and we would like to use this opportunity to talk about the League—who we are and what we do.

The League is a nonpartisan political organization for women and men, but we neither support nor oppose any candidate, party, or political appointee. Our mission is to encourage informed and active participation in the democratic process, increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influence policy making through education and advocacy.

Voting is the most powerful way to make our citizens’ voices heard. And educated and informed voters are the key to making our democracy work. The League works all year, every year, to empower all eligible voters to participate in our political system. We have many voter registration drives each year, and will be joining other local leagues and like-minded organizations in the National Voter Registration Day on September 23. We especially seek to aid those from traditionally underrepresented or underserved communities.

We work to educate voters about candidates in federal, state, and local races each year through our candidate and voter forums. The forums provide straightforward information on candidates and ballot issues, free of any partisan import. We distribute many types of educational materials such as voter guides, elected official directories, information on polling places, and state and local election rules. A voter forum about the constitutional amendments on the November election ballot will be held at Pollard Auditorium on October 7. A series of pre-election candidate forums are planned for September. [Read more…]

Guest column: Tennessee retention elections explained by LWVTN

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By League Issues: Making Democracy Work

On August 7, Tennesseans will vote in a statewide retention election for appellate judges. Included are three of the five Tennessee Supreme Court justices as well as judges currently sitting on the Court of Appeals and Court of Criminal Appeals.

The August 7 retention election represents the last such election under the much-respected Tennessee Plan—the 40-plus year plan for merit selection and retention of appellate judges. The plan was designed to reduce partisanship and outside influences in electing and retaining our appellate judges. The final phase of the plan—merit retention—expired June 30, 2014.

This year’s retention election is particularly important. Fair and impartial court supporters in our state—including Governor Haslam—are concerned about media reports that the three Supreme Court justices seeking retention in Tennessee might become the targets of heavily financed campaigns organized by groups outside the state. There have been reports of such campaigns targeting high court justices in several other states across our nation.

What does merit retention mean? [Read more…]