‘Voting and Elections’ Archives
Disinformation: How It Impacts Elections and What We Can Do About It
By LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS MINNEAPOLIS Illustration: Jake Ryan As voters gather information on candidates running for office this election season, they will be inundated with massive amounts of information from a variety of sources. Some information will be factual, while much will involve misinformation and disinformation. What is the difference between misinformation and disinformation? Misinformation is false or inaccurate information. Disinformation is false information which is deliberately intended to harm and mislead. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon calls disinformation “the conscious spread of knowingly false information” This shouldn’t be confused with political “disagreement.” When weaponized, Simon says, it can incite violence and disruption, posing a threat to the integrity of elections, the backbone of a healthy Democracy. He’s referring not just to January 6, but to the ongoing targeting of election workers.In 1949 the Federal Communications [...]
Pledge to Vote! Nuts and Bolts
By THE LEAUGE OF WOMEN VOTERS MINNEAPOLIS illustration: Jake Ryan Election Day in Minneapolis is November 7, 2023. Let’s make a plan to vote! Because of the 2022 redistricting process, every Minneapolis City Council member is up for election to a 2-year term. This is your opportunity to select the person who best represents your voice in city government, who carries your concerns to city hall, and who advocates for you when you need assistance. The best way to make sure your voice is heard is to make a plan to vote with these simple steps: Register at your current address. In Minnesota, you can register to vote online, by mail, or in person at your polling site. Pre-registering online and by mail must be done by October 17. Or you can register in person at Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services, 980 E Hennepin Ave (October 18 – November 6), or on Election Day (November 7) at your polling place. If you are registered to vote at your current address, you do [...]
SAVE DEMOCRACY – EMPOWER YOUNG VOTERS!
By THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS MINNEAPOLIS This is the fifth in a series of six articles about the 2023 Minneapolis City Election, brought to you by the League of Women Voters Minneapolis. All articles available at lwvmpls.org/for-voters Young Americans have been gathering strength and exerting more influence in recent elections but need help realizing their full political force as voters. For the health of our democracy, we want them to do so. While historically underrepresented at the polls, more 18–29 year-olds voted in the 2020 presidential election nationally than in 2016- close to 50%. Even 2022 midterm turnout was better than expected, inching toward 30%. A positive trend but a far cry from the electoral clout the second-largest age demographic in the U.S. could have. Generation Z (for Zoomer) are those born between 1997 and 2012, with Gen Z young adults expected to make up 17% of all eligible voters by 2024 and 35% by 2036. Combine Zoomers (sometimes called [...]
