Like my mother had years before, I joined the League of Women Voters for what they stand for and work toward. I first joined in northern Virginia in the 1960s working on fair housing and later in Colorado supporting voting rights and protection of our excellent voting system in this state. LWV is nonpartisan, does not support specific candidates or parties, but it’s raison d’etre is “Empowering Voters, Defending Democracy.” What to do, when you have a newly elected President and the majority of an entire party working for the opposite? The League has always been issue-oriented, and so we remain focused in that direction. If it leads to challenging elected and appointed officials who are acting unconstitutionally, ignoring the rule of law, attempting to dismantle our democracy, and denying birthright and voting rights to our legal citizens, then so be it. “We fight for an open governmental system that is representative, accountable and responsive, and we hold elected officials accountable for the decisions they make.” https://www.lwv.org/other-issues
According to their website: “For 105 years, the League of Women Voters has worked to provide voters with election information, safeguard voter access, uphold election integrity, and defend against efforts to undermine democratic principles. Today, the organization is stronger than ever, with a growing, vibrant membership of activists tackling the challenges to our democracy in every corner of our country. As the League continues to build a membership that reflects America, we recognize the continued challenges our democracy will face.”
In light of our current threats to democracy, which is the absolute, undisputed, Constitutional foundation for our Republic, the League has established a specific campaign, “Women Defending Democracy.” I should note here that today the LWV welcomes all genders. When it was started in 1920, it was just 6 months after the ratification of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. (“FINALLY,” Abigail Adams would have shouted from her grave! “If John had listened to me, we wouldn’t have had to go through all this.”) The point then was to educate women on their right to vote and the civics ‘lessons’ involved with that.
Here are the specific foci of the Women Defending Democracy Campaign:
- “Provide Democracy Education & Election Administration Support;
- Restore and Defend Voting Rights Protections;
- Abolish the Electoral College;
- Protect Democracy Organizations & Institutions; and
- Fight for Reproductive Freedoms.
In the first week of the new administration, we saw actions targeting both vulnerable populations and our democracy as a whole. We’re grateful for your partnership as we move into this unprecedented time. Let’s defend democracy together.” Signed, Celina Stewart, LWV CEO. www.lwv.org/fighting-voter-suppression/women-defend-democracy?utm_source=SalsaEngage&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=WomenDefendDemocracy&utm_content=1.24.25&eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=b1c3af91-1b73-4b44-be87-b6d8a17d41ba
I welcome each of you to consider joining or cooperating with your local LWV as we confront the years ahead and the very real threats to our form of government. There are many other issues that the LWV works on, too, including health care, education, immigration, climate change, and environment.