Greetings from M Street!

In less than 2 months, Americans will be going to the polls to elect the President of the United States and many other officials. We, here on M Street, have been focusing considerable energy on a wide range of activities related to Election Day 2004. To sum up, the League's belief that "Everyone Should Vote--And Every Vote Should Count" is reflected in our activities.

In the area of voter outreach and education, the League is:

* Providing new information about Election Day that voters need to know.

* Supplying key information on the election system and the importance of voting.

* Delivering unbiased information on candidates and issues.

In the area of election reform, the League:

* Offers policy guidance and best practices to assist state and local election officials.

* Continues its campaign finance reform activities.

You will read details about these activities in the Education Fund section of League Matters (pp. 14-16).

To highlight these election efforts, a new "Splash Page" now introduces the LWV Web site (www.lwv.org). This page, which features a countdown clock to Election 2004, will be updated with key election information as necessary. Visitors can still reach the League homepage by clicking on "Looking for our regular site?" at the bottom right of the splash page. League members are encouraged to check out this new feature, as well as the extensive amount of election information (including voter registration forms) in the Voter Information section of the Web site (see Good Bytes, p. 17, for details on the updated features in this section).

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Please remember to talk about these many election services--and those being performed by state and local Leagues--with people you know and meet. As in every major election year, the League at all levels is highly visible and clearly demonstrating its value to the nation. So, this is a great time to ASK others to become members and join in our important work.

In addition to focusing on the election, the LWVUS has been involved in other important activities. These include our successful biennial convention in June 2004; a move of the national office after 30 years to different space on the same floor in our current building; continued League involvement in community forums around the country on the topic of America in the world; and renewed emphasis on activities related to civil liberties. You will read about these and other activities in the Education Fund and Advocacy sections of League Matters (pp. 14-16).

RELATED ARTICLE: IN MEMORIAM 

Ann Sheldon Duff, a former LWVUS board member, past board director of LWVMN and 60-year member of the LWV of Minneapolis, died on May 12, 2004. Ann Pugliese of the Minneapolis League wrote: "She was an inspiration to us, with her tireless spirit, wry wit, and common sense. She served as our unofficial historian, and was instrumental in organizing our metro ILO in the 1960s."

Nancy E. Tate