COMING SOON: ELECTION EXPO 2026 | Free event Sept. 28 to help voters prepare for General Election | Whether you’ve already decided how you’ll vote or are still undecided, Election Expo 2026 will help you become a more informed voter. This award-winning nonpartisan event created by the League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County, Leadership Palm Beach County and Palm Beach State College will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, in the gym at PBSC’s Main Campus in Lake Worth at 4200 S. Congress Ave.
There you can meet candidates for local, state and federal offices in person, learn about Florida Constitutional Amendments and other ballot questions (the Palm Beach County School Tax Referendum, and Palm Beach County Bond Referendums for Parks and Recreation and Library Improvements), see the voting equipment used in Palm Beach County, get nonpartisan voter information and resources — including the PBC League’s comprehensive printed 2026 Voters’ Guide — and visit community organizations dedicated to civic engagement.
Other presenting partners include the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office, Florida Power & Light Company, law firms Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley PA and Smith Ball Baez & Prather Florida Injury Lawyers, the Sierra Club, the Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County, Delta Sigma Theta sorority and several local businesses. The League’s Candidate Forums, Membership, Speakers Bureau and Voter Services teams will all be there.
The 2024 Expo attracted more than 37 candidates and 250 voters. The 2026 Expo features, for the first time, two scholarships for PBSC students to be awarded at the event.
Expo Team Leader Joyce Sullivan, one of the creators of the Expo event two years ago, said the Expo and the League's Voters' Guide complement each other in the ways they promote voter education. "With both, we meet an important need in the community: to become an informed voter."
Bring family, friends and neighbors and spend an enjoyable evening of learning, conversation and community. Complimentary refreshments will include specialty coffee from our Barista Bar, ice cream treats and a special gift for attendees while supplies last.
Advance registration is recommended. | All photos with this story are from the 2024 Election Expo. Online photo galleries. | ELECTION EXPO LAUNCHES PBSC SCHOLARSHIPS | More than 30 Palm Beach State College students have applied for the inaugural Election Expo scholarship, organized in partnership with the Election Expo Committee and PBSC. Two scholarship winners will be announced at the Expo on Sept. 28. Each will receive $2,500 raised from sponsorships.
"We are excited to be able to offer two scholarships at this year's Election Expo," said Keely Gideon-Taylor, chair of the Expo scholarship committee. "The responses to applications and support of the Expo itself have been off the charts."
The scholarship was created to support students committed to civic engagement, voter education and community leadership. Eligibility requirements include being a current or first-year PBSC student, being registered or pre-registered to vote in Palm Beach County, and participation in at least one volunteer activity with one of the Expo’s sponsoring organizations: Leadership Palm Beach County, League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County or Palm Beach State College.
| | A chat with new LWVPBC President Janet Elinoff,
a retired wealth management advisor from PNC Private Bank
and Palm Beach County voter since 1980. Before this position,
she chaired the Speakers Bureau for several years. | | | Have you always been a civic activist and what brought you to the League?
I have a son with severe autism. When Evan was diagnosed in 1996, finding services and support was a major challenge – autism was not yet a household word, and resources were scarce. Evan was the reason I put my feet on the floor every morning, but my family and I felt thrown into the deep end without a life raft. I had to learn as I went and fight for him every step of the way: advocating with schools, doctors, therapists, insurance companies, and even restaurants. Navigating a world that wasn’t always welcoming or tolerant forces you to grow a thick skin and a “can do / must do” attitude. Quitting was simply not an option.
That advocacy naturally led me to broader civic work. I was invited to join the board of the Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center. Alongside dedicated families, donors, and community leaders, we created a summer camp and other year-round programming that ultimately resulted into the Levis JCC Helene & Roy Schwedelson Special Needs Department which continues to thrive and make a lasting difference in our county.
When I retired, my daughter, Nicole, suggested that I join the League. She had been a member in college and believed it would be fun, intellectually stimulating, and deeply meaningful. She was absolutely right.
Who have been your role models and why?
I often turn to author and podcaster Brene Brown. Her research transformed how we view human connection – showing that vulnerability and empathy are the true foundations of courage. Showing up as our authentic selves is a sign of deep inner strength, not weakness. “Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it is having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.”
Tell us something about yourself that might surprise people?
I’m a true introvert. I recharge with quiet – lots of quiet. While I love connecting and relating with people, I recharge best in complete solitude and quiet.
What is your vision for LWVPBC going forward?
I truly believe that “we all have a role, and there is a role for all of us.” My goal is to expand and deepen member engagement across the board. We are over 550 people strong – just imagine the impact we can make together!
– Gary Schweikhart | BOARD ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP CHANGES | The LWVPBC Board of Directors has announced changes to its leadership team after some resignations due to career advancements and personal considerations.
The new officers are:
President: Janet Elinoff
First Vice President: Open
Second Vice President: Debbie Oistacher
Secretary: Mary Sue Donohue
Treasurer: Melissa Gannon
Continuing as Board Members are: Rebecca Taylor Cohen, Donna Colabella, Dr. Cassondra A. Corbin-Thaddies, Whitney Powell, Kate Renchin, Elizabeth Shapiro, Cynthia Sheehan-Hartwell, Patty Whitehill and Megan Wiston.
“On behalf of the League’s Board of Directors, I want to personally thank each of our departing Board members for their years of dedicated service …. and we wish them much success going forward,” new President Janet Elinoff said. “We are also very pleased that their active support of the League will continue even after stepping down from the Board.”
| GET READY FOR NOV. 3 BALLOT
| VOTE411/Ballot goes live Sept. 14 for General Election | The League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County will update VOTE411, an online Voters’ Guide with valuable information on local, state and federal candidates as well as several measures on the upcoming General Election ballot.
VOTE411 is part of the League’s comprehensive nonpartisan campaign of voter registration, education and candidate engagement. This outreach is targeted at voters across Palm Beach County.
Printed versions of the VOTE411 Voters’ Guides will be carried in select editions of The Palm Beach Post and will be available for convenient pick-up at numerous public libraries starting Sunday, Sept. 27.
LWVPBC is also distributing thousands of voter information hand cards with two messages:
+ What’s on YOUR Ballot? with both a QR code and Vote411.org/Ballot, for direct access to trusted, local, nonpartisan voter information.
+ General Voting Info 2026 with both a QR code and LWVPBC.org/Vote2026, to check your voter status, register to vote, update personal voter information, check on your vote-by-mail ballot, find polling locations or research campaigns and candidates.
For more information, visit VOTE411.org/Florida.
— Joyce Sullivan, Publications Chair
|  |
ARE YOU A GOOD EXPLAINER?
| Help Speakers Bureau educate voters on three Amendments | LWVPBC has many requests from groups seeking our presentations about a particularly consequential Constitutional Amendment on the Nov. 3 General Election ballot. Amendment 3 is a proposal to — among other things — increase homestead exemptions on primary residences, and thereby lower property tax bills for many Floridians, resulting in a decrease in local government revenue. It is one of three amendments local voters will consider.
You can help us reach many more folks who need this information — civic groups, neighborhood associations, houses of worship, clubs and others, and give them valuable insights about the workings of Florida’s property tax system. We aim to make a big push in the next two months before the election — and then we can know we did the best we possibly could to educate voters.
The Palm Beach County League Speakers’ Bureau offers a comprehensive training, Decision 2026: The Amendments on the Ballot, to help you present a non-partisan unbiased look at their pros and cons, including how they could affect your local government. We need more volunteer speakers who can visit groups in person as well as others who can present on Zoom. (Tech phobic? Never fear — support will be provided!)
This is an opportunity for League members to learn about the workings and ramifications of the amendments and spread this knowledge around the community so Palm Beach County voters can cast a vastly more informed ballot.
To volunteer or get more information, please email SpeakersBureau@lwvpbc.org. And of course, if you are part of a group that you think should hear a presentation on the amendments, please contact the League the same way. |  | ENSURING FAIR ELECTIONS IN PB COUNTY
| SOE Wendy Link to speak at VRC Zoom Sept. 3 at 2 p.m.
| The Palm Beach County Voting Rights Coalition is excited to host Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link to speak at our September monthly meeting. It will be an opportunity to get your voting questions answered:
• How can we know our elections will be fair, safe and accurate?
• How secure are our machines?
• What kinds of contingency planning is being done?
Members can look for the Zoom link on the LWVPBC website Calendar.
Pro tip: Have concerns? Vote By Mail! It avoids all potential issues.
— Kate Renchin, Palm Beach County Voting Rights Coalition Co-Chair | MORE ELECTION PROTECTION TRAINING PLANNED | Please help spread the word. Here is information on all the different volunteer needs: Poll monitors, legal monitors, Canvassing Board monitors and more. Volunteers can sign up here. For general voter information to share, visit the Voter Resource Hub. Some members were trained to provide Election Protection services during the primary, and more trainings will be held before the General Election.
The primary provided a good chance to see what might happen at which polls. If you know of certain poll locations on Election Day that have had issues with hyperpartisans, long lines or any other impediments to voting, please let me know. We can add them to a priority list to be sure we have eyes on them.
— Kate Renchin, Palm Beach County Voting Rights Coalition Co-Chair | LEAGUE VISITS CUNNINGHAM BAR ASSOCIATION
| | The Speakers Bureau is hard at work responding to requests for presentations. Janet Elinoff recently spoke to the F. Malcolm Cunningham Bar Association about VOTE411.org. The group was receptive and appreciative of the League’s efforts to assist voters with registration and education. We also have numerous “in person” presentations about Florida Constitutional Amendments and other topics scheduled, and requests come in almost daily. We also are creating a virtual system for presentations on the amendments.
— Katie Beer, Speakers Bureau | | | Above, from left: Robert Gordon, Palm Beach Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers President; Nastassia Janvier, ACLU Legal Defense Fund Marshall-Motley Fellow; Raven Lightsey, Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Executive Director; Freddelle Menard, F. Malcolm Cunningham Bar Association President; Janet Elinoff, LWVPBC President; and Alfred Fields, NAACP West Palm Beach President. | UPCOMING EVENTS
Click on the flyer to see the details
| Come and mingle with local League members and potential members
from surrounding areas. You'll see members you know and make new
friends too. View the menu at EllaCafe.com. RSVP to Linda Prior or
| Election time is almost here and we want to prepare you for it by offering
a special edition of Taste of the League. This is a program designed
for new and reconnecting members to learn how League teams serve
our community to empower voters and defend democracy.
In this special Zoom edition, team chairs will highlight how they organize
and staff voter registrations, educate residents and businesses about all
aspects of voting and voter regulations, promote election protection,
combat voter suppression and support voting rights legislation. This
program will also include a quick "trip around the website" to help you
get involved in voter registration and election protection as well as other
information you will need.
We hope you will add this important event to your calendar and perhaps
invite a friend. It's free but registration is required by simply signing up
on our website.
— The Membership Team | Come and mingle with local League members and potential members
from surrounding areas. You'll see members you know and make new
friends too! View the menu at @GizzisCoffeeHouse on social media.
| NOURISHING THE COMMUNITY WITH MEALS, CIVICS
| | Voter Services attended the Aug. 1 Davis & Miller Community Feeding event in West Palm Beach. The Masud Court No. 71 and Jalil Court No. 242 Daughters of the Auxiliary of Prince Hall Shrine served to-go meals to residents in the Northwest Neighborhood. Above: Andy Spurg, Carol Carnevale and Denise Smyth with event organizer Zaveka Davis. At right: Anissa Rich, Anika Allen and Mercedes Parks are among the Daughters who served meals. | | | LEAGUE HELPS LAKE PARK BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENT
| Voter Services team members helped voters register at the back-to-school
extravaganza held Aug. 8 in the Town of Lake Park. From left, Pam
Maldonado, Germaine Richards, Marcia Halpern, Alina Newman
and Denise Smyth braved the heat. | OUT AND ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY | LEAGUE TURNS OUT FOR WOMEN'S CHAMBER EQUALI-TEA | | Dr. Cassondra Corbin-Thaddies, a LWVPBC Director, was one of the speakers for the Aug. 26 Equali-TEA at The Ben, an annual celebration by the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County. Congress designated Aug. 26 as Women’s Equality Day in 1973, marking the 1920 date of the certification of the 19th Amendment, giving women the constitutional right to vote. Leaguers who attended included Keeter Martinson and Rebecca Taylor Cohen, above left, Dr. Corbin-Thaddies and Reisha Roopchand Allen, above right, and Joyce Sullivan and Megan Wiston, at left. | | | A WARM-HEARTED WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS
| Their contact information is available in the Member Directory at LWVPBC.org.
Carol Duval (Delray Beach), Donna Hodgins (Delray Beach), Janet Anderson (West Palm Beach), Missy Campbell (West Palm Beach), Patricia Murphy (Boynton Beach), Lynda Zettel (Palm Beach Gardens), Ann Williams (Jupiter), Barbara King (South Bay) and Leia Berla (Boca Raton).
— Linda Sorenson, Membership
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