By Fay Casatuta
In every election, we work to empower voters and defend democracy. The 2024 election was no exception. The Voter Service teams across Dutchess, Orange and Ulster counties covered many miles and towns, spoke to thousands of people, registered hundreds to vote, served as poll workers, ran Vote 411 and participated in GOTV efforts. All of these actions are critical contributions to our democracy.
We visited farmers markets, community days, library fairs, community theaters, musical events, People’s Place (Kingston), and county naturalization ceremonies. We spoke with college students at Dutchess, Orange and Ulster community colleges, and SUNY New Paltz, Vassar College, Bard College and the Culinary Institute of America, and high school students at FDR High School (Hyde Park) and Warwick High School(Warwick).
Thanks to your efforts, we saw greater voter engagement, strong early voter turnout and continued focus on fair, transparent and inclusive elections across all three counties. Erica Smitka, Executive Director League of Women Voters of New York State, noted that, across the country, the League reached 30 million voters and 9.19 million voters used Vote411.org as a resource.
Thank you for your tireless work this election cycle. Through our work, both invigorating and exhausting, we truly empowered voters and defended democracy at every level – federal, state and local.
P.S. – At a League level, you may be interested in reading Reflecting on the Election: We Will Speak Up and Speak Out and League of Women Voters Statement on 2024 Election Results.