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On February 14, the League of Women Voters turns 102, marking over a century of empowering voters and defending democracy. Some may celebrate their birthday with surprise parties — but as the midterms approach, new district maps are released, and voting rights are still on the line -- we're celebrating our birthday through action. 

From Ida B. Wells to Stacey Abrams, Black women have played a pivotal role in the advancement of voting rights. Although there have been obstacles along the way, Black women as a collective power are a force to be reckoned with. While Black women are not a monolith in any shape or form, they have and continue to use their voices to make progress on many issues, especially voting rights.  

Over the past year, LWV has joined countless nonprofits in spreading knowledge and civic tools through the wildly popular video app, TikTok. We’ve compiled a few favorites.

Campaign finance laws continue to empower corporations and the super-rich, making it difficult for the rest of the country to make their voices heard.

The United States Senate has canceled its January recess to bring Senators back to Washington to debate and vote on voting rights legislation. This follows months of pressure from the League and other activists to protect the freedom to vote. 

Today, President Biden and Vice President Harris responded to a year of advocacy, including thousands of letters to members of Congress, hundreds of activist arrests, and countless calls to deliver on federal voting rights in a speech in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Our nation is at a crucial turning point, how we proceed will determine whether our democracy survives. Our system of government is fractured, but the will of the people is strong. We don’t have a reputation for backing down and we will not give up now. Quite the opposite. 

Just as our advocacy led, directly or indirectly, to all the gains mentioned above, our actions can save our democracy in this pivotal moment. 

As the late, great civil rights activist Bob Moses, who passed this last April, said, “Do what you think actually needs to be done, set an example, and hope your actions will click with someone else.” This year, you did what needed to be done, setting the stage for an even more dynamic 2022. 

Right now, our country can advance and protect our right to vote by passing the Freedom to Vote Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and DC Statehood. While these bills ensure a democracy that works for us all, all we have seen is stagnation in the Senate due to the Jim Crow Era filibuster.

In the past year, the League has joined litigation to fight back against the flood of anti-abortion bills that have been put forward across the country.