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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>*** Please Cross-Post ***<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For those interested, there’s a Zoom meeting this Monday 6:30 pm asking for citizen/focus group input on having a new balloting approach in NC called RCV that has happened in Maine, Alaska, and in the news for NYC primaries last month. There are several potential advantages for voters and for city/muni budgets; A new nonprofit org celebrating its first anniversary next month will outline the option, share about their pandemic first months as a group, and seek public input for next steps. Attendance is free. Here is announcement info and a link to sign up to attend, listen and/or participate. They want to know your questions, thoughts and ideas, so please consider joining this exciting meetup! Registration link, or Links for more info and ways to give feedback or support the endeavor If you can’t make the meeting, below. Feel free to forward or share as interested. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>---------------------- <o:p></o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Supporters of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) will be pleased to know that the use of RCV in the recent New York </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:red'>City-wide</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'> primaries got an enthusiastic response from the public. A poll conducted by Rank the Vote NYC and Common Cause found that over 75% of voters were happy with using</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:red'> RCV and</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'> want to continue its use. Our Outreach team wrote an opinion piece about the New York City response, which was published in the</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><a href="https://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/article252651463.html"><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='color:#1155CC'>Charlotte Observer</span></a><span style='color:black'>,</span><a href="https://www.heraldsun.com/opinion/article252651463.html"><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='color:#1155CC'>The Durham Herald-Sun</span></a><span style='color:black'>, and the</span><a href="https://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/article252651463.html"><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='color:#1155CC'>Raleigh News and Observer</span></a><span style='color:black'>. RCV is getting the attention of the media and elected officials across the nation, from municipalities to states.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Better Ballot North Carolina needs the help of our members and the support of the public to advocate for RCV in North Carolina. And, we want to know why <b>YOU</b> would support this critical election upgrade. Please join us and have your say at our statewide (Zoom) gathering this coming <b>Monday, August 9, 2021</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>From </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:red'>6:30 to 7:15 p.m., </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>our Outreach team will conduct an introduction to RCV for those unfamiliar with it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>After 7:1</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>5, <span style='color:red'>and</span><span style='color:black'> following an introduction to BBNC, our team leaders will be asking you these questions to help us </span><span style='color:red'>better understand </span><span style='color:black'>what will motivate participation and engage the public. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>We hope you will join us! Pre-register here: </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><a href="https://www.betterballotnc.org/august_2021_statewide"><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='color:#1155CC'>https://www.betterballotnc.org/august_2021_statewide</span></a><u><span style='color:#050505'>.</span></u><span style='color:#050505'> <b>And please share/cross post this message with community and friends, and our event info with your online groups, clubs & orgs:<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><u><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/519826862593438?active_tab=about">https://www.facebook.com/events/519826862593438?active_tab=about</a><o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><u><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#050505'>Can’t make the meeting?</span></u><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#050505'> We welcome potential supporters to learn more, register RCV citizen support, volunteer, or sustain/contribute to help our efforts: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><a href="https://www.betterballotnc.org/support">Support Ranked Choice Voting in North Carolina (betterballotnc.org)</a><span style='color:#050505'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.betterballotnc.org/volunteer">Volunteer for Ranked Choice Voting in North Carolina. (betterballotnc.org)</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.betterballotnc.org/contribute">Donations - Better Ballot (betterballotnc.org)</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Thanks and hope to see you on Monday (Aug 9)! – The Better Ballot NC Team</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>