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LWV Merger

For Immediate Release

August 11, 2022

Contact: Evelyn C Murphy, PhD, President, LWV Southern Monmouth (LWVSM), 732-618-9570 / evelyncmurphy@gmail.com, Barbara Chaudhery, President, LWV Greater Red Bank Area (LWVGRBA) / 732-245-9535 / bjchaudhery@gmail.com, Sharon Steinhorn, President, LWV Western Monmouth (LWVWM) / 732-851-5764 / steinhorn@optonline.net

Merger presser
The League of Women Voters of Monmouth County (LWVMC) announced their formation from a merger of three LWV leagues at a Press Conference at CentraState Medical Center. Pictured (left to right) CentraState President and CEO Tom Scott, Monmouth County Clerk Christine Hanlon, LWVMC Co-Presidents: Barbara Chaudhery, Sharon Steinhorn, Evelyn Murphy, and CentraState Board member and LWVMC member Barbara McMorrow

Monmouth County Leagues Merge to Create The League of Women Voters of Monmouth County

Freehold — On August 11, 2022, the League of Women Voters of Monmouth County held a press conference to announce the formation of their new league from three individual leagues in order to enhance their ability to carry out their mission of empowering voters and protecting democracy in our county. The event took place at the CentraState Medical Center in Freehold. The three presidents of the former leagues of Greater Red Bank, Southern Monmouth, and Western Monmouth - Barbara Chaudhery, Evelyn Murphy, and Sharon Steinborn respectively, will serve as co-presidents of the new county league. Monmouth County Clerk Christine Hanlon was a guest speaker at the event.

Clerk Hanlon commended the league, “You have done such tremendous work in having our voters understand all the changes and all information about the voting process. I have been honored to work with you side by side in this community outreach.”

When describing the past two years of significant changes in voting and voting technology, she harkened to Monmouth County’s first-place position in the state for early voting with 13% of voters using this brand new voting option. She credited the League for their efforts in that success.

Regarding the merger she added, “(The three leagues) coming together will bring such resources, strength and cooperation. I am happy to be joining with you to celebrate this momentous occasion.”

Barbara Chaudhery discussed the decision for the merger stating, “Over the past few years, national and local events have awakened a keen interest in the central mission of the League of Women Voters to empower voters and defend democracy. Never in recent history has our brand been stronger or more relevant, as evidenced by the dramatic growth and heightened activity of the three local Monmouth County Leagues…. The Monmouth County Leagues see merger as the strategic next step to build on and expand this successful collaboration. Consolidating the three local Leagues codifies and improves the effectiveness of what we do, as well as the efficiency with which we do it.”

Sharon Steinhorn described the many activities the league engages which include voter registration, education, and empowerment among many other issues and activities.

She highlighted several stating, “Candidate forums have always been a high priority for us. Since covid entered our lives, we have mastered the virtual platform, thereby bringing candidates ‘into voters’ homes,’ reaching hundreds more voters and even offering viewers the opportunity to ask questions of the candidates. League moderators are trained and certified and maintain civil discourse…. which is in short supply these days. We are currently in the process of scheduling forums for school boards, local committee persons, congressional candidates and our county commissioners and sheriff.” Additionally, she added, “We are also interested in the ongoing happenings in our county, we are reinstituting our Observer Corps…teams of League volunteers sitting in on local government boards and agencies…Board of Elections, Zoning Boards, Township committees…wherever possible.

Evelyn Murphy outlined the issues that are the beating heart of the League including health care, reproductive rights and public policy on abortion, natural resources in the time of climate emergency, and voting rights by eliminating all obstacles that impede it.

Specifically, she talked about the League’s support of same-day voter registration stating, “Our 21-day deadline disenfranchises New Jersey voters in every election; and our election officials have the resources and technology to allow voters to register at their polling place on Election Day with no adverse effects. It is time for New Jersey to join the 21 states and the District of Columbia in allowing voters to register and vote at the same time.”

Regarding the reversal of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court in May, she stated, “…we are concerned about the harmful impact on all people who may become pregnant. And we are particularly concerned that this harm will exacerbate societal inequalities and fall disproportionately on people of color and low-income communities already facing egregious obstacles to health care.”

Visit lwvmonmouth.org to learn more or to join the League of Women Voters of Monmouth County.

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The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots civic organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Membership in the League is open to people 16 years and older of all gender identities. With 100 years of experience, the League is one of America’s oldest and most trusted civic nonprofit organizations.

Empowering Young Voters Award

LWVUS Empowering Young Voters Award

Roe v Wade

For Immediate Release

June 24, 2022

Contact: Evelyn C Murphy, PhD, President, LWV Southern Monmouth (LWVSM), 732-618-9570 / evelyncmurphy@gmail.com, Barbara Chaudhery, President, LWV Greater Red Bank Area (LWVGRBA) / 732-245-9535 / bjchaudhery@gmail.com, Sharon Steinhorn, President, LWV Western Monmouth (LWVWM) / 732-851-5764 / steinhorn@optonline.net

Supreme Court Strips Americans of Constitutional Right to Abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Decision

Court signals threat to marriage equality, contraception, and private intimacy

WASHINGTON — Today the League of Women Voters of the United States President Dr. Deborah Turner and CEO Virginia Kase Solomón issued the following joint statement in response to the 6–3 Supreme Court decision of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturns the constitutional right to abortion as recognized for nearly 50 years in the landmark cases of Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey:

“Today’s ruling strips women and those who may become pregnant of their bodily autonomy and will have devastating — and immediate — consequences across the country. While the Court’s opinion was expected, its harm is extreme and real. When women and those who can become pregnant can no longer make reproductive decisions for their own bodies, they are no longer equal individuals in our democracy. This harm will exacerbate societal inequalities and fall disproportionately on people of color and low-income communities already facing egregious obstacles to health care.

"The decision foreshadows the erosion of other well-established Constitutional rights including marriage equality, access to contraception, and the right to engage in private, consensual intimate conduct.

"The dissenting Justices get it exactly right: today’s majority opinion is an assault on the constitutional guarantee to equal protection of the laws and the right to due process. With this decision, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and other historically marginalized communities have no guarantees that their civil rights will be protected.

"The League of Women Voters stands in our power with our reproductive partners and all persons who fear the dangerous consequences of this decision. We will use our anger to fight in the legislatures, in the courts, and in the streets. We call on our elected leaders at the state and federal levels to act swiftly to restore bodily autonomy to all people.

"Women hold the power to create a more perfect democracy. We will not stand by as constitutional rights are stripped away, one by one. Women’s rights are human rights, and we will continue to fight until the right to abortion is restored. Our lives depend on it.”

The League of Women Voters filed an amicus in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Learn more about the case here.

Middletown High School Voter Registration

Middletown High School Voter Registration