INDEX

President's Message

This will be my last article before Election Day. I know League members understand the importance of voting and are probably comfortable with the process on Election Day. But you may have family members, friends or co-workers who are apprehensive, given the problems of 2000 and the new requirements of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).

First of all, there is still time to register. (October 22nd is the deadline.) There is still time to check on your registration and correct polling place. Just call the Board of Registrars (325-5311). If you get to the polls and find that you aren’t on the list, don’t panic. You should be able to either find your correct polling place or be given a provisional ballot.

Take your ID with you. The safest forms are your driver’s license, paycheck stub or a utility bill with your name and address on it.

HAVA requires that certain information be posted at polling places. Look for the writing on the wall. Directions for using the voting system in your county, a list of your voting rights and instructions for filing a complaint should be displayed.

If you have questions about the machine or your ballot, ask for help from a poll worker. They are there to help you.

Because this is an important election, you may have to wait in line. Take something to read, listen to music on your personal listening device or just visit with neighbors. (Remember, no electioneering within 100 feet of the polls.) League volunteers in association with ACCR (Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform) will be circulating a petition calling for a constitutional convention to rewrite our horrendous state constitution. You may wish to sign it.

Whatever problems you may encounter, and we do not expect many, do not give up and walk away without voting. It is too important!

September Meeting Highlights Voter Procedures

Anne Marie Adams updated LWVGB members on voting procedures at the September Membership Meeting.

Two speakers addressed members (and sometimes one another) at the LWVGB September Meeting focusing on registration and voting procedures.

Raymond Johnson, Voter Assistance Officer for the 81st Regional Readiness Command, briefed us on Army procedures to encourage and assure delivery of absentee military ballots in this election cycle.

Anne Marie Adams, Jefferson County Circuit Clerk, provided a first-hand account of the processes behind absentee voting and casting provisional ballots in Jefferson County. Ms. Adams actually won her election in 2000 on absentee ballots.

Recent changes to absentee balloting procedures have added a requirement that voter identification be included. The ballot packet must be submitted exactly as instructed. Ms. Adams suggested that voters bring the absentee packet to the probate court at either the Birmingham or Bessemer courthouse to vote on site. Probate Court employees will assist the voter submit the packet properly. Absentee ballots submitted incorrectly are not counted.

Ms. Adams told us that registered voters who have not cast a ballot in two cycles (4 years) are automatically moved to “inactive” status and must register again before voting.

She also discussed requirements for casting provisional ballots. We learned that a provisional ballot will not count if cast at the wrong precinct. A voter can change his or her address and cast a provisional ballot, but the vote MUST be cast at the correct location.

Editor’s Note: The requirement that provisional ballots be cast at a voter’s assigned precinct is being challenged in several states other than Alabama.

Governor’s Luncheon

The Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce will host its annual luncheon with Governor Riley on Friday, Nov 5 at The Club. The topic will be the Governor’s and the Chamber’s legislative agenda. Two places are available at the LWVGB table for $31.15 per person. To reserve your place, contact Cary Page at cpa323@aol.com.

Voter Services Update
Submitted by Virginia Randolph

League members registered over 400 new voters during the last couple months. Applause!! Applause!!! We’ve been everywhere: high schools, bus stations, senior centers, Voices of Civil Rights events, Birmingham Pledge Teen Conference, Junior League meeting, Holy Family and St. Mary’s Catholic Churches, the Art Walk, Taste of the Summit and Chick-Fil-A. In addition to those registered, many took forms home to family or friends. But we’re not through yet! Under the leadership of Rebecca Stafford we are continuing to register voters at a number of the local shelters.

Thanks go to Amy Allon, Cary Page, Gayle England, Beverly Nelson, Jean Johnson, Sarah McDonald, Kate Long, Nancy Ekberg, Linda Coleman, Winifred Jackson, Colette Scott, Leslie O’Neil, Judith Hand, Yvonne Brakefield, Rebecca Stafford, Becky Davis, Eva Click, Kathryn Kerchof, Betty Warnock and Amy Chiles for the time given to help people register to vote.

Voter Registration Surges

New voter registration in 2004 has already exceeded every year since 1992 according to Nell Hunter of the Jefferson County Board of Registrars. 25,744 new voters were added to the Jefferson County voter rolls between January 1 and October 8. This figure does not include voter information updates. For example, on a typical day in October, over 1,300 forms were processed. Seven hundred of those were new voters. With ten working days left to the October 22 deadline, Ms. Hunter’s office was adding 600–700 new voters a day.

Acceptable Voter Identification

Secretary of State Nancy Worley provided this list of documents that will be accepted for voter ID: Drivers License, Gun Permit, Employee Card, Medicare Card, Student ID, EBT Card, Utility Bill, Hunting License, Bank Statement, U.S. Passport, Social Security Check, Military ID, Veterans Check, Birth Certificate, Birth Certificate, Paycheck, Naturalization Document, Social Security Card, Adoption Record, Medicaid Card, Name Change Record, Fishing License or other government documents.

Call for Volunteers - ACCR Petition Drive on November 2
Submitted by Cary Page

Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform is launching a yearlong statewide petition drive calling for a Constitutional Convention. The LWVAL Board has approved a motion to support the ACCR Petition Drive. Members are encouraged to take this opportunity help move our state forward.

Huntsville collected 8,000 signatures during municipal elections earlier this year. Based on this success ACCR decided to sample around the state on Nov 2 during the General Election. The effort will focus on a few precincts around the state, including ten precincts in Jefferson County. Volunteers will work 2-4 hours at designated polling places.

This is a great opportunity to help collect the signatures and team up with the local ACCR chapter. To sign up, e-mail Nancy Ekberg at nanekberg@aol.com or Cary Page at cpa323@aol.com.

Mark your calendars for the ACCR Annual meeting 26 Oct at Samford University 1:30-5:00 pm in the Beeson Building. Congressman Artur Davis, a panel of Legislators and author Harvey Jackson will speak on the current political environment for reform and strategy. Registration is required. Sign up at www.constitutionalreform.org.

New Member Spotlight

Meet two new members of our Greater Birmingham League!

Betty Warnock is a citizen of the world, having lived in Europe, Asia and in several states. She came to Birmingham 15 years ago. During her career she has worked as a social worker in San Francisco, earned her degree in interior design and now paints. She recently decided it was time to get involved again. She wants to know and understand more about Alabama politics. Health care is of particular interest to her. “I’m very creative, both artistically and in problem solving. I want to combine the two.”

Mary Lynn Bates has lived in Birmingham for over 28 years and has long-standing political interests, having volunteered for numerous campaigns and run for Congress herself in 1996. She is currently involved with “Alabama Solution”, a bipartisan political action committee supporting women candidates. A primary interest for Mary Lynn is helping Alabama government work for Alabama citizens, so the League is a good fit. “I think it’s important that people of different philosophies, politics and backgrounds communicate with each other.”

League Fiesta - October Membership Meeting
Submitted by Nancy Ekberg

We are stepping out of character a bit for our October meeting. On October 28 plan to attend our League Fair, which will highlight the Birmingham area League’s programs and projects. Join us at a fun new restaurant, The Cantina, located in historic Pepper Place. The meet and greet hour will be 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Members whose schedules permit are invited to stay for dinner. The Cantina is in the Martin Biscuit Building on 29th Street and Second Avenue South.

Come and share food, drink and conversation with other smart, interesting and involved women. The League has a study or project to interest and further every member’s education and impact on her community.

You will learn about state and local programs and projects that include a study of Alabama’s State Budget process, work on regional public transit development and monitoring environmental issues such as sewer expansion and the Cahaba River. Get details about the League’s Health Care study and join Observer Corps members who attend county commission, city and school board meetings. Learn about the Advocacy team that tracks our Legislature during sessions and testifies at public hearings. Decide to interview your Legislators to learn their views and let them know yours. Hear about the recent accomplishments of Voters Service and plan to be at the polls November 2 to encourage voters to sign a petition for a Constitutional Convention. Update your knowledge of the League’s stands on foreign policy issues and support of the United Nations.

We need your input and participation. Call Sarah McDonald at 967-2829 to tell her you will attend.

Concerned about the State of Healthcare?
Submitted by Rebecca Stafford

If healthcare available to uninsured and underinsured individuals concerns you, then here’s how to get involved! The LWVGB Healthcare Study Committee needs help creating a position statement on the access and delivery of healthcare in Jefferson County, as it applies to preventive and follow-up care for chronic conditions. The by-product of the position paper will be the bulk of our research, which will be compiled into a report and posted on our website.

The study will be divided into four parts:

1. Public/Government institutions
2. Private institutions
3. Nonprofit institutions
4. Insurance Companies/Third Party Payers

Each part has a subcommittee that will determine the questions to be answered, such as, whom the institutions are serving, how much it costs and the number of people served.

Take part in this important study by contacting Rebecca Stafford at 249-5861 or rstaffor@stv.org.

Healthcare Committee Meets

On September 21 the LWVGB Healthcare Committee met for lunch to discuss creating a position statement on the state of healthcare in Jefferson County for the uninsured and underinsured. Afterward, several members attended a Town Hall Meeting for the Governor’s Task Force to Strengthen Alabama Families. The forum provided the Governor feedback on the healthcare system as it affects families. LWVGB members present at lunch were Rebecca Stafford, Jessie Tehranchi, Virginia Randolph, Collette Scott, Nancy Ekberg, Beverly Nelson and Heather Lazio.

Observer Corps Report
Jefferson County Commission

On September 28 the Commission approved a budget of $627 million for the fiscal year beginning October 1. They also voted to allocate up to $28.5 million for renovations at Cooper Green Hospital.

During the October 6 meeting Commissioner Larry Langford revealed new ideas for revitalizing downtown Birmingham. He has asked Wachovia Bank to commit $5 million for 30 years toward building a domed stadium that would be located at the site of the abandoned Sears building and Cabana Hotel. His vision includes a partnership with the city to revive the old trolley system to serve downtown Birmingham and the suburbs.

Commissioner White has finalized a contract with Storm Reconstruction Services to pick up debris left by tropical storm Ivan. This firm was the only bidder for the contract estimated at $2.3 million. The county will recoup approximately 85% of the cost from FEMA and the state.

The Commission also approved $1.5 million to keep county courts running due to shortfalls in State funding. Commissioner Collins suggested they consider funding only the criminal courts, since this is the second year the County has had to make up the deficit. More than half of the revenue from increased court filing fees that was supposed to fund the courts was diverted to the State General Fund. Collins believes letting the civil court system clog up will get attention.

LWVGB Monitors Sewer Expansion Policy

“The public has the right to know about pollution levels, dangers to health and the environment and, in this case, proposed resource management policies and options,” said Cary Page, LWVGB board member, speaking at a public hearing before the Jefferson County Commission on September 15.

Many of the citizens attending the hearing said the County’s draft sewer expansion policy doesn’t go far enough to demand public scrutiny and protect the environment, customers and inner cities. Most developers and builders were pleased with the draft and urged the Commission to move quickly. Commissioners said they would take the comments into consideration in the next draft, but were divided on whether to hold another hearing before ratification.

Members Corner

Share your comments, ideas or favorite quotes in the "Members Corner". E-mail to beenel@bellsouth.net or snail mail to Beverly Nelson, 1872 Montclaire Drive, Birmingham, AL 35216.