Another good way to use your time while staying at home and physical distancing is to complete your 2020 Census questionnaire. 

Why does the Census matter?

1. The federal government distributes over $6 billion annually to the District to support vital programs based on census data.
2. Census data is used to update Ward and ANC boundaries to reflect population growth and movement across the District.
3. District agencies rely on accurate census data for budgeting, planning, and policy decision-making across the city.
4. Residents use the census to support community initiatives involving legislation, quality-of-life, and consumer advocacy.
5. Businesses use census data to decide where to build offices and stores, creating jobs in our community.

An undercount would have serious consequences for our city, denying us federal funds to which we are entitled that support everything from programs for children to infrastructure improvements. 

It take about 5-10 minutes to complete your 2020 Census questionnaire online. Completing the questionnaire online means that Census enumerators - many of whom are our neighbors, doing temporary work - do not have to visit your house to interview you, which keeps us all safe. Complete your questionnaire today at https://my2020census.gov. 

Need something to occupy your time/take your mind off things right now? Writing postcards to registered Democrat voters around the country is a great way to actively support Democratic candidates at all levels of state and federal government. 

You have several options for GOTV efforts in support of Democratic candidates this fall:

• The Postcard Writing Action Team (PoWAT) in Ward 6's southwest neighborhood has been working with Postcards to Voters for almost two years helping in a wide range of special elections, vote by mail campaigns, and regularly scheduled elections. Postcards to Voters works with the candidates’ campaigns around the country to identify registered Democrats. You supply the postcards and stamps. Once a week, you will receive a call to writing and receive a list of five or ten voters to whom you can address cards with some prepared text options. You decide when to get involved. Lists are only sent when you say you want to participate. If you would like to get involved, email Gabriele Strauch at gstrauch@umd.edu.
• Start your own postcard writing group. Visit Postcards to Voters at https://postcardstovoters.org/ to find out how to work with them and get a group going. 
• Sister District DC/NoVa also has opportunities to get involved with postcard writing. Find out more at https://sisterdistrict.com/volunteer/washington-dc. 
• Swing Left is running a letter-writing campaign called The Big Send. You can find out more about what's involved and sign up to participate at https://votefwd.org/bigsend/swingleft.

Let's flip some more seats blue this fall!

Join your Ward 6 Democrats for a Zoom virtual salon with At-Large Councilmember Robert White NEXT Tuesday, May 19, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Our Salons provide an intimate setting to discuss issues with our guest. Participation is limited to under 20 invitees so RSVP early.

CM White was first elected to the DC City Council in 2016 and is running for 2020 re-election on the Democratic ticket. Councilmember White serves as Chair of the Committee on Facilities and Procurement, and Board Chair, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. This is your chance to get to know him better and ask him any questions you have about his service on the Council, his priorities, or his positions on your Ward 6 issues.

For additional information on our guest, visit: https://robertwhiteatlarge.com.

Details and RSVP at https://www.ward6dems.org/virtual_salon_with_councilmember_robert_white. 

Questions? Contact Chuck Burger chuckburger.ward6dems@gmail.com or 202.258.5316.

It's not too late!

The District of Columbia's Democratic Party invites all registered Democrats to participate in the election of District-Level Delegates to the 2020 Democratic National Committee (DNC) Convention. DC's Delegates will be part of the DNC Convention (now re-scheduled for August) that makes decisions about the Democratic Party's presidential nominee and platform.

To vote in this Democratic Party election, you need to request an electronic ballot no later than THIS Friday, May 15, 2020. Once your registration is confirmed, you will be emailed a ballot.

Voting will remain open until Thursday, May 21, 2020.

• Request your District-Level Delegate electronic ballot here. 
• Learn about the candidates here. 
• Review the full Rules of the Day here. 

NOTE: this is NOT the same as requesting an absentee ballot for the June 2 DC primary or the November 3 general election. You need to do BOTH of these things. 

Remember, your VOTE is your VOICE.

Women of Ward 6

Emily Edson Briggs (1830-1910)

by Marci Hilt

May’s Woman of Ward 6 is Emily Edson Briggs, who won renown by writing a colorful irreverent newspaper column in the mid to late 1880’s under the pen name Olivia, in which she presented the capital’s political scene as social entertainment.

Briggs was the first, and one of the best known, in a long line of Washington society reporters. She was one of the first women to acquire a national reputation in the field of journalism as a newspaper correspondent in Washington, D.C. Nineteenth century women faced major obstacles in their efforts to break into journalism.

Briggs was given access to the halls of Congress during the mid-1800’s, which allowed her to describe the people and events there, becoming the first society reporter as a social commentator.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY DELEGATE ELECTION FOR THE 2020 NATIONAL CONVENTION

IMPORTANT: This is a Democratic Party Election and has NO connection or affiliation with the June 2nd Primary Election Voting

The District of Columbia's Democratic Party invites all registered D.C. Democrats to vote in the election of District-Level Delegates to the 2020 Democratic National Committee (DNC) Convention.  Ward 6 is in District 1 with Wards 1,2 & 8 to elect a total of 7 Delegates comprised of 4 men and 3 women.  These Delegates will travel to the DNC Convention (now re-scheduled for August) that will determine our Party's presidential nominee and platform.

The Ward Six Dems support all Ward6 Democra ts for Delegate.  Visit our Ward 6 Delegate Voting Guide  to find background information on many of our Ward 6 Delegate Candidates.   We ask you to vote "Ward 6"       

WARD 6 Delegate Voting Guide

INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTE

1. FIRST YOU MUST REGISTER WITH THE DCDSC BY MAY 15, 2020

Register for your District-Level Delegate electronic ballot here. 

2. ONCE YOUR REGISTRATION IS CONFIRMED YOU WILL RECEIVE A BALLOT TO VOTE

Voting opens this Saturday, April 25, and will remain open until Thursday, May 21, 2020.

Remember, your VOTE is your VOICE.

Join us for an intimate and interactive conversation with MPD First District Commander Morgan Kane to explore public safety issues and activities in our community. This virtual salon will take place on Zoom Tuesday, April 29, starting at 7:00 p.m. To maximize discussion, it will be moderated and limited to 18 Ward 6 residents. Commander Kane will provide participants with an overview talk, followed by taking questions from the group.

Details and RSVP at https://www.ward6dems.org/kane. 

Questions? Contact Chuck Burger chuckburger.ward6dems@gmail.com or 202.258.5316.

Join us for an online discussion with MPD First District Commander Morgan Kane. Commander Kane has led the First District since August 2016 and is also a Ward 6 resident! The virtual salon will be April 29th at 7pm and space is limited to 20 participants. Please RSVP at the link below. Videoconference information will be sent in advance of the event.

Details and RSVP at https://www.ward6dems.org/salon_with_commander_kane. 

Another good way to use your time while staying at home and physical distancing is to complete your 2020 Census questionnaire. 

Why does the Census matter?

1. The federal government distributes over $6 billion annually to the District to support vital programs based on census data.
2. Census data is used to update Ward and ANC boundaries to reflect population growth and movement across the District.
3. District agencies rely on accurate census data for budgeting, planning, and policy decision-making across the city.
4. Residents use the census to support community initiatives involving legislation, quality-of-life, and consumer advocacy.
5. Businesses use census data to decide where to build offices and stores, creating jobs in our community.

It take about 5-10 minutes to complete your 2020 Census questionnaire online. Completing the questionnaire online means that Census enumerators - many of whom are our neighbors, doing temporary work - do not have to visit your house to interview you, which keeps us all safe. Complete your questionnaire today at https://my2020census.gov. 

What's the best way to ensure you can vote while keeping yourself and your neighbors safe? Vote absentee/by mail!

DC has no excuse absentee/mail voting, which means that anyone registered to vote in the District of Columbia can vote by absentee ballot in any election in which they are eligible to vote.

You can register to get your mailed ballot in a variety of ways. All the details to do so are available at https://dcboe.org/Request-Your-Ballot-by-Mail. You can register to vote absentee/by mail for only the June 2 primary election, for the June primary and the November general elections this year, or permanently. 

Although you can submit your request up until seven days before the election for which you want a mail ballot (which would be Tuesday, May 26 for the June primary), the DC Board of Elections is going to be processing a LOT of mail ballot requests, so don't wait, and remind your local family and friends to request absentee/mail ballots as well.

Note: The DC Board of Elections will be providing pre-paid postage on your absentee ballot as well as a self-adhesive envelope to seal and return the ballot.

Remember, your VOTE is your VOICE.