Its time! ... To Make Sure You are Ready to Cast Your Ballot.

There is much to do before Election Day on Tuesday, November 6. As the Election season heats up, your League is ready with some great events, useful information and some fun stuff to do. Details below:

October at a Glance
Oct 9 Drive-by 4 Coffee & Voter Registration Volunteers Welcome! [8:302:45] Rye Presbyterian Nursery School 882 Boston Post Road, Rye Film Screening & Discussion, Patriocracy * *Sponsored by LWVs of White Plains & Westchester [7PM] White Plains Public Library 100 Martine Avenue, White Plains Last day to Register to Vote for the General Election Details below Candidates Forum State Assembly & Senate: Otis/Villanova & Latimer/Cohen [7PM] Rye Middle School, Parsons Lane, Rye

Oct 10

Oct 12

Oct 15

Oct 17-23Voter Guide Distribution Volunteers Needed Contact Joseph Kleinman or Tom Kissner Oct 23 Candidates Forum US Congress District 17: Lowey/Carvin/Morganthaler [7:30PM] Harrison Public Library, 2 Bruce Avenue, Harrison Candidates Forum US Congress District 16: Engle and McLauglin* Candidates Forum NY State Assembly: Otis/Villanova* * Sponsored by LWV of Larchmont-Mamaroneck [7PM] Mamaroneck Town Center, 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck Candidates Forum US Congress District 16: Engle and McLaughlin* *Sponsored by LWV of Scarsdale [7:30PM] Scarsdale Public Library, 54 Olmsted Road Scarsdale Candidates Forum NY State Senate: Latimer/Cohen* * Sponsored by LWV of Larchmont-Mamaroneck [7PM] Mamaroneck Village Court, 169 Mt. Pleasant Avenue Mamaroneck Last Day to apply for an Absentee Ballot Details below

Oct 24

Oct 25

Oct 29

Oct 30

* Not sponsored by our League. We are posting information provided to us by other chapter's so that our members and friends can avail themselves if they so chose.

DRIVE-BY Coffee & Voter Registration. This Tuesday, October 9, we will be

under the portico at Rye Presbyterian Nursery School from 8:45 am 2:45 pm (882 Boston Post Road Rye) with registration forms, absentee ballot applications, coffee and juice boxes. Drive by to register or just say hi! Registration deadline for the General Election is October 12!

Register to Vote Do you know somebody who just moved to a new home? Thinking
to change ones registration can easily get overlooked. Please send them a registration form (attached) or drop one off for them. Get registration forms are also available through our web site www.lwvrrbpc.org and Vote411.Org. In New York voter registration forms must be postmarked or delivered to the Board of Elections by October 12. For all the details and requirements go to http://www.elections.ny.gov/

Our English/Spanish Voters Guide will be ready soon.

We are trying something new this year, so when it arrives; let us know what you think. It will arrive via email as usual and as inserts in local newspapers. A team of League members is getting organized to drop off to libraries, schools, community centers and hand out copies at train stations. If you have a couple of hours to volunteer please contact Joseph Kleinman at (914) 934-8734 or ajkleinmann@alum.mit.edu or Tom Kissner at (914)305-5336 ctomkissner@msn.com

Congratulate & Equip Your Favorite College Student who might be voting
in a first presidential election. If it isn't too weird, send them an E-card to say congratulations! Include a link for a voter registration form and an absentee ballot application (or attach one of each). Make sure to mention that Election Day is Tuesday, November 6! Now is the time for them to register to vote either in person at their school or by mail through an absentee ballot. October 30th is the last day absentee ballot applications can be postmarked.

Go to Vote411.Org for an extensive Online Guide with information on your district,

whether your district and boundary lines have changed, about polling, referendums and the candidates.

Judge for yourself.

See the candidates for yourself and watch them debate the issues. Check out Debate Watching 101 attached. We are co-sponsoring three Candidates Forums this month. They are on Monday, October 15 at 7PM in the Rye Middle School when State Assembly candidates Steve Otis and Bill Villanova will debate at 7PM and Senate candidates George Latimer and Bob Cohen will debate at 8:30PM. Our next forum will be on Tuesday, October 23 at 7:30 PM at the Harrison Library. Our program will feature candidates for US Congress, District 17 (which will henceforth include Rye Brook and Port Chester) Nita Lowey, Joe Carvin and Frank Morganthaler. As usual, video recordings of the forums will be broadcast on local public access television and available on demand through our web site and Facebook page. Two candidates forums featuring Eliot Engel and Joseph McLaughlin, candidates for US Congress, District 16 (which will henceforth include the City of Rye) are being sponsored by neighboring League chapters. The Larchmont-Mamaroneck League forum will be held at 7PM at the Mamaroneck Town Court (740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck) on

Wednesday October 24th. The program will also include a forum for N.Y. State Assembly District 91 (Otis/Villanova). The next event will be sponsored by the Scarsdale League and will be held at 7:30 PM in the Scarsdale Library at 54 Olmsted Road Scarsdale FYI: On Monday October 29th at 7PM the Larchmont-Mamaroneck League will sponsor a second program which will feature, among others, candidates for State Senator Latimer and Cohen. This event will be held at the Village of Mamaroneck Courtroom located at 169 Mt. Pleasant Avenue in Mamaroneck,

Take Your Kids 2 Vote! Make Election Day a true lesson in democracy for all of us.
Taking our kids (or grand kids) along when we vote is both the simplest and most effective way to demonstrate the greatest gift of American citizenship.

Help for Snail Mail Lovers.

Lastly, if you would like us to send you any of these documents in a computer file that can be easily forwarded or if you need a printed copy of the expanded voters guide, a registration form, an absentee ballot application or help with the process, give us a call (914)481-3234 or send us an email. We are happy to help.

DRIVE-BY Coffee & Voter Registration Its time!

... Make sure you are ready to cast your ballot Election Day is Tuesday, November 6.
Tuesday, October 9, from 8:45 am 2:45 pm @ Rye Presbyterian Nursery School
882 Boston Post Road Rye, NY 10580

Register to Vote Deadline: October 12!

If you are not registered to vote already -- or if you have recently moved stop by. Its free and only takes a minute. Well take care of the rest!

Apply for an Absentee Ballot Deadline: October 30!

For anyone wholl be away from home November 6, vote by mail! But you must apply.

Take Your Kids 2 Vote! Deadline: November 6!

Make Election Day a true lesson in democracy for all of us. Taking our kids along when we vote is the simplest and most effective way to demonstrate the greatest gift of American citizenship.

Programs will be rebroadcast on the public access TV. Also available on demand at the League Facebook site: www.facebook.com/lwvrrbpc For Information: (914) 481-3234 or LWV.Rye.RyeBrook.PortChester@gmail.com

NON-CHAPTER NEWS & EVENTS Consistent with the mission statement of the Rye, Rye Brook & Port Chester chapter of LWV, our chapter is taking no position on the event posted below. The information was provided to us by other chapter's of the League so that our members and friends can avail themselves if they so chose.

DEBATE WATCHING 101 Introduction Candidate debates have a long history in American politics. At every level of governmentfrom city council to state legislature, from Congress to President of the United Statescandidates participate in debates to help voters understand who and what they stand for. Watching debates is an important way for voters to learn more about the candidates and the issues before the election, so that they can cast an informed vote. At the same time, voters need to view debates with a careful eye to get the most information. Candidates rehearse thoroughly for debates, making it hard to get candid, spontaneous answers. Debates can emphasize form over substance, such as the candidates appearance instead of their stands on the issues. You may watch a debate and still not get answers to the questions you have about the candidates and issues. You can get the most out of a debate by thinking about the issues and candidates in advance, by viewing the debate with care, and by continuing to research the issues and the candidates after the debate. Debate Watching 101 provides background information and tips to help you get the most out of watching a candidate debate. What Is a Debate? A debate is an event at which candidates who are running for an elected office meet face-to-face to answer questions that are asked of them. This gives the candidates a chance to state their views and to respond to their opponents statements. It gives viewers a chance to directly compare the candidates and their positions. Debates usually take place in front of a live audience and may also be televised or broadcast on the radio or the Internet. A televised or broadcast debate allows many more people to watch and learn about the candidates and issues. Debates can follow different formats, or a combination of formats. The most common formats are: Single moderator: one moderator asks the questions; Panel: a panel of journalists or experts questions the candidates; Town hall: questions are submitted by members of the audience or randomly selected voters, in person or by phone or email. The Town Hall format allows for questions to be submitted in advance or during the debate.

The debate usually begins with an introduction of the candidates, who may also be given time to make opening statements. The heart of the debate takes place when the candidates are asked questions and they respond. There usually is a time limit for responses. The questioner may ask follow-up questions to get the candidates to explain or clarify their responses. Some debates give candidates an opportunity to cross-examine or ask questions directly of each other. At the end of the debate, the candidates are usually given time to make closing statements.

Before the Debate Thinking about and preparing for the debate before it takes place will enable you to get the most from watching it. It will familiarize you with the candidates and issues. The preparation will help you focus on what to look for in the debate so that you will get the information you need in deciding who to vote for. It will help if you take some time before the debate to: Follow the campaign to learn about the candidates and their backgrounds; Find out what the important campaign issues are; Decide what issues are most important to you; Think about the questions you may have and the information you want to get from the debate to help you in your decision making; Open your mind to new opinions/impressions of the candidate regardless of party affiliation.

You may want to make plans to get together with friends or family to watch the debate. Watching the debate in a group and discussing it afterwards helps to clarify your thoughts about what was said in the debate and how the candidates performed. A debate might not include all of the candidates for the office. Before the debate, note which candidates are included and which are not. If all candidates are not participating, try to find out why. Some debates include only candidates who have significant support, on the theory that the voters should be able to compare the candidates with a realistic chance of winning. Others invite all candidates who have qualified for the ballot. Sometimes candidates who are invited choose not to participate. Candidates with a strong lead might refuse to participate because they think there is no advantage to be gained by debating a lesser known opponent. During the Debate When watching the debate, ask yourself questions like these to help you judge the fairness of the debate and the performance of the candidates. The debate format and questions: Does the format give each candidate an equal opportunity to speak and respond to questions? Are the questions clear, fair and equally tough on all candidates? Do the questions cover the issues that are important to you? Is the moderator in control of the debate? Does the moderator need to say less and let the candidates say more?

The candidates: Do they answer questions directly, or do they evade them or fail to answer the specific question? Do they give specifics about their stands on the issues, or do they speak in generalities? Do they support their positions and arguments with facts and figures?

Do they talk about their own policies and positions, or do they mostly attack their opponents? Are their proposals realistic? Can they actually carry out the promises they are making? Do they appear sincere, confident and relaxed? Do they show how their backgrounds and experience qualify them to hold the office? Are their answers consistent with their previous positions, and if not, do they explain why? What image are they trying to create? Do their responses appear overly rehearsed or canned?

Media coverage: If you are watching the debate on television, are reaction shots or other techniques used to create a sense of drama or conflict? Are you being influenced by comments made by reporters and commentators immediately before and after the debate?

After the Debate It will help clarify your thoughts about the candidates and the issues if you take some time after the debate to reflect on what you have just seen and heard. You can do this by: Comparing your impressions with others who watched the debate; Asking yourself, based on the information you got from watching the debate, which candidate appears most qualified for the office; Identifying the issues on which you agree with a candidate and those on which you disagree, and deciding whether that makes you more or less likely to vote for a particular candidate; Asking yourself if you learned something new about the issues or the candidate; Thinking about whether you have more questions about the issues or the candidates that you want to follow up; Getting more information about the candidates positions from news reports, candidate Web sites and nonpartisan voter information Web sites such as VOTE411.org. Watch later debates for more information or to confirm your current impressions of the candidates.

Conclusion Candidate debates give voters a chance to hear the candidates speak and respond to their opponents. They give candidates a chance to present their message directly to a wide audience. As a voter, asking yourself the right questions before, during and after the debate can help you make the most of this opportunity to learn about the candidates and the issues.