HIGH SCHOOL VOTER DRIVE SETS RECORD | From left: Jessica Brason, Katherine Wagner-Reiss, Marlene Bogard and Phyllis Applebaum help students at Royal Palm Beach High School register to vote on Senior Checkout Day. | LWVPBC helps register more than 1,600 seniors to vote | Our 2026 high school senior checkout voter registration work has come and gone, very successfully. This being my first year organizing it, it was both exciting and exhausting. The Voter Services team leaders and volunteers completed 1,606 paper voter registrations, surpassing our prior record. We also gave out 1,464 cards with a QR code that allows the students to go online to register to vote, hopefully. The 48 volunteers listed below, many of whom worked several times, covered 68 shifts over 80-plus hours at all 22 high schools we visited.
The incredible team leaders included Katherine M. Wagner-Reiss, Nancy Ballen, Adrienne Rabinowitz, Barbara Bogart, Linda Kramer, Mary Resnick, Judy Giller, Marcia Hayden, Debra Walker and Sandra Witherspoon.
The fantastic volunteers were: Mark Harris, Kitty Clayman, Dawn Tarpinian, Marcia El-Baz, Nancy Ballen, Carol Carnevale, Marvelous Washington, Colleen Robbs, Dr. Debra Robinson Gaines, Marcia Halpern, Katie Beer, Jane Wattick, Germaine Richards, Peggy Donnelly, Pam Humphrey, Sharon Reed, Janet Clark, Alina Newman, Vicki Mitchell, Chris Allen, Cynthia Sanders, Pam Humphrey, Rochelle Shapiro, Ellen Barnes, Pamela Reuter, Franki Wilson, Maria Montiglio, Rev. Richard Dames, Phyllis Applebaum, Marlene Bogard, Nancy Gau, Stacey Einhorn, Sunny Thayer, Sue Merris, Debra Moore, Yvette Coursey, Janet Chaikin, Diana Grubman and Nancy Zimmer.
We also had wonderful partners who assisted our team leaders. Debra Walker, a new member, brought her teammates from the Elder’s Table. Other partners and organizations included local chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and the NAACP. These partnerships made a significant contribution to our total voter registration.
The highest number of voter registrations were recorded at these high schools: Park Vista, 245; Atlantic, 212; Forest Hill,175; Boynton Beach and Palm Beach Gardens, 125 each; and Palm Beach Central, 120.
— Judy Giller, Voter Services Chair |  | Rev. Richard Dames, Michele Gitu and Debra Walker staff the League's voter registration table at Boynton Beach Community High School.
| The audience at a candidate forum, co-sponsored by the LWVPBC
earlier this year, in Palm Beach Gardens. | MIDTERMS CANDIDATE FORUM PLANNING BEGINS | Ken Thomas, co-chair of the LWVPBC Candidate Forums Team, has announced four forums being planned for June and July, as the League works to help Palm Beach County voters prepare for the upcoming Midterm elections.
Please save the dates and make plans to attend:
* Monday, June 29 — Meet and Greet: Palm Beach County judicial candidates
6-7:15 p.m. at the Vista Center, 2300 N. Jog Road, West Palm Beach
* Wednesday, July 1 — Candidate Forum: Palm Beach County School Board District 6
6-7:15 p.m. at the Belle Glade Branch Library, 725 N.W. Fourth St., Belle Glade
* Wednesday, July 8 — Candidate Forum: Palm Beach County School Board District 6
6-7:15 p.m. at the Palm Beach County Branch Library, 500 Civic Center Way, Royal Palm Beach
* Monday, July 13 — Candidate Forum: Palm Beach County School Board District 4
6-7:15 p.m. at the Palm Beach County Branch Library, 4020 Lantana Road, Atlantis
Thomas most recently lead two well-attended candidate forums the League co-sponsored for the Palm Beach Gardens City Council races and Juno Beach Mayor and Town Council races before the March 10 municipal elections. | ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE, REALLY? | June 13 community event in Boynton Beach to help you find out | Connect to Greatness, Inc., in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County and other community organizations, is hosting a Voter Registration & Verification Event designed to help residents move beyond assumptions and leave informed and prepared ahead of the Aug. 18 statewide primary and Nov. 3 national general election.
The free event is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at the Boynton Beach Police Department, 2100 High Ridge Road.
Many believe they are ready to vote, but outdated information, inactive registration status or incomplete mail-in ballot requests can prevent a vote from counting. With voting laws and procedures continuing to evolve, now is the time to:
* Verify your registration status
* Update your voter information
* Learn about current voting rules and changes
* Get answers to important voting questions
* Connect with trusted community organizations
Connect to Greatness is dedicated to empowering and inspiring male students, especially Black males, to be leaders and change makers in the world. Its programs serve male students in elementary through high school throughout Palm Beach County. Additional cohosts include: The Women's Foundation of Florida, which empowers women and girls to be leaders. YWCA of Palm Beach County, which enables women and girls to strengthen their quality of life. The Emanuel Jackson Sr. Project, which provides a safe space for teens throughout Palm Beach County, and promotes positive youth development by strengthening and supporting families.
— Dr. Cassondra Corbin-Thaddies, Connect to Greatness founder, LWVPBC board director | Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller Mike Caruso speaks at May's Hot Topic lunch.
| Caruso tours League through Palm Beach County finances | The May 20 Hot Topic Luncheon was a tremendous success, featuring an engaging and informative presentation by Mike Caruso, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller of Palm Beach County. Guests enjoyed both the luncheon buffet and Clerk Caruso’s thoughtful discussion of county finances, the proposal to eliminate property taxes and common fraud schemes affecting residents.
Clerk Caruso is knowledgeable, approachable and an engaging speaker. He spoke candidly about issues impacting Palm Beach County and answered every question openly and thoroughly, regardless of the topic. His remarks reflected a practical, grounded perspective.
The League’s commitment to nonpartisanship allows members and guests to hear directly from elected officials representing a variety of viewpoints. Hosting Clerk Caruso was an excellent example of the value of that approach. Attendees appreciated his informative presentation, friendly demeanor and willingness to engage in open dialogue with the audience.
Details of the 2025 Palm Beach County finances (PAFR) that Clerk Caruso provided can be found by clicking this button.
|  |  | Genesis Robinson, Executive Director of Equal Ground Florida, recaps results of the Florida Legislature's 2026 session during a presentation at the Summit Library. | VOTERS ACTIVATED, ENERGIZED, EAGER FOR INFO | | Palm Beach County voters want to know what their Florida Legislature is doing. They filled the large meeting room at Summit Library to hear Genesis Robinson, Executive Director of Equal Ground, on the nonprofit’s statewide Legislative Debrief Tour.
The Palm Beach County Voting Rights Coalition, LWVPBC, NAACP WPB, National Council of Jewish Women of Palm Beach County, Zeta Tau Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Coming to the Table of South Florida, ACLU Florida and others were honored to partner with Equal Ground for this educational event.
The room was filled with energy, enthusiasm and a strong desire to learn and to take action.
— Kate Renchin, Palm Beach County Voting Rights Coalition Co-Chair
| | | Above right: Kate Renchin and Genesis Robinson. | Members can make recurring monthly donations to LWVPBC | As a LWVPBC newsletter reader, you know the League provides nonpartisan, fact-based civic educational programming throughout Palm Beach County. This spring League volunteers visited local high schools and helped register more than 1,600 students to vote – empowering the next generation to participate in our democracy.
With the 2026 election cycle approaching, the local League’s work is more important than ever. From voter registration and election education to community forums and trusted voter resources, we are committed to ensuring every eligible voter has access to accurate information and a fair, accessible election process.
Please consider becoming a monthly donor to your local League. (Recurring donations are only an option for members who log in to the website.) Whether you give $10, $25, $50 or any amount meaningful to you, your recurring support provides steady funding for vital programs that strengthen democracy here in Palm Beach County.
DONATE TO LWVPBC
Thank you for investing in voter education in Palm Beach County. Your support will enable our work to ensure elections are fair and accessible, help register eligible voters and provide nonpartisan civic programs including the award-winning Election Expo, Voters’ Guides and VOTE411 website.
— Rebecca Cohen, Development Co-Chair | LEAGUE SUPPORTS NCJW ‘CHURCH AND STATE’ EVENT | | A contingent from the LWVPBC attended the recent National Council of Jewish Women’s timely presentation “Church and State Together: Effect on Antisemitism” in Wellington. The event featured Barbara Pariente, attorney and former Florida Supreme Court Justice; Rabbi Merrill Shapiro, past president of the National Board of Trustees of Americans United for Separation of Church and State; and Bacardi Jackson, executive director of the ACLU of Florida.
The event provided insights into the intersection of religious freedom and how shifting boundaries between government and religion can directly impact Jewish communities, communities at large, and the influence of prejudice.
— Janet Elinoff
| | | Photo: Seated, from left: Bacardi Jackson, Justice Barbara Pariente and Sandy Kaltman. Standing, from left: Christene Campbell-Gabor, Stephanie Citerman, Kate Renchin, Janet Elinoff and Judy Giller. | From left: Deputy Managers Andy Lukasik and Jim Zervis and Manager Mark Sohaney speak to Boca Raton residents at the first 'Let's Talk Boca' quarterly forum. | Boca launches quarterly 'Let's Talk' meetings with residents | “Let’s Talk Boca” hit the ground running April 29 when City Manager Mark Sohaney and Deputy Managers Andy Lukasik and Jim Zervis faced off with residents packing a room at Boca Raton’s downtown library.
First of a planned series of quarterly meetings among the public, officials and staff, LTB provided Sohaney’s team a forum to introduce their priorities: communication, public safety, facilities assessment and community engagement.
Also on the table were the nationwide search for a new police chief, scenarios to address potential property tax changes, measures to rededicate Memorial Park and “government campus” revitalization.
Residents’ concerns — Boca’s homeless population, traffic and road safety, code enforcement, park maintenance, transparency about downtown development — were expressed in a robust Q&A, which saw more Qs than time for As.
— Susan Breece, Advocacy
|  | The Florida Legislature begins a Special Session today, June 1, through June 3, to consider a proposed Constitutional Amendment called "Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes." Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed a phase-out of homestead property taxes. It would take a 60 percent vote of the Senate and House for the measure to be put to Florida voters in November, and passage of a Constitutional Amendment requires 60 percent voter approval. Read more. | JUNE EVENTS
Click on the flyer to see the details
| LWVPBC IN THE NEWS
Lake Worth Beach Independent previews this Hot Topic luncheon. Read more. | JUNE TEAM MEETINGS
Members must log in to see the Zoom link. Pre-registration is not required.
| LET'S MUNCH AND MINGLE MORE | Munch and Mingle, part of the League's Membership Program to "Take the League Local,” is an opportunity for new and seasoned LWVPBC members in a local area to get to know one another. It’s easy to arrange. I worked with Dan Lishansky, LWVPBC webmaster, to send an invitation to people in the League database from Delray, Boynton and Boca Raton.
We met May 9 for brunch at The French Bakery in Delray Beach. There was no agenda, no business — just a chance to grab a bite and socialize. We commandeered a long table on the patio for the 19 people who came. I met several people I had only seen on Zoom. There were a couple of new members and a couple of lifelong members. I met a woman who lives in my neighborhood.
Another Munch and Mingle is planned for Palm Beach Gardens area members for June 25 at Panera Bread at Alton Town Center. Then another will be held for South County members July 18 at Gizzi’s Coffee in Delray Beach.
Taking the League Local is an easy event to organize. Decide if you want a brunch, lunch or happy hour. Check with the Membership Co-Chairs, Alice Mann or Donna Colabella, to find a suitable date, arrange a meeting place in your area, contact Dan to prepare an invitation, and enjoy.
— Linda Prior | A WARM-HEARTED WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS | Their contact information is available in the Member Directory at LWVPBC.org.
Shaena Fazal (Delray Beach), Debra Walker (Delray Beach), Andrea Spurgeon (West Palm Beach), Amber Dakar (West Palm Beach), Channing Rollo (Jupiter), Emma Mantyh (North Palm Beach), Ira Brandell (Wellington), and Chuck Sawicki (Palm Beach Gardens).
— Linda Sorenson, Membership
| SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE SEEKS VOLUNTEERS
The Special Events Committee is looking for volunteers interested in serving on our team. If your talents include planning events, creating programs, enlisting speakers or providing audio-visual skills, please contact Linda Kramer.
We are open to new innovative ideas to help present programs of interest to our members and their guests. We know we have many talented creative members, and invite you to join us. Thank you for your consideration.
— Special Events Committee | NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL LEAGUE | ADVOCATES APPEAL RULING ON PARTISAN FLA. MAP
Circuit court judge declined to stop new map from going into effect
before this year’s elections.
| LWV, NEA JOIN TO RECRUIT NEXTGEN POLL WORKERS
Effort seeks to ensure every community has staffing necessary to keep polling places open, lines short and voting process accessible for all.
| SCOTUS’ FINAL BLOW DISMANTLING VOTING RIGHTS ACT
Court’s attack on powerful tool hard-won by civil rights leaders will have immediate
and long-term consequences for voting rights.
| DOCUMENTARY PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP LAWS THREATEN VOTERS
No evidence suggests non-citizen voting is anything but rare, and DPOC bills do nothing to change who is eligible to vote. They only disenfranchise voters.
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