ics. And the need for your participation is urgent. Here are several issues arising right here in Wisconsin that need your prompt action.
Senate Bill 385 and Assembly Bill 369 are partisan moves to delay the redistricting process, which will disenfranchise voters next spring and could be a move for Republicans to rig the game even further.
The Fair Maps Coalition firmly stands in opposition to these unnecessary, anti-democratic and overly-complicated “solutions” to a problem that barely exists.
We need your help to contact your legislator and tell them you oppose AB369/ SB385 and want an open, fair, honest, and transparent map-drawing process.
Read more about the bill here. And find contact information for your Assembly and Senate officials here.
From the Democratic Party's Voter Protection Program: Our Vote, Our Voice Wisconsin
Wisconsin elections are close. 4 of the past 6 presidential elections here were decided by less than 1%, and we elected Joe Biden by only 20,682 votes last year — or about 3 votes per polling place. With the governorship and a tossup Senate seat on the line in 2022, we cannot wait to start protecting voters.
That’s why we’re launchingOur Vote, Our Voice right now — 18 months before the Midterm Elections. We are focused on consistent challenges Wisconsinites face in our elections year after year: recruiting poll workers to staff and open polling places across the state, and planning a big voter registration drive later this summer. This program is centered around relational and community organizing — because we are the best organizers for our own communities. So, whether that means inviting your family on the North Side of Milwaukee to be poll workers or getting your friends across the country to come to our phonebanks, there’s a place for everyone in this program.
Phonebank/Friendbanks: We’ll be making calls to Wisconsinites to talk about why voting rights matter and to get them involved as a Poll Worker, and then we’ll give you the tools to engage your own community in the fight for voting rights.
Training is offered at every event, so no need to prepare anything in advance—we’ll provide scripts & resources, so all you need is a computer, a phone, and your enthusiasm!
Become a Poll Worker: Are you a Wisconsin resident? Being a poll worker is the most direct way you can support your community during an election! Join our 30-minute Info Session to learn more about being a Poll Worker and how to get involved in 2022!
From the North Shore Fair Maps Team: Are you tired of your legislator ignoring your concerns? In the last 10 years only 3 Wisconsin state legislative seats have changed parties. In 2020 18 state Assembly races and 5 Senate races were uncontested. In 2016 over half of all state positions on the ballot had no challengers. In these races candidates didn’t have to run a campaign or offer competing ideas. While self-sorting contributes to this, so do Wisconsin’s wildly gerrymandered maps. Cities of all sizes and most counties were purposely split to “pack and crack” those communities in order to minimize district competitiveness.
Are you mad as hell and don’t want to take it anymore? Well there is something you can do! The Peoples’ Maps Commission (PMC), whose bipartisan members were selected by retired judges, are going to submit proposed legislative maps to the legislature that focus on keeping Communities of Interest together. A Community of Interest (COI) is a geographic area in which residents share common interests and concerns that deserve consideration by their elected representatives. Gerrymandering experts agree that focusing on COIs will significantly increase the competitiveness of legislative districts and empower citizens to hold their elected representatives accountable.
This is where you come in. The PMC is asking citizens from across Wisconsin to map their Community of Interest and submit it to the Commission. Through the wonders of data science, your COI data, along with that of thousands of other Wisconsinites, will be used to determine consensus COIs that need to be kept together in our new maps. Please sign up for a one hour Zoom session for a facilitated conversation with a small group of folks in your area and draw your Community of Interest map. One hour to help save democracy in Wisconsin. Please do it now.
Elections that are available to all eligible voters, that are as convenient as possible to encourage wide participation, and that are administered in honest, professional, and non-partisan ways — free and fair elections are the bedrock and the foundation of a democratic system. But casting a vote is only one part of your duty as an informed citizen. Engagement in many other activities — like those listed above — is also vital to a vibrant and responsive democratic system. Of course our lives are filled with other obligations and pleasures, never more so than now as the pandemic recedes from the center of our mental life. But working to strengthen our democratic institutions and traditions has to be part of what we do. If we continue to allow an erosion of voting rights all over the country as well as right here in Wisconsin, the threat to our country will continue to grow.
EVENTS
Tue Jun 8, 2021
Drinking Liberally Grafton/Mequon, 6:30pm - 8pm
Water Street Brewery, 1251 Gateway Dr. Grafton
*IN-PERSON MEETING AT WATERSTREET BREWERY GRAFTON** We've missed you!! Hopefully, you've had your second shot and can join us for a socially distanced beer. (Program TBD) The co-hosts of Drinking Liberally Grafton, Brittany Vulich and Dan Stern, hope to see you Tuesday and ask you to please share this announcement with family and friends. Drinking Liberally Grafton is a destination to meet friends, stay up-to-date on local progressive politics, and get inspired to action.
350 Milwaukee Virtual Meeting, 7pm - 8:30pm
Online
350 Milwaukee is part of the global organization building a grassroots movement in 188 countries to address global warming and solve the climate crisis. 350 Milwaukee usually meets every month on the second Tuesday. Check for information on whether a meeting will occur. More information.
Wed Jun 9, 2021
Grass Roots South Shore Virtual Meeting, 7pm - 9pm
Online
Check the link to see if Grass Roots South Shore will have a virtual meeting. More information.
Thu Jun 10, 2021
Drinking Liberally West Allis, 6:30pm - 9pm
TBA For information on whether the event will take place, check here.
Sat Jun 12, 2021
Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
Capitol Drive & Teutonia Avenue, Milwaukee
Stand for Peace is resuming in-person events with masks and social distancing. Check for more information. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.
Sun Jun 13, 2021
Ozaukee Dems Cedarburg Social, 10:30am - 12:30pm
TBA
Meet us for a community social (location TBD). This is a great opportunity for us to discuss what's going on locally and what we can do to improve our communities. If you are interested in attending or want to help out with the event, please reach out to Dan Larsen ([email protected], (262) 501-1789). Sign up here.
Green Is Good! / Virtual Event, 7pm - 8:15pm
Zoom
Grassroots North Shore will host a program on what we can do at our level to combat climate change. Guest speakers will be Kevin Kane, Green Homeowners Association; Lisa Geason-Bauer, Evolution Marketing; Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes; and Glendale mayor Bryan Kennedy. More information and RSVP.
Please be sure to take the final registration step if you have not already done so, by clicking on the Zoom Registration page link in that "welcome" email and filling in the registration form so that you will receive the Zoom email link.
Mon Jun 14, 2021
Grass Roots South Shore Meeting, 6pm - 8pm
Cudahy Library, 3500 Library Dr. , Cudahy
Grass Roots South Shore holds its monthly meeting on the second Monday of each month. For more information call Jim Balk, 414-218-5944.
North Shore Fair Maps Monthly Virtual Meeting, 7pm
Zoom
Lines, Laws, Information, and Disinformation: Our June meeting features lead Whitford trial attorney Doug Poland, who will help us separate fact v fiction, redistricting-wise. We will also hear from Deb Andraca, one of the sponsors of the Fair Maps Legislation pending in Madison. And we'll take a deeper dive into our communities of interest and why we want them reflected in the next round of voting maps. RSVP.
Tue Jun 15, 2021
Immigration Policy Effects in Wisconsin, 12pm - 1pm
Online
Four speakers will talk about the prospects for immigration reform under the Biden administration and within Congress, and how bipartisan changes might help solve workforce problems in some of Wisconsin’s largest economic sectors. More information and registration.
Outdoor Drinking Liberally MKE, 6pm - 8pm
Estabrook Beer Garden, 4600 Estabrook Drive, Milwaukee
Drinking Liberally MKE will get together in person. To get to the beer garden parking lot, enter from the north, on Hampton Ave. The meeting will switch to virtual if the forecast is for temp below 50 or heavy rain. More information.
Wed Jun 16, 2021
Info: Laughing Liberally MKE, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Online
For information on the latest Laughing Liberally offerings go here.
Oz Dems June Monthly Meeting, 7pm
Zoom
The next general meeting of the Democratic Party of Ozaukee County is June 16 at 7 p.m. Join us via Zoom by using this link when the meeting is due to start, or a few minutes before if possible.
Info: Southwest Region Dems Meeting, 7pm - 7pm
TBA
Southwest Dems (Region 5) cover Franklin, Greendale, Greenfield, Hales Corners, Milwaukee (Southwest), West Allis, West Milwaukee. For information on when a meeting may be held check here or contact [email protected].
Sat Jun 19, 2021
Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
Lincoln Memorial Drive & Lafayette Hill Road, Milwaukee
Stand for Peace is resuming in-person events with masks and social distancing. The focus will be on Cuba. Check for more information. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.
Mon Jun 21, 2021
Milwaukee Dems Virtual Meeting, 6pm - 8pm
Zoom
Milwaukee County Democrats meet monthly to discuss party business, hear speakers on current topics, pass resolutions, and network with other progressives. All interested Democrats are invited. Information about how to access the meeting will be sent after RSVP.
Showing 1 reaction
Sign in with