LWV Guest

Since its Founding in 1945, the United Nations (UN) has played a role in advancing international peace and harmony. The League of Women Voters (LWV) has had “Observer” status at the UN from it’s the UN’s 1945 inception, since major LWV goals such as improving governance and the rights of women are inextricably linked to the security and well-being of peoples everywhere.  

This blog explores UN Observer Paulette Austin's experience promoting equality within and without the US.

While the digital age brings opportunity, it also brings the risk of disparity. For example, did you know that of the total workers in artificial intelligence, only 22 percent are women? And amid a global analysis of 133 artificial intelligence industries, it was found that 44.2 percent demonstrated gender bias?

Here are ways to create a better digital world for women and girls.

A concerted global effort is needed to fight climate change, yet global commitments to reduce carbon emissions are inadequate and slow.

Local, regional, and state efforts are needed to step up the pace. Local governments have an important responsibility to move our communities in the right direction. And that requires a plan.

Even if you live a thousand miles from the nearest coast, oceans —which make up nearly seventy percent of our blue planet — affect your life. As human carbon emissions warm our atmosphere, the ocean absorbs both CO2 and heat, buffering us from the worst effects of our excess. But giving us that protection has changed the oceans we depend on.   

While abortion justice is necessary for the people of DC, our lack of statehood means we have little control over the future of reproductive rights. Until DC becomes a state and has, like all other states, the ability to make its own laws and policies, we remain subject to the oversight of Congress.  

On Aug. 2, 2022, Kansas will be the first state in the nation to vote on the issue of abortion since the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24. The League of Women Voters of Kansas (LWVK) strongly opposes this amendment.

Carbon emissions are causing widespread and potentially irreversible damage to the environment  —  and also have a significant impact on the economy.  

While some people rationalize our failure to decrease emissions by keeping that the actions needed to do so would hurt the economy, the costs of doing nothing are even higher and are increasing with every day of inaction.  

The Voting Rights Act was originally passed in 1965 as one of the chief legislative accomplishments of the civil rights movement. Since then, it has safeguarded the right to vote, guarding against discriminatory voting practices such as literacy tests and racial gerrymandering.

But the VRA is on shaky footing in 2022, facing opposition both in Congress and at the Supreme Court.

But the District of Columbia is not a state. Why is that a problem?  Because of not being a state, the District of Columbia does not have any rights unless they are specifically allowed by Congress, since Congress exercises “exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever” over the Seat of Government of the United States. In other words, unless we have statehood, we don't have access to the rights that the current 50 states enjoy. 

There are many different roles election workers can play, from ensuring that polling places are accessible for those with disabilities to counting ballots to running a polling site.

To learn more, we interviewed Pinny Sheoran, president-elect of the League of Women Voters of Arizona, Isabel Longoria, former League of Women Voters of Texas Board member and current Harris County elections administrator, and Debra Cronmiller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, both of whom have extensive experience as election workers.