Voter outreach and education.

The League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF) is working on a number of voter outreach and education activities and products for use in state and local elections in 2007 as well as for the presidential election in 2008.

VOTE411.org, the LWVEF one-stop shop for election information that was hugely successful in 2006, is being updated for the 2007 election cycle, and new content will be available. However, due to the reduced number of elections being held this year, the polling place look up feature will be active only in selected jurisdictions. Leagues producing Voters' Guides in 2007 should send them to the LWVEF, so that they can be included on the VOTE411 site.

As Leagues across the country work to engage the public in their 2007 state and local elections, the LWVEF continues to provide tools to support their efforts. The 5 Things You Need to Know on Election Day cards which give voters simple steps to take on Election Day to make sure their votes are counted were a huge success in 2006 and are available for the 2007 election. The cards are free except for shipping and handling. For details, contact [e-mail]. In addition, the VOTE brochure will continue to be available for purchase and downloading from the Web site in both English and Spanish.

This fall, a new Voter Registration Toolkit will be available. The League has a long tradition of registering voters. However, new laws and regulations at state and federal levels make this toolkit a valuable resource. Leagues may use it in planning and executing their voter registration activities. The toolkit will contain publications, tips to use when registering voters and helpful reminders to follow up with voters. It will be available online.

Also available online in fall 2007 will be an updated and streamlined version of Face to Face, the League's guide for putting on effective debates.

New in 2007-08 is a League partnership with the Newspaper in Education Institute (NIE), a coalition of newspapers nationwide with "Newspaper in Education" programs that produce educational inserts. These inserts are specifically designed to be utilized in schools and are distributed through each newspaper's general circulation; they are also given directly to local schools. The LWV is working with NIE to develop an 8-page insert for publication during the 2008 primary season and a 16-page insert for the 2008 general election season. These inserts will help educate young people, many of whom will be first-time voters, as well as others.

Returning for the 2008 cycle will be the latest update of the League book, Choosing the President, an easy-to-read description of all the components of the presidential selection process which is scheduled for publication in January 2008.

Other plans and partnerships for election 2008 are also under discussion.