Voting Rights

The More We Know:
Everything You Need to Know About Voting on August 4

The Voting Rights Committee at Congregation Shaare Emeth wants to help you prepare to vote and make informed decisions. Additionally, we aim to keep you updated on issues that you can advocate for, based on our Reform Jewish beliefs.

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

Week of June 30, 2026

The August 4 election is fast approaching, and your vote is important. The ballot contains several amendments that will have a major and long-lasting impact on our state. The Shaare Emeth Voting Rights Committee is here to help you make a plan with weekly steps and reminders to make sure your voice is counted.

This Week’s Tasks:

  • Register to vote! The deadline to register for the August 4 Primary Election is July 8 at 5 p.m.
  • Check to make sure your voter registration is current! Verify that you are registered with the correct name and address.
  • If you missed the program on Tuesday, June 23, about the proposed amendments on the August 4th ballot, please click here to watch the recording.
  • Bonus task: Check in with family and friends to make sure they have checked their voter registration.

Need Your Ballot Notorized?

Shaare Emeth volunteer notaries are available to notarize your absentee ballot. While notaries are not available at the Temple, they have designated on-call times and will arrange a convenient meeting location.

Available Dates & Times:

  • July 6 from 2–4 p.m.
  • July 8 from 9–11 a.m.
  • July 9 from 5–7 p.m.
  • July 13 from 2–4 p.m.
  • July 15 from 9–11 a.m.
  • July 16 from 5–7 p.m.
  • July 20 from 2–4 p.m.
  • July 22 from 9–11 a.m.
  • July 23 from 5–7 p.m.
  • July 27 from 2–4 p.m.
  • July 29 from 9–11 a.m.

To schedule a notary, please call or text Sue Matlof at 314-378-3616 and let her know which date and time listed above you need a ballot notarized. If the dates and times below do not work for you, please visit the St. Louis County Board of Elections at 725 NW Plaza Drive. St. Ann, MO.

 

Interested in actions you can take to protect voting rights at the state and federal levels? Let us know by emailing Voting Rights Committee co-chair Holly Bernstein at holly.e.bernstein@gmail.com

ABOUT

Leanne & Harvey Schneider

2026 Harris Frank Community Service Award Honorees

Harvey and Leanne Schneider have devoted their lives to strengthening both the Jewish and broader St. Louis communities through leadership, service, education, and a deep commitment to bringing people together.

A St. Louis native, Harvey Schneider attended local public schools before earning both his undergraduate business degree and law degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Following graduation, he moved to Washington, D.C., where he served as a trial attorney in the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. After five years of federal service, he returned to St. Louis and became a partner in private law practice. Over a legal career spanning more than five decades, Harvey represented family-owned businesses and private individuals in a wide range of business matters.

Harvey’s commitment to civic and Jewish communal life has been equally extensive. He has served as President of Congregation Shaare Emeth, the Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis, the Central Agency for Jewish Education, the Little Symphony Concerts Association, and the Forever Young Club at the Missouri Athletic Club. In addition, he dedicated 26 years to public service on the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Town and Country, including three years as chairman.

After graduating from Washington University, Leanne Schneider spent a year studying in France. Upon her return to St. Louis, she became deeply involved in international student exchange programs, first with the Experiment in International Living and later with AFS, fostering cross-cultural understanding and lifelong connections among people of different backgrounds. This commitment to building bridges naturally extended to her involvement with the Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis.

Leanne also taught French and Spanish at Brittany Junior High School before she and Harvey started their family. Throughout the years, she has shared her passion for education and community service by tutoring New Americans through the English Language School, serving on Congregation Shaare Emeth’s first Caring Committee, and volunteering as a reader with Ready Readers. Today, she continues to nurture her love of learning and literature through a book club that includes many members of Congregation Shaare Emeth.

Together, Harvey and Leanne have exemplified a lifetime of generosity, service, and leadership. Their dedication to education, interfaith understanding, civic engagement, and Jewish communal life has enriched countless lives throughout St. Louis. They are the proud parents of three children and grandparents of four, and their enduring legacy continues to inspire future generations.