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Independence, MO —
This November’s election is likely to be one of the most important in American citizens’ lifetime, given the issues at stake and the confusion surrounding election law, says the president of the League of Women Voters.
In a nationwide tour that included a stop in the Kansas City area, Elisabeth MacNamara visited the Jackson County Election Board and The Examiner Monday afternoon. A retired attorney, the Atlanta-based MacNamara is in her second two-year term as the League of Women Voters’ national president, having been elected in 2010 and re-elected in July. Comprised of both men and women of all ages, the League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization that doesn’t support or oppose candidates for public office.
MacNamara had already visited Colorado and Ohio and also plans to travel to Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Wisconsin and Minnesota prior to the election. In her non-compensated role as president, MacNamara is visiting local election boards, as well as working toward the League’s larger goal of ensuring that eligible voters have the information they need to register to vote.
“We want to make sure that everybody comes out and votes,” MacNamara said. “This is going to be an important election, and this is an opportunity for us to come together as a community and make decisions that are important for our families and our future. We want every eligible voter to participate in that conversation.”
Tuesday marked National Voter Registration Day, in which volunteers visited transportation hubs, retail stores and concerts to encourage eligible voters to register. According to the effort’s website, 6 million Americans didn’t vote in 2008 because they missed a registration deadline or didn’t know how to register.
Missouri’s deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 6 election is by 5 p.m. Oct. 10.
The League of Women Voters Education Fund, of which MacNamara also is the chairwoman, sponsors Vote411.org, which provides factual information on elections, including a function where residents can search by state and topics.
Since MacNamara’s involvement with the League of Women Voters began nearly 30 years ago, the process of voters gathering information prior to an election has changed significantly, thanks to the Internet and social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Because of technological advancements, organizations like the 92-year-old League of Women Voters take on an even more important role, MacNamara said.
“It’s so important for voters and constituents to hear directly from candidates, and there are not that many opportunities to do it in a fair setting,” she said. “Certainly, the League’s rules protect both the candidates and the voters in terms of having that good discussion.”
This November’s election is likely to be one of the most important in American citizens’ lifetime, given the issues at stake and the confusion surrounding election law, says the president of the League of Women Voters.
In a nationwide tour that included a stop in the Kansas City area, Elisabeth MacNamara visited the Jackson County Election Board and The Examiner Monday afternoon. A retired attorney, the Atlanta-based MacNamara is in her second two-year term as the League of Women Voters’ national president, having been elected in 2010 and re-elected in July. Comprised of both men and women of all ages, the League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization that doesn’t support or oppose candidates for public office.
MacNamara had already visited Colorado and Ohio and also plans to travel to Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Wisconsin and Minnesota prior to the election. In her non-compensated role as president, MacNamara is visiting local election boards, as well as working toward the League’s larger goal of ensuring that eligible voters have the information they need to register to vote.
“We want to make sure that everybody comes out and votes,” MacNamara said. “This is going to be an important election, and this is an opportunity for us to come together as a community and make decisions that are important for our families and our future. We want every eligible voter to participate in that conversation.”
Tuesday marked National Voter Registration Day, in which volunteers visited transportation hubs, retail stores and concerts to encourage eligible voters to register. According to the effort’s website, 6 million Americans didn’t vote in 2008 because they missed a registration deadline or didn’t know how to register.
Missouri’s deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 6 election is by 5 p.m. Oct. 10.
The League of Women Voters Education Fund, of which MacNamara also is the chairwoman, sponsors Vote411.org, which provides factual information on elections, including a function where residents can search by state and topics.
Since MacNamara’s involvement with the League of Women Voters began nearly 30 years ago, the process of voters gathering information prior to an election has changed significantly, thanks to the Internet and social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Because of technological advancements, organizations like the 92-year-old League of Women Voters take on an even more important role, MacNamara said.
“It’s so important for voters and constituents to hear directly from candidates, and there are not that many opportunities to do it in a fair setting,” she said. “Certainly, the League’s rules protect both the candidates and the voters in terms of having that good discussion.”
