2024:
AAUW Women Advocate for
A More Perfect State with an Equal Rights Amendment
to our Constitution!
- The League of Women Voters has reached out to AAUW MN looking for volunteers who are willing to be a part of the post-election review (PER).
- Volunteers will gain a deeper understanding of Minnesota’s election verification process and provide a factual record of its accuracy. The post-election review (audit) process can counter the growing challenges of mis- and disinformation on local election offices.
- Details and sign-up information HERE.
- Scroll down a bit or click here to find out about AAUW National Two-Minute Activist opportunities.
- Follow issues of particular importance to Minnesotans and Take Action on bills during the Minnesota Legislative Session here.
- Find out about actions YOU can take to help manage water resources sustainably here.
- See other resources and links for taking action here.
Election Day – November 5, 2024
We WILL persist!
Minnesota ERA!
Persistence Required.
The MN House did pass the ERA bill. The MN Senate did not bring it to a vote before the 2024 Legislative Session ended at 12:00 a.m. on Monday, 5/20.
AAUW MN, as well as our branch, the Minneapolis branch, and other branches, joined ERA MN and the League of Women Voters advocating at the Capitol for passage of the bill that would allow Minnesotans to vote on the constitutional amendment in 2026. More action will be needed in the future. ERA MN is calling for a special session, although the Governor has said he will not be calling one.
PERSISTENCE!
MN women have been, and must continue to be, PERSISTENT about the ERA. Please continue to persistently pester your state legislators on this issue!
Two-Minute Activist – AAUW National
Two-Minute Activist is an AAUW National program that provides a quick and easy way to “send emails and texts to your legislators to fight for equal pay, family leave, stopping sexual harassment, equality in education and more.”
To become a “Two-Minute Activist” go to the webpage and simply click on the link for the issue you wish to support to read more about it, then:
- fill in your name and address
- use the suggested message text or personalize it as you wish
- click on “Send Message” and the message will automatically be sent to your US Senators and US Representative
All children should have equal opportunity to succeed.
Pass the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act
“All children should have equal opportunity to succeed. Yet, millions of students are in schools with school-based law enforcement but without essential support such as counselors, nurses, school psychologists, or social workers. Urge your members of Congress to invest in keeping all kids safe at school and support students to ensure their educational success.” Read more and Take Action on the National AAUW website.
Stand Up for Voting Rights!
Support the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
“Over the past decade, states and localities across the country have enacted policies that make it harder to vote. As of May 2024, at least 6 states have enacted 7 restrictive voting laws this year alone. Voters in 28 states will face new restrictions in November that they have never experienced before in a presidential election…Tell your representative to support the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and protect the freedom to vote today!” Read more and Take Action on the National AAUW website.
Find quick and easy Two-Minute Activist opportunities and signup to get regular action alerts on the National AAUW website.
Take Action Minnesota!
GETTING READY FOR THE NOVEMBER 5 ELECTION
Minnesota is ready for its citizens to partake in the November election!
Now, it’s up to each and every one of us. Be prepared, be vigilant, be informed.
READ THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MELANIE HAZELIP, Voter Outreach Director,
Office of Minnesota Secretary of State, Steve Simon
(Forwarded to us by AAUW MN VP Public Policy)
Hi community partners,
This morning we launched our Here We Vote voter outreach and education campaign challenging Minnesotans to reclaim our #1 spot in voter turnout in the nation for the 2024 general election.
As a part of Here We Vote, we’ve created a new webpage (mnvotes.gov/herewevote) with everything voters need to know to vote this November. We’ve also added a digital toolkit and social media graphics on this page. Keep checking back regularly for updated graphics as election season gets underway.
Here We Vote will be on full display at our booth at the Minnesota State Fair – we’ll have Here We Vote buttons and fans for those who visit us. In the fall, we’ll be rolling out television and radio ads encouraging Minnesotans to make their plan to vote on November 5.
To help you get the word out, we’ve revamped our 2024 Voter Participation Toolkit – with more messages about the start of early voting, National Voter Registration Day, special voting hours as we get closer to election day – and information about our election system including public accuracy testing, ballot processing, and direct balloting.
Thank you for your continued partnership,
And in case you missed it, here is the Angela Davis (MPR) segment with Secretary Simon from this morning. It was a great show.
As always, don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Melanie Hazelip
Voter Outreach Director
Office of Minnesota Secretary of State, Steve Simon
Veterans Services Building, 20 W 12th Street, Suite 210
St. Paul, MN 55155
Office: 651-201-1339
Cell: 612-327-1621 (Call &Text)
Website: https://www.sos.mn.gov
Please share this information with family, friends, and colleagues.
Why lobby for an Equal Rights Amendment
to the State Constitution?
- Many people believe gender equality is the law of the land but neither the state nor federal constitution specifically provides equal legal protection regardless of gender under the law.
- Even though 38 states ratified the national equal rights amendment, they did not do so within the time frame set for ratification in the authorizing legislation.
- Bills have been introduced at the federal level to remove the ratification deadline. In the meantime, more than 20 states have included this protection in their state constitutions (see the states HERE).
- Early in the 2024 legislative session will be our best chance to help pass a bill to vote on adding an equal rights amendment to the Minnesota Constitution!
Put your support in writing! We are encouraging all members to to call, write, or email their State Senators and Representatives supporting equal rights for all – regardless of gender.
Find contact information for your State Representative and Senator HERE.
Suggested text for your letter: Word Format — PDF Format
BRAND NEW: National Two-Minute Activist page for STATE activism. While hard copy letters will still have the greatest impact with legislators, use THIS LINK if you prefer to make your support for MN ERA known electronically. Take a few minutes to personalize the message if you use this link – your message will automatically be sent to your MN Representative and Senator.
More information on the ERA and ERA Minnesota:
Join Kelsey Waits, AAUW MN VP Public Policy, as she reviews a brief history of ERA efforts including why we need it, arguments for and against, why now, and next steps. Video Link
Slides provided by ERA Minnesota.
Branch Advocacy Initiative
Thanks to everyone who responded to the Public Policy & Environment Committee’s Branch Advocacy Survey. The results were used to prepare a resolution on advocacy that was approved by our membership at our 4/25/23 Annual Meeting.
Click HERE to read the survey report.
Click HERE to review the approved resolution.
Watch for emails from our committee and visit this page regularly to get updates and information on actions you can take on important issues.
Take Action on Managing Water Resources
Many thanks to Maggie Karschnia for a very informative
and action-oriented presentation.
Slides and graphics used with her permission.
In addition to her work at the U’s Water Resources Center and Sea Grant Minnesota, Maggie serves on the Board of the Minnesota Association for Environmental Education. You can learn more about how MAEE works to strengthen the role of education as a solution to our environmental and societal challenges HERE.
Other Resources for Taking Action
- Find your Federal and State legislators here.
- Go to https://www.mnvotes.org/ to access comprehensive elections and voting information, including registration and absentee ballots, at the MN Secretary of State website.
- Set up a MyBills account: MyBills allows you to track House and Senate bills in the Minnesota State Legislature by bill number and topic. When you log in, your bills will be listed along with information about recent or upcoming significant action. You must log in to see this information, MyBills does not send email alerts.
- Check on individual bills of interest to you in the Minnesota State Legislature here.
Links to other organizations involved in advocacy:
- The Minnesota Women’s Consortium – now WoMN ACT® (Advocate, Collaborate, Transform): https://www.womnact.org/
- League of Women Voters of Minnesota: https://www.lwvmn.org/
- LWV of St. Paul: https://lwvsp.org/
- LWV Minneapolis: https://lwvmpls.org/
- League of Women Voters 2020 Election Report: https://www.lwv.org/expanding-voter-access/2020-election-impact-report