Blog

The League of Women Voters became a household name in the mid-twentieth century as the award-winning sponsor of the US’s first televised presidential debates. Why did that change, and will the League ever sponsor Presidential debates again?

Civic education and involvement are key to a healthy American democracy. Included are stories from states across the country about the importance of civic engagement and the work that they are doing to promote it. 

This blog highlights work in Florida, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania.

When redistricting is done fairly, each person’s vote is equal to every other person’s because their districts are drawn in ways that accurately represent the voting power of the people within them.

When redistricting is done unfairly, however, and maps are created to favor one party (partisan gerrymandering) or with race as the predominant factor (racial gerrymandering), voters in certain districts are given more power than others. 

In March 2023, LWV staff met with four women attorneys — Trudy Levy, Katherine Mazzaferri, Cynthia Hill, and Maureen Thornton Syracuse — who pioneered the League’s litigation work between the 1970s and 1990s. The goal was to learn about their experiences litigating alongside Leagues during those critical decades.

Almost 1 million immigrants became naturalized citizens in 2022, expanding the electorate significantly. During that time, 31 League volunteer teams across the country reported attending close to 800 naturalization ceremonies and registering over 37,000 New Americans to participate in our democracy — this represents just a small portion of our 750+ Leagues’ impact. 

Ensuring elections are fair and equitable includes maintaining clean and accurate voter rolls. 

The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) is a nonpartisan membership organization comprised of state election officials from around the United States who have chosen to opt into ERIC, and the states that do so make up ERIC's funding. At this time, 26 states and Washington, DC, are members. 

In 2023, US and DC League members joined other leaders in the movement for DC Statehood to honor the holiday and discuss how statehood is both a human rights and racial justice issue. 

Led by moderator Nile Blass, panelists included:

• Virginia Kase Solomón, LWVUS
• Jason Fink, DC Office of Federal and Regional Affairs
• Jamal Holtz, 51 for 51
• Dr. George Derek Musgrove, DC Vote, co-author of Chocolate City: A History of Race and Democracy in the Nationa's Capital
• Philip Panel, Anacostia Coordinating Council

Dolores Huerta is a civil rights activist and labor leader who has dedicated her life to fighting for democracy in the United States, both in the government and the workplace. Growing up, she witnessed the struggles of farm workers and saw firsthand the injustices they faced. Her experience motivated her to become an activist and work towards creating a more democratic society. 

If the mayor is like the CEO of the city, then the city council is like the board of directors. It serves as the law-making body for the city. 

City council members, as the lawmakers of your city, make decisions that directly impact your day-to-day life, so a vote for them is powerful for your community.

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating trailblazing women who advocate for equal rights and power our democracy.  

These include Byllye Y. Avery, America Ferrera, Jane Fonda, Coretta Scott King, and Winona LaDuke.