Save the date and time (5-7 pm) for the Holiday Party!
New Edition of ‘They Represent You’ Released
The League of Women Voters of Amherst has released a new directory of elected town-wide officials and Town Meeting Members, U.S. and state Senators and Representatives for Amherst. Download the pdf version under Elected Officials, or pick up a copy of ‘They Represent You’ at Amherst Town Hall, the Amherst public libraries, Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, or Hastings. To request copies of this free publication contact LWVA at 413-253-0633 or email lwva@lwvamherst.org.
MA Bills to Support in this new Legislative Term
Last November, some voters in Massachusetts had to wait hours to cast their vote and many others did not vote due to our out-dated voter registration system. This must change. It is time to pass comprehensive election reform legislation -- including election audits, pre-registration for 16 and 17 year-olds, online voter registration, Election Day Registration and more. Please call your representatives today.
Please support election modernization legislation in 2013.
http://signon.org/sign/co-sponsor-election-moderniz?source=s.icn.em.mt&r_by=1339613
MA Bills needing our support:
- SD01562 (Sen. Finegold) - A comprehensive bill with early voting, audits of election equipment, voter registration modernization, pre-registration of 16 and 17 year-olds, and more.
- SD00001, HD00048 (Sen. Murray and Rep. Straus) - Constitutional amendments to allow for no-excuse absentee voting and early voting.
- SD00436, HD02543 (Sen. Clark and Rep. Garballey) - Allows for online voter registration and registration verification.
- Permanent Registration (Rep. Garballey HD02545, Sen. Chang-Diaz SD01166) - Voter registration is updated automatically when you change your address with USPS or the RMV.
- SD01139, HD03060 (Sen. Creem and Rep. Fox) – Establishes Election Day registration.
Expanded Polystyrene (Styrofoam*) Ban Passed in Amherst
A coalition consisting of the Amherst Recycling and Refuse Management Committee, the LWVA, and The Hitchcock Center for the Environment worked together to pass a new Town bylaw to ban the use of take-out Styrofoam products in the Town of Amherst. The ban will not take effect until January 1, 2014, and there will be hardship deferments if a restaurant cannot find non-Styrofoam* products to use. However, there are distributors in western Massachusetts which have many non-Styrofoam, compostable plant-based products, and there is also the possibility of a consortium for bulk buying being formed for Amherst restaurants, so the prices will be further diminished. This ban is a step in the direction of making Amherst a greener, more sustainable town. Styrofoam continues to fill landfills throughout the country and poses troubling, dangerous health risks. *trademark name