The LWV of Dane County is pleased to invite you to this forum on the important and timely topic of Election Protection in Dane County. Participants are welcome to attend in person at Pinney Library, or online via Zoom. Either way, please register to attend so we can reserve a seat for you.

Our speakers will be Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell, Sam Liebert, Wisconsin Director of All Voting is Local, and LWV Dane County’s Barb Feeney.

Gain insight into what shapes our perception of rural and urban parts of our state in an environment of media consolidation, gerrymandering, and partisanship, including the impact of media bias or big money. Panelists will share viewpoints on state demographic shifts, how rural and urban communities are actually different (compared to perceived differences), and what unites the two types of communities. Attendees will leave with a greater sense of what fosters understanding and collaboration between rural and urban communities, and how they can support each other.

As data centers rapidly expand across Wisconsin, communities are grappling with unanswered questions about their true economic benefits, environmental impacts, and the lack of transparency created by non-disclosure agreements. Concerns include long-term jobs versus short-term construction work, heavy demands on water and electricity, rising energy costs, noise and light pollution, and ecological degradation. This Zoom forum will examine these issues, the approval process, and how the public can stay informed and engaged.

Join us for an interactive forum on a key threat to our democracy: disinformation. 

In this forum you’ll participate in a lively discussion with our speakers and learn

• What disinformation is and how it affects our civic lives

• What media changes have led to the growth of disinformation

• How to spot disinformation and what policies could help curb it 

Recent legislation challenges the funding of our healthcare. This impacts the entire system but especially those whose access to healthcare was already at risk, including the rural areas of our state. This forum will consider the impact of the legislation on the Wisconsin and Dane County healthcare system.

Federal and state policy regarding immigration are rapidly changing and impacting our communities across Wisconsin. This forum will explore the basics of immigration, the economic impact of our immigrant community, and the legal issues imposed by immigrant status across Dane County and how that impacts on the rule of law for the rest of us. Join us in person, or attend via Zoom.

The public is invited to join us for our Lively Issues Luncheon. Mary Beth Collins will present Civic Health in Tumultuous Times: Why It Matters and How to Contribute.

Join us in a virtual public forum to explore how laws and public policies about guns can decrease the rising incidence of gun violence in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin voters will elect a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice in April. Now is the time to review the issues to consider when choosing a justice.

We will discuss the impacts of past gerrymandering, whether the new maps had any effect on the Nov. 5 election, and how voters can ensure that future elections represent the will of the people.

LWV Dane County and the UW-Madison Center for Communication and Civic Renewal are cosponsoring a forum for the primary candidates for Dane County Executive at Sequoya Library, 4340 Tokay Blvd., Madison.

How do elected officials affect the availability of childcare in our community and the promotion of equity in our schools and universities?