Polk County Democratic Party Weekly Digest: March14 - March 20, 2022


DO YOU NEED HELP WITH YOUR RENT!!!

 Florida is getting millions to help struggling renters.
The state of Florida announced it is making hundreds of millions of dollars available to help cover rental costs. The Florida Department of Children and Families officials say they are getting a second round of money from the U.S. Treasury to continue operating the emergency rental assistance program.

For more information, go https://www.ourflorida.com/

Critical Voting Information - Did you know???

 

  1. If you registered to vote sometime in the past but have not exercised your right to vote in the last 2 general elections (4 years total) you may have been removed from the registered voter file.  From July-Dec 2021, there were over 3,879 previously registered voters who were removed. Of which 3,727 were deceased. There were also 13,930 removed from the voting roll due to inactive accounts. This number includes a large amount of reasons for removal To be sure that you are still eligible to vote please go to https://www.polkelections.com and check your registration.  If you are no longer registered you can sign up while online or call the Supervisor of Elections office at (863)534-5888 and they will mail you a paper form.

  2. If in the past you registered to Vote by Mail (VBM) please be aware that this VBM registration is only in place for 2 general elections (about 4 years) and then you must apply again to vote by mail.  So go online at and check to  https://www.polkelections.com/Voter-Services/Voter-Lookup that you are still registered to vote by mail. 

When you return a Vote by Mail ballot to vote, YOU MUST SIGN the back of the envelope.  However, on the back of the VBM envelope, there are also two lines for phone number and email address....COMPLETING THESE LINES IS OPTIONAL.  

  1. YOU DO NOT need to put your phone number and email on the back of the envelope in order to have your vote counted.  (As of right now).  

  2. There are approximately 138,164 registered voters who did not declare a party affiliation and therefore are registered as NPAs (No Party Affiliation).  While these voters can still vote in the general election they cannot vote in the primary election Unless you change your Party.  Remember you cannot change local policy, if you don't vote in the primaries.

As unethical as it is, there have been and will be many attempts to suppress your right to vote.  The Florida and Polk County Democratic Party has staffed a Voter Protection Program with a team of local attorneys to answer your questions or issues.  You can contact the Voter Protection Hotline at 833 VOTE FLA (833-868-3352).  If you would like to get personally involved in protecting everyone's right to vote you can email your contact information to polkpollwatcher2020@yahoo.com
 

We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and thank President Biden for halting oil and gas imports from Russia. 

 

Because Putin's war increased prices, the price of gas keeps going up, placing real stress on hard-working families struggling to make ends meet on a tight budget. Profiteering by oil and gas CEOs has forced energy prices higher and has made it even worse.

America must secure real energy independence by speeding up the production of cheaper, cleaner energy – like wind, solar, and electric vehicles – that will help lower prices and create real energy independence. Real energy security powered by clean energy is the only way we can achieve climate security.

Can you take 1 (one) minute and sign our joint letter to President Biden to invoke the Defense Production Act to rapidly ramp up the deployment of renewable energy?https://bit.ly/EnergyIndependenceForAll


Click here to find your state legislator.
Call to Action: Voter Registration Volunteers
Weekly Lakeland Curb Market
Can you spare 1-2 hours or more between the hours of 9 am - 2 pm on a Saturday, each week or once a month? If so, please sign up! We are not allowed to set up a table, so you will be standing on a corner with your clipboard.
Please note that bilingual (especially Spanish/English) volunteers are needed for all voter registration events!

 


For one day only, Polk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller Stacy Butterfield is putting the brakes on collection fees and getting drivers back on the road during Operation Green Light.

Customers with suspended driver licenses have an opportunity to pay overdue court fines, including traffic tickets, while saving up to 40 percent in additional fees. Once paid, customers can proceed with the reinstatement of their driver’s license.

Operation Green Light takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, April 2.

Customers can pay by phone, 863-534-4446, or in-person at three convenient locations:

  • Bartow Courthouse: 255 N. Broadway Ave.,
  • Lakeland Government Center: 930 E. Parker St., or
  • Northeast Government Center: 3425 Lake Alfred Road in Winter Haven.

Additional Details:

  • Customers must pay the fine in the county they received the fine.
  • Payment methods include cash, money order, credit card or checks. *A 3.5 percent processing fee is applied to credit card purchases.
  • Late fees and reinstatement fees still apply, if applicable.

During the 2021 event, Polk County customers saved $116,660. Along with this, there were 363 cases paid in full, 440 cases placed on a payment plan, 47 driver license reinstatements, and 427 driver licenses were made eligible for reinstatement.

Clerk offices throughout the state are participating in Operation Green Light in efforts to provide relief to customers and close-out delinquent cases. For a full listing of participating clerks and their event dates and times, visit www.FLClerks.com/GreenLight. 
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Important Dates and Meetings
Steering Committee & Regular DEC Meetings

The he next DEC Steering Committee meeting will be held on Monday, April 4, 2022. 

The next Regular DEC Meeting will be held from 6.30 pm tonight Monday, March 14. Link to register for meeting:
https://www.mobilize.us/polkcountydec/event/446293/
Upcoming Polk County DEC Mobilize Events 

Rainbow Ridge LGTBA Caucus will be meeting 3/15/22.  The guest speaker will be Angie Pattison, 
Director of Partnerships Polk of Big Brothers / Sisters of Tampa.
She will be speaking on the inclusiveness of BB/BS.
 
Northeast Polk Democratic Party will be meeting on 3/15/22 @ 7pm by Zoom.

The Polk County Disability Caucus will be meeting on 3/20/22 @ 5pm on Zoom.  Guest Speaker will be Barbara Harris speaking on the World Bank & the actions they have taken to further the disabled population.

The Polk County Jewish Caucus will be on 2/15/22 @ 7pm on Zoom.  

Keep us up to date: If you would like to feature what your club or caucus is doing or introduce a new president, other office holder or person of interest, please send information to polkdemwd@gmail.com
Democratic Party of Polk County, Club & Caucus Links
 
Name \ Website Facebook
Democratic Party of Polk County https://www.facebook.com/PolkCountyFLDemocrats
Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Polk Co
https://www.facebook.com/Polk-County-Chapter-Democratic-Hispanic-Caucus-of-Florida-340664722737576/
Democratic Women's Club of Lakeland https://www.facebook.com/groups/DWCLakeland
Democratic Women's Club of E Polk Ridge               
Greater Winter Haven Democratic Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/102229486585792
Lake Ashton Democratic Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/446482912365417
Lake Wales Area Democratic Club  
Lakeland Democratic Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/LakelandDemClub/
North East Polk Democratic Club https://www.facebook.com/NEPolkDemClub/
Polk Co. Black Caucus
Polk Co. Disability Caucus
Polk Co. Environmental Caucus
Polk Co. Jewish Caucus
Polk Co. Progressive Democratic Caucus
Polk Co. Young Democrats
https://www.facebook.com/PolkDemDisabilityCaucus/
https://www.facebook.com/Polk-Democratic-Environmental-Caucus-101289152221143/

https://www.facebook.com/PolkProgressives
https://www.facebook.com/PolkYoungDems
Rainbow Ridge LGTBA Caucus https://www.facebook.com/Polklgbta
Solivita Democratic Club https://www.facebook.com/solivitademocraticclub
   
Mailing Address:
 
Due to the pandemic the Democratic Party of Polk County has closed the office in Lakeland.
The mailing address is the following:
The Democratic Party of Polk County, 6039 Cypress Gardens Boulevard, Suite 328, Winter Haven, FL 33884   
The telephone number remains the same:  (863) 668-7199
Email: PolkCountyDemocrats@gmail.com 
Weekly Digest Coordinator: Michelle Bradley
For submissions, email: PolkDemWD@gmail.com
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You are receiving this email because you are either affiliated with Polk Democrats or attended one of our events.
Telephone number: (863) 668-7199
Our new mailing address is:
6039 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Suite 328
Winter Haven, FL 33884

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Thank You!
Polk DEC 913-1