National Organization for Women

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FL NOW News about Greater Orlando NOW’s Get Out the Vote Billboard!

For Immediate Release: November 2, 2026   President Julie Kent, Florida National Organization for Women   (FL NOW), president@flnow.org

The Greater Orlando National Organization for Women (NOW) chapter (GO-NOW) in central Florida wanted to especially motivate young voters to get out and vote during the midterms.  All voters need to realize how important their voices are during these very turbulent times.  So, GO-NOW invested in a “Get Out the Vote” billboard.  The billboard is posted at S. Semoran Blvd. and University Blvd in East Orlando and will run through election day on Tuesday, November 3rd. The billboard was funded through a grant from National NOW.  The grant application was filed in September and was secured on Wednesday, October 7th.

“Democracy works when everyone participates,” said Julie Kent, FL NOW President. The billboard location was specifically chosen as it is a high traffic area for students attending the University of Central Florida and Full Sail University.  There are also many businesses in this area which additionally made the location desirable in order to reach as many voters as possible. The billboard also increased visibility for NOW in the local community.

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Voting for Judges on the Florida November Ballot

Compiled by Judi Marraccini, FL NOW Legislative Director

The following information is provided by “Courts Matter Florida Coalition”

JUDICIAL CANDIDATES AND RETENTION VOTING

The primaries yielded judicial candidates for the upcoming county and state circuit courts. There are also judges up for retention vote. Retention votes, while just a simple “yes” or “no” to keep a judge on the bench, are very important. Retention votes occur after the first year the judge has been on the bench and then every six years following that. Check out The Votes in Your Court for more information about judicial elections and retentions Voters may often assume to vote “yes” to retaining those judges, thinking they’ve been on the bench this long without any problems… However, if any of these judges have a history of rendering decisions that do not reflect the constitution, established law and fairness they should get the boot from voters. The Executive Branch would then have to replace them. That would give advocates like ourselves to help ensure the new judges reflect the #Courts Matter criteria for acceptable justices. They must be:

  • Qualified
  • Fair
  • Committed to the Constitution
  • Reflect the Diversity of our country

Of particular note is that our Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court, Carlos G. Muniz is up for a retention vote. The Ballot Brief has a full list of all the judges appearing on the ballot. You can find the names of those appearing on your ballot in addition to what your ballot will look like. For more news on the Florida Courts take a look the state’s Florida Courts News out and disciplinary actions on the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission.

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Florida NOW Fundraiser Drive

Dear Members and Friends,

I’m writing today to announce a $5,000 fundraising drive to support the work of FL NOW. Our goal is to raise this amount between now and December 1, Giving Tuesday. Your generosity
keeps FL NOW strong, responsive, and able to do the work our members expect from us.

I know you receive many donation requests, including from National NOW, but we limit our appeals to once a quarter. Please visit https://flnow.org/donate/ to donate.

FL NOW receives only a small portion of your membership dues, and those rebates amount to less than $12 per member per year. They don’t cover our operating budget or the programs our members expect from FL NOW. Donations are essential to keeping FL NOW running and ensuring we can pay our expenses.

Why We’re Asking You

FL NOW is a statewide organization with board members spread across Florida. Unlike local chapters, we don’t have a single community to draw from for fundraising events. We rely on you, our members and friends, to keep FL NOW strong. We’re asking you to reach into your purse, wallet, or pocket and give what you can. Every contribution matters. Truly. We will track updates by filling in the heart above and send regular updates throughout November. If you set up a recurring donation at $10/month or greater, you will receive a FL NOW purple and yellow scarf, a symbol of solidarity and feminist pride.

What Your Donation Supports
These are the basic expenses that allow FL NOW to
function, organize, and advocate statewide:

  • Supporting Chapters. We support Chapters through FL NOW events, providing rack cards, Chapter Chats, FL NOW PAC Endorsements, etc. Since some of our Chapters are struggling, we need to support them in more ways.
  • Paying for Membership in statewide coalitions. FL NOW is a member of coalitions that support its work on issues affecting women, such as Floridians for Reproductive Freedom (FRF), State Voices for FL. It is critical for FL NOW to be seen as a member, sponsor, or partner in areas connected to women. We are looking to extend these partnerships with more organizations that are considering the needs and rights of women.
  • A fair contract for our lobbyist. Our lobbyist hasn’t received an increase in more than five years, despite the rising cost of living. She is respected across Tallahassee, represents us powerfully, and personally escorts members who come to the Capitol.
  • Administrative essentials. Our email system, website, and other core tools require ongoing licensing and support. These are the backbone of our communications and organizing.
  • Getting to Tallahassee. Funds raised in excess of our 2026 budget needs will be used to support getting members to Tallahassee in 2027.

Please Give Today
Your support ensures that FL NOW can continue to advocate, organize, and lead across Florida. We are deeply grateful for any contribution you can make at
https://flnow.org/donate.

Thank you for your commitment to FL NOW and to the future we are building together.

With appreciation,
Julie Kent, President of FL NOW