Voting Rights

Every Voice, Every Vote 2024

The Voting Rights Committee at Congregation Shaare Emeth wants to help you prepare to vote and make informed decisions in the 2024 General Election in November. Each week, our committee is providing resources and action steps to get you closer to fulfilling your important, impactful civic duty on (or before) November 5th.

If you have any questions, please contact one of our committee members: Holly Bernstein, Wendy Flusser, or Ashley and Ann Loiterstein.

 

Your Vote Matters! Make a Plan to Vote!

Week of October 29

No-Excuse Absentee In Person Voting Is Now Open! 

If you are voting No Excuse Absentee in Person, and you haven’t already voted, this is the week to take action! Monday, November 4 is the last day this option is available.

You can check the number of people in line using these links:


No-excuse absentee in-person voting is our #1 recommended way to vote if it will work for you!

  1. Available now through November 4.
  1. You must have an accepted government-issued photo ID to vote with this method.
  1. Check your local Board of Elections for dates, times, and locations. (St. Louis City BOE, St. Louis County BOE, St. Charles County BOE)


Do you need a ride to the polls either before or on November 5th? Please email Debbie Bram and one of our volunteers will be in contact with you. 

To research your ballot, see this explainer if you need help getting started. Shaare Emeth recommends voting YES on Amendment 3 (ends the abortion ban) and YES on Prop A (raises the minimum wage and mandates paid sick leave).

Bonus task: Share the nonpartisan Election Protection hotline number with friends and family! 866-OUR-VOTE. Anyone who has questions or problems voting should call the hotline! Want to volunteer as a nonpartisan election protection volunteer on Election Day?  You can sign up at protectthevote.net to volunteer at the polls in conjunction with the hotline.

Week of October 9

WE’RE LESS THAN ONE MONTH AWAY FROM ELECTION DAY!

  • This Wednesday, October 9 by 5 p.m. is the last day to register to vote in November. 
  • Help any college students you know who are coming home for Yom Kippur to investigate if they can vote Absentee in Person with an Excuse while they are in town.  
  • If you need to vote Absentee by Mail with an Excuse, detailed instructions can be found here, including information about who needs to have the ballot notarized and how to accomplish that. If you requested your mail-in absentee ballot several weeks ago and it hasn’t arrived, contact your local board of elections to inquire. (St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County) 
  • Continue to research your ballot.  Shaare Emeth’s Board of Trustees voted to become sponsoring organizations to the YES on Amendment 3 campaign (securing the rights for reproductive freedom in the MO constitution) and the YES on Missouri Prop A (raises the minimum wage and mandates paid sick leave).

Week of October 2

ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE?

Next Wednesday, October 9 by 5 p.m. is the last day to register to vote in November. Have you requested your mail-in absentee ballot if you need one? Have you voted Absentee in Person with an Excuse if this is how you are voting? Continue to research your ballot (see last week’s explainer).

Shaare Emeth recommends voting YES on Amendment 3 (ends the abortion ban) and YES on Missouri Prop A (raises the minimum wage and mandates paid sick leave).

Help any college students you know who are home for Rosh Hashanah to investigate if they can vote Absentee in Person with an Excuse while they are home.

Week of September 25

KNOW HOW YOU’RE GOING TO VOTE

Your vote matters! Here are the tasks we recommend this week:

 

Bonus task: Check in with your college students to make sure they have requested their absentee ballots (if applicable). While we encourage voters who need them to request their own mail-in absentee ballots, remember that parents can request an absentee ballot on behalf of their child (and vice versa) if needed.

Week of September 18

KNOW HOW YOU’RE GOING TO VOTE – The Options:
  • No Excuse Absentee in Person:
    • Our #1 recommended way to vote if it will work for you!
    • Available October 22 through November 4 at select times and locations
    • You must have an accepted government-issued photo ID to vote with this method 
    • Check your local Board of Elections for dates, times, and locations. (St. Louis City BOE, St. Louis County BOE, St. Charles County BOE)
  • On Election Day in Person:
    • We recommend No Excuse Absentee in Person voting just in case you get sick or have car trouble or anything else that could prevent you from getting to the polls on Election Day, but of course you can cast your vote in person on Election Day, November 5th! Polls are open from 6am-7pm. Bring your  accepted government issued photo ID to vote a regular ballot, but if you don’t have one, you can still vote a provisional ballot on Election Day.
  • Absentee in Person with an Excuse:
    • Available September 24 through October 21 only if you meet one of the criteria here.
    • You must have an accepted government issued photo ID to vote with this method 
    • Check your local Board of Elections for dates, times, and locations (typically during business hours at the Board of Elections): St. Louis City BOE, St. Louis County BOE, St. Charles County BOE
  • Absentee by Mail with an Excuse:
Bonus task: Check in with your college students, friends, and other family to make sure they know how they will cast their vote.  While we encourage voters to request their own mail-in absentee ballots, parents can request an absentee ballot on behalf of their child (and vice versa) if needed.

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ABOUT

Debbie & Mike Lefton

2024 Harris Frank Community Service Award Honorees

Debbie and Michael Lefton have been dedicated members of the Shaare Emeth community and the broader St. Louis Jewish community for many years, contributing their time and talents in numerous ways.

Debbie has been a member of Shaare Emeth since the 5th grade, attending Sunday School and confirmation. Debbie and Mike have been married for 27 years and became family members of  Shaare Emeth in 1996. Their children Sydney, and Jacob, both attend Shirlee Green Preschool, celebrated their b’not mitzvah, and attended Shaare Emeth Camps. Debbie and Mike have been actively involved in various committees at Shaare Emeth throughout the years; Debbie serving as the President of the Shirlee Green Preschool and Mike serving on the Board of Trustees and the Operating Committee for 12 years including President of our congregation.

Their commitment to education and community service extends beyond Shaare Emeth. They are true examples of community service heroes. In 2019 the Lefton Family received the American Jewish Committee Netzach Award and in 2022, Debbie and Mike were honored with the JProStL Community Leader Partnership Award.

After graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Life Services, she worked as a Child Life Specialist at Wyler Children’s Hospital in Chicago and St. Louis Children’s Hospital for 12 years. She then earned a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Services from Washington University.

At the St. Louis Jewish Community Center, Debbie has chaired several committees, including the Children’s Activity Center, the Camp Sabra Alumni Committee, and the Mission Task Force Committee. She has also co-chaired the Jewish Book Festival Women’s Event, the St. Louis Maccabi Games Closing Ceremonies and has served on the  J Associates Board for 16 years, completing a term as President in 2022. Currently, Debbie serves as an Officer on the Executive Committee at the JCC and is Co-Chairing the Fox Building Capital Campaign. Debbie received the St. Louis Jewish Community Center Richard S. Weiss Past Presidents Award in 2018.

Debbie’s involvement in the St. Louis Jewish Federation includes serving on the Board of CAJE and Women’s Philanthropy and recently began an 8-year term on the National Jewish Federations Women’s Philanthropy Board. Debbie served on the Camp Rainbow Board of Directors and 28 years. Currently, Debbie is a board member of The St. Louis Jewish Light and The St. Louis Children’s Hospital Friends Board.  Debbie received the MAC Women of Distinction honor in 2023.

Michael holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. Michael began his career with Metal Exchange in 1984 and now serves as Executive Chairman. Under his leadership, Metal Exchange has grown into a global enterprise with a strong international presence, including offices in Zurich and Shanghai. The company’s diverse operations include manufacturing, marketing, trading, metal processing, distribution, and transportation of nonferrous metals.

Mike’s commitment to community service is evident through his current roles as Board President of Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis and Regional President of the American Jewish Committee – St. Louis. Mike served as President of the St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer for seven years and is Immediate Past President. Mike received the Presidential Citation Award from Variety the Children’s Charity international in 2019.

Additionally, Mike currently serves on several boards, including Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri, National Council of Jewish Women Advisory Council, Jewish Federation Professional Society Leadership Advisory Council, and Heat-Up/Cool Down St. Louis.

Debbie and Mike reside in St. Louis and are the proud parents of two adult children, Sydney 26, who lives in Tel Aviv, and Jacob 24, who resides in Cincinnati. The Lefton family are avid hockey fans, enjoy theatre, traveling and spending time in Colorado.

The Shaare Emeth community is honored to celebrate Debbie and Michael Lefton for their unwavering dedication and impactful contributions to our community and beyond.