POTSDAM -- In the first show of the 2020 North Country Matters season, Kathleen Stein, the president of the St. Lawrence County League of Women Voters, previews the complex 2020 election season in New York State with NCM host Donna Seymour.

They discuss the three state-wide elections in 2020, the early voting periods for each, how election laws have changed recently in New York, and the voter registration deadlines for the Presidential primary, the State & Local primary, and the General Election in November.

The YouTube link for this show is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bplGXh9PwTA.

In addition, they also discuss the 2020 Census and the importance of a full and accurate count. To further that effort, the local League is presenting a Census Bureau Partnership information session on Feb. 6.

Census Partnership Specialist Nicole Jordan will speak at 7 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 3 1/2 E Main St., Canton. The presentation is co-sponsored by the by the UU Church Social Action Committee

League president Kathleen Stein, Canton, said, “This information session is geared for organizations and agencies who can do outreach to their clients to ensure a full and complete 2020 Census count, although anyone interested in learning more about the Census will find it informative. The public is welcome to attend.”

New York State ranked 45th out of 50 states with low Census returns in 2010. After that census, New York State lost two seats in Congress, reducing its delegation in the House to 27 members. An undercount in 2020 could result in more losses in representation in Washington.

The census determines not just congressional representation, but also federal funding, including funding for housing, highways, transportation, food stamps, and education. Essentially, everything that New Yorkers need every day. Based on the 2010 census, New York receives about $73 billion a year.

The St. Lawrence County League is a nonpartisan political organization open to women and men that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

You can learn much more about the work of the local League by visiting its website, http://slc-leaguewv.org/ or its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LWVSLC/. Contact League president Kathleen Stein at 386-3812 or by e-mail at kstein1@twcny.rr.com.