LWV Of West Virginia

The League of Women Voters of the United States CEO Virginia Kase Solomón issued this statement in response the US Senate’s introduction of the transformative voting rights bill, the Freedom to Vote Act.

The Federal Advocacy Manager will support the development and implementation of our federal advocacy and government relations efforts. T

LWVUS is seeking an enthusiastic and tactical Director of Legal and Research to manage a small but mighty litigation team to innovate the federal litigation portfolio.

The League of Women Voters is seeking an Operations Coordinator to support the Operations, Finance and Accounting, and Human Resources functions.

LWV of California and partners filed an amicus letter in support of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission's emergency motion to extend California's redistricting deadline.

No matter how much any one person knows about local and state elections or how involved they’ve been in the past, they can find the tools they need to elevate their voices at VOTE411.org.

LWV of Texas filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas, challenging Senate Bill 1, an omnibus anti-voter bill expected to be signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott.

LWV of Virginia files an amicus brief supporting counting individuals in the state where they are from and not where they are incarcerated.

The US Supreme Court declined to rule on a Texas law that bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy LWV of the US Board President Dr. Deborah Ann Turner and LWV of Texas President Grace Chimene issued a joint statement in response.

LWV of Arizona filed an amicus brief in support of transparency in the Arizona Senate’s so-called “audit” of votes cast in Maricopa County during the 2020 Election. 

Figure skating has a long way to go to fully reckon with the intertwined ways that patriarchy, homophobia, and racism occur and the resulting harms done to athletes, from Olympic stars down to kids in the learn-to-skate program. It is a fiercely gendered sport, especially in pairs skating.

My pairs partner, Erica Rand, and I are challenging those binary gender norms. In doing so, we are also hoping to open up the sport we love to people of all genders and gender expressions.

LWVUS Board President Dr. Deborah Ann Turner issued this statement in response to President Biden's proclamation on Women's Equality Day, 2021.

Though their work styles are vastly different, each of these women made our country a fairer, more just place. 

League leaders and voting rights activists rallied at the White House to demand the Biden administration take swift action to ensure passage of voting rights legislation.

Dr. Deborah Ann Turner delivered remarks at the White House, demanding the Biden administration take swift action to ensure passage of voting rights legislation.

LWV of Wisconsin files a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin challenging Wisconsin’s state legislative map.

Dr. Deborah Ann Turner issued the following statement following the US House passage of HR 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

The League joined 200 organizations urging Representatives to support HR4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. 

LWVUS sent a memo to the offices of all members of the US House of Representatives recommending they vote yes on HR4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. 

LWVUS joined partners on a letter to Congressional leadership that urges them to address the climate crisis in the budget legislation. 

The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act will restore the Voting Rights Act and strengthen the freedom to vote.  

LWVUS submitted a statement to the US House Judiciary Committee hearing on the Oversight of the Voting Rights Act: Potential Legislative Reforms. 

For far too long, people of color have been denied justice. No one is above the law, especially police officers who have taken an oath to protect, serve and enforce the laws. Passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is a necessary step towards holding officers liable for their actions and prohibiting the tactics that have already caused far too many deaths.   

The League of Women Voters Board President Dr. Deborah Turner issued a statement ahead of the release of census data in its legacy format, officially marking the beginning of map drawing.

Census data needed to draw maps has been released and map drawing is beginning. The time is now for the public to get involved!

The League of Women Voters of the United States is seeking an experienced nonprofit marketing manager to run the League’s digital marketing and print advertising campaigns. This position reports to the Press Secretary and works in close collaboration with the rest of the communications department as well as staff throughout the organization to build marketing campaigns that support organizational goals and issue priorities. 

On Tuesday, August 24, 12 pm ET, we will rally and protest in front of the White House calling on President Biden to do what it takes to compel Congress to pass voting rights legislation NOW. This event is organized by the LWVUS and People For the American Way, in collaboration with leading civil rights, advocacy, and democracy organizations. Our goal is to demand bold action on voting rights by the administration.  

In 2020, we experienced significant delays in the receipt of census data. This is largely due to an updated privacy protection model, which ensures greater confidentiality for respondents while keeping the data’s accuracy. 

We need the Senate and President Biden to use their full power and influence to pass this bill and ensure that the For the People Act becomes law.

Join the League of Women Voters and Campaign Legal Center on Aug. 12 at 2pm ET for #FairMapAll Twitter storm. 

In the autumn of 2021, we're demanding bold action on voting rights by President Biden's Administration.

The mission of the League of Women Voters is to empower voters and defend democracy. In the first half of 2021, LWV has done just that through a variety of cases nationwide.  

The League of Women Voters of the United States is pleased to announce a new leadership structure and executive team that will guide the organization into its second century.  

The League joined civil rights and voting advocacy organizations calling for inclusion of $20 billion for election administration in Congressional budget bills.

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in League of Women Voters of Indiana v. Sullivan (previously called Indiana NAACP v. Lawson) that Indiana’s purge law was inconsistent with the National Voter Registration Act.

Making Democracy Work^® engages Leagues nationwide in advancing core democracy issues. The campaign includes ensuring a free, fair, and accessible electoral system for all eligible voters.

Voter guides, particularly the candidate information they provide, are essential tools for state and local elections that every American deserves access to.

The Senate committee on Rules and Administration held a voting rights field hearing in Atlanta, GA.

We applaud President Biden for elevating the need for the For the People Act and we urge him to use the full weight of the presidency to see this bill become law.

Mis- and dis-information are two of the most insidious tools used to undermine our democracy and the value of every person’s voice. Learn how to recognize them and stop them in their tracks. 

The Legislative and Policy Coordinator will play an important role in the research and development of policy and legislative proposals relating to the League’s core mission work. This is a one-year term position with a possible renewal based upon performance and funding.

Maine lawmakers pass several bills expanding access to voting.

New programming focus will cover countering mis- and disinformation, increasing election participation, advancing voter access, and reforming redistricting  

The League of Women Voters of Texas filed an amicus curiae in In Re Chris Turner, et al. asking the Texas Supreme Court to void the Governor’s veto, highlighting the impact of Governor Abbott's veto of the legislative budget.

The New Hampshire Supreme Court on Friday voted in a 4-0 decision that a 2017 state law requiring proof of residence to vote is unconstitutional, saying that it "imposes unreasonable burdens on the right to vote."

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a California reporting rule designed to prevent charitable fraud and self-dealing.

‘Women Power Democracy,’ the new programmatic focus of the League of Women Voters, will advance a stronger, more representative American democracy. 

In light of today’s ruling, it is more important than ever that Congress act quickly to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the For the People Act.

In 1971, the 26th amendment granted the right to vote to Americans eighteen and older. This amendment is one in a series enacted to protect the right of every American to be represented in our government.

In a time when our voting rights are under attack, it's more important to reflect on these amendments than ever.

The League joined DC Vote in asking the House and Senate appropriations committees to oppose amendments to the District of Columbia FY 2022 Appropriations.

How much do you know about the filibuster? We've designed a quick quiz to help you brush up on your intel.

LWV of Minnesota filed a motion to join as co-plaintiffs in Wattson v. Simon, asking the Minnesota Supreme Court to appoint a special redistricting panel to prepare for the state’s upcoming redistricting process.

The League sent a memo to the US Senate urging support for the Passage of S.51 the Washington DC Admission Act. 

The League of Women Voters sent a statement for the record to the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee in advance of their hearing on DC Statehood.

The League of Women Voters supports legislation that strengthens our elections and increases voter participation so that every voice is heard in our democracy. 

On Sunday, June 20th, the League placed full-page ads in the Charleston Gazette-Mail and the Huntington-Herald Dispatch, alongside digital ads on the publications’ respective homepages, urging West Virginia senators to vote for the For the People Act. 

“While today’s decision is deeply disappointing for the LGBTQIA+ community, it is significant that the Court did not create a broad license to discriminate against same-sex couple’s ability to adopt."

The League of Women Voters of Kansas filed a motion for preliminary injunction, asking the Court to bar the state from enforcing its newly enacted “Voter Education Restriction.”

We must continue to work for health justice and ensure the ACA remains the law of the land.

On June 9, activists, coalition partners, members of Congress, and more gathered at the foot of the Supreme Court to show their support for the For the People Act (S1), which is expected to receive a vote from the U.S. Senate later this week.

While there, they heard from some of the most influential leaders in the nation, including people like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Christian Nunes from the National Organization for Women, Senator and former presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren, and LWV’s own CEO, Virginia Kase-Solomón.

The League joined 428 organizations and individuals supporting the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act of 2021

The Evaluation Specialist will play a key role in helping to transform the culture at LWV. This individual will help to collect timely and factual data and develop reports that capture the impact of LWV’s work. 

Provide superior support to the CEO, President, and Board of Directors of this national non-profit organization.  Responsibilities include managing calendars, creating, and modifying documents, coordinating travel, assisting with external events, handling logistics for quarterly Board meetings and other events, drafting and reviewing correspondence, and supporting Board committees. Undertakes special projects as assigned.

One way we’ve loved connecting with the people is through “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) posts on Reddit. These discussions are opportunities to cast aside DC vernacular and get right down to what really matters to people across the US: voting, making a difference in our daily lives, and West Wing (hey, we're still politics nerds).

The League urges corporations to cease supporting, the American Legislative Exchange Council for its efforts to restrict the American people’s freedom to vote and undermine democracy

League of Women Voters of the United States CEO Virginia Kase Solomón issued this statement in response to AG Merrick Garland’s announcement that the Department of Justice will double the Civil Rights Division's enforcement staff for protecting voting rights.

The League of Women Voters of Michigan today filed an amicus brief with the Michigan Supreme Court in support of the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission’s proposed extended timeline for adopting final redistricting plans. 

The League with the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and 55 civil and human rights organizations, firmly denounce the recent rise in antisemitic hate crimes.

The League joined a letter led by the Leadership Conference in support of two critical pieces of legislation needed to protect the freedom to vote: For the People Act (FTPA) and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA). Passage of both bills is essential to counter the unprecedented wave of voter suppression laws advancing in the states and to protect Americans from further encroachments on their rights. Passing one without the other simply will not be sufficient to ensure that all Americans—and particularly Americans of color—have meaningful and equal access to the ballot.

In the past year, The League signed on to numerous amicus briefs to defend the LGBTQ+ community from the wave of attacks on their rights. Many of these cases could set a precedent for discrimination against both LGBTQ+ and other marginized groups.

The League of Women Voters of New Jersey and partners filed an amicus brief in Conforti v. Hanlon, a case challenging New Jersey’s use of misleading features in its ballot design.

Today, the League of Women Voters of Kansas filed a lawsuit challenging newly enacted voting laws in Kansas that will make it more difficult for Kansans to vote. House Bill 2183 and House Bill 2332 violate the Kansas Constitution by interfering with Kansans’ voting, due process and free speech and association rights.

LWVUS with over 100 organizations urges Senators to cosponsor the bipartisan 2020 Census Deadline Extensions Act to extend the deadlines for delivering apportionment and redistricting data

We're excited to highlight some of the accomplishments, advice, and experiences of our fellow Leaguers who identify as members of the AAPI community. As you'll see, each of these five people has had an enormous, positive impact on the League, our democracy, and the people around them.

The Senior Regional Field Organizer will play a crucial role in rebuilding the Nevada State League by managing the on the ground efforts to reestablish a strong and active State Board, reach out and engage existing members, bring new members, and help the new State League leadership develop a strong network of engaged and diverse partners to advance the League’s mission of empowering voters and defending democracy in Nevada.

LWVUS and LWVWV sent a memo to Senator Joe Manchin responding to his comments regarding the constitutionality of S. 51, the Washington DC Admission Act.  

A high-level summary of the League's 2020 Election Impact Report and how the League supported millions of people in a year filled with unprecedented challenges.

The Campaign Organizer will serve as an organizer in the Mission Impact Department.  This person will play an important role in supporting the organizing strategy to build power at the state and national levels to secure transformational wins through our national redistricting campaign. This is a one-year term position with a possible renewal based upon performance and funding.

Women still lack equal rights in the U.S Constitution despite the significant legal and legislative advances that have been made in recent decades. It is not enough to treat the symptoms; we must address the root cause of inequality by amending the Constitution and finally adding the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the Constitution. 

LWVUS sent a memo to the U.S. Senate supporting passage of S.J. Res. 1, legislation to eliminate the timeline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).

Massachusetts lawmakers weigh on making changes to voting accessibility due to COVID permanent.

The League of Women Voters of the United States is seeking an experienced nonprofit communications professional to serve as Press Secretary. This position reports to the Senior Director of Communications & Digital Strategy and works in close collaboration with the rest of the communications department as well as staff throughout the organization to identify opportunities for greater League visibility in the press.  

League protected 25+ million voters through election related litigation  & supported 6+ million on VOTE411.org 

The 2020 election saw the greatest participation in our nation’s history. Throughout election season, the League worked tirelessly to ensure voters had the information and the access to make their voices heard.

The League joined other organizations on a letter voicing support for the Equality Act. 

The 2020 election saw us facing unprecedented challenges, including a global pandemic, rampant mis- and disinformation, and claims of voter fraud. The League's 2020 Election Impact Report shows how we and our supporters used advocacy, litigation, education, and more to ensure that every American had the tools and information they needed to vote.

The League joined the Justice Roundtable to demand that the U.S. Senate make meaningful improvements to the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act passed by the House.

An op-ed by Virginia Kase discuss the 2021 redistricting cycle. 

LWVUS endorsed the reintroduction of the Climate Risk Disclosure Act of 2021.

With hundreds of restrictive voting proposals being introduced following the 2020 election, Brnovich could determine how we treat discriminatory laws in our judicial system.

On May 11, the For the People Act will enter a process called "markup." As we celebrate this progress and work towards passage, it is important to understand the markup process and potential outcomes.  

As we prepare for the upcoming redistricting cycle in the wake of our People Powered Day of Action, we asked League leaders to share why they are fighting for fair maps.

LWVUS joined 51 for 51 and over 100 organizations asking for a hearing on DC statehood. 

LWVUS joined a statement by Advancing Justice, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and National Conference on Citizenship to warn inappropriate data for redistricting.

Florida's legislature approves a new voting bill which limits voters.

We thank President Biden for calling on Congress to pass the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and we echo that call.  

Partisan gerrymandering has eroded the power of the people’s vote. As a result, we’re working to ensure the people’s voices are once again heard in our state house by creating fair maps in the 2021 redistricting process.

People Powered Day of Action 2021 press release. 

This Wednesday, April 28, President Biden will make his first speech before Congress. We’ve compiled a list of topics that we consider crucial in steering the US towards a path of recovery, both from the pandemic and from other forms of turmoil. 

Redistricting gives us an opportunity to increase diversity in schools through greater integration. Drawing conscious boundaries is a way for leaders to remedy past discrimination efforts and highlight the true diversity of their districts.

DC statehood is not a partisan issue but a civil rights issue which cannot be separated from the fight for racial justice. 

Stipulated dismissal guarantees Census Bureau will not release rushed apportionment numbers, will not provide states with data to exclude noncitizens from redistricting, and will continue to provide key analysis and information to plaintiffs and the public about the quality of the partially shortened count under the Trump administration.

WASHINGTON & MINNEAPOLIS – Today the League of Women Voters of the United States issued the following joint statement with the League of Women Voters of Minnesota and the League of Women Voters of Minneapolis in response to the Derek Chauvin trial verdict.

Without statehood, D.C. residents aren’t full citizens. We deserve to join the Union as a state whose 712,000+ people live, work, play, and taxes like everyone else.

The For the People Act passed the House in March, and now it's time for this comprehensive democracy legislation to pass in the Senate.

The staff attorney is responsible for shaping solutions and formulating policy guidance for legal issues relating to our core and urgent issues determined by our membership. The League's core issue work includes voting rights, redistricting and census, improving elections, and campaign finance. Our urgent policy issues cover immigration, healthcare, climate change, gun safety, the national popular vote, and the electoral college.

Prison gerrymandering is the practice of counting people based on where they're confined rather than where they're from. This inflates representation in areas where prisons are built and dilutes the voting power of the people who are incarcerated and their home communities.

The League supports the Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer National Opposition to Hate, Assault, and Threats to Equality (Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act)

In recent years, the filibuster has been abused as a partisan weapon of obstruction. The League supports reforming the filibuster to prohibit the minority party from blocking the opening debate of a bill. We support instituting a ‘talking filibuster,’ ending silent holds, putting the onus on the minority party to produce 40 votes, and lowering the cloture vote threshold to bring bills to a final up-or-down vote on the Senate floor.   

Fair maps help residents as they seek to elect representatives who take their concerns, like clean water, seriously, who will work to clean up current pollution and prevent more from occurring.

Voters have an interest in knowing where politicians and organizations are getting their money and how that money is being spent. To that end, dark-money and wealthy special interest groups do not need more loopholes.

The League of Women Voters of California, Campaign Legal Center (CLC), Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), and Common Cause submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) in Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Becerra.

The League our fight for racial justice in our democracy endorsed H.Con.Res.19/S.Con.Res.6,  establishing a US Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation 

The League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) and Vot-ER/Civic Health Month (Vot-ER) announce a joint partnership to work collectively on initiatives that promote civic health and a healthy democracy.

The American people are tired of seeing this archaic tool used and abused to delay progress. It is time to amend the filibuster for the health and safety of our democracy.

In 2020, during one of the most significant and contentious elections in decades, women faced a new public health crisis: COVID-19. More than one hundred years after the 1918 pandemic, Americans stared down this new foe and, once again, women led and supported their communities through civil and political unrest, unprecedented voter suppression, and simultaneous economic and healthcare crises. 

LWV of Georgia, along with partners, filed a lawsuit against the state of Georgia to prevent enforcement of SB 202, an omnibus voter suppression bill signed by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp last week.

The League of Women Voters is committed to the fight for fair maps in 2021 and beyond. We are throwing down on April 29, 2021 to shine a light on redistricting and demand fair maps through a People Powered Day of Action.

When district maps do not represent the people fairly, it prevents us from moving on issues that we care about – issues that can be a matter of life or death. One of these critical issues is healthcare.  

LWV of Boulder County, LWV of Colorado, and LWV of the United States grieve the senseless tragedy in Boulder, Colorado, on Monday, when a man armed with an assault rifle shot and killed ten people at a grocery store.

The For the People Act is the democracy reform bill the American people want and deserve. 

To create more equitable maps, we recommend that states prioritize transparency and implement ethics rules to protect the integrity of commissions and hold politicians accountable for acting in the interest of the people. 

The League  working against gender inequality/violence asked the UN to hold Myanmar’s military accountable by referring them to the International Criminal Court

For D.C.,  fighting to have our voices heard extends beyond redistricting and fair representation of our eight Wards. Fighting for fair representation also means we are working to secure D.C. Statehood.

On April 29, 2021, the League of Women Voters hosted events around the country to increase public awareness and engagement around the redistricting process, and make sure the public's voice is heard.

The League of Women Voters grieves the murders of the eight individuals who were killed on Tuesday, March 16th, and the countless other AAPI lives that have been tragically taken as a result of racially motivated violence. 

The League of Women Voters of the United States president Dr. Deborah Ann Turner issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to advance the Equal Rights Amendment by removing the ratification deadline. 

Senators must come together to protect voters and defend democracy 

LWV of the United States filed a friend of the court brief in Ohio v. Coggins, a suit brought by the state of Ohio and Ohio’s secretary of state to rush the delivery of census data for congressional district apportionment.

A December 2020 decision from the EPA handed permit approval rights to the state of Florida, allowing the state to approve wetland projects without EPA review.  Environmental groups argue that this decision is disastrous for the environment.

The For the People Act doesn’t just make voting simpler—it makes voting fairer by outlawing the racial and partisan gerrymandering that keeps power in the hands of the few.  

Building on the League’s endorsement of the reintroduced bill earlier this month, LWV joined allies in urging House Leadership to bring the NO BAN Act to a vote

The League has fought for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to secure equal rights and we ask Congress to pass HJ Res 17, to remove its ratification deadline.

Formerly-convicted individuals get counted in the census, hold jobs, raise families, and contribute to their communities -- why shouldn’t they have a voice in their representative government?

The League signed onto a letter opposing the approval of the TN Medicaid block grant.

This executive order will expand voter access, strengthen voter registration, and improve election information so that all eligible Americans can participate in our democracy.

As the world continues to face the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations celebrates the power of women and highlights the ongoing need for equality with International Women’s Day.

Kentucky could soon be expanding voting rights restoration to even more individuals who have been convicted of felonies.

League of Women Voters of the United States CEO Virginia Kase issued the following statement in response to the US House of Representatives passing HR1, the For the People Act.

This bill provides the necessary first step towards fully addressing systemic constitutional violations by law enforcement officers, and we are pleased to see the US House prioritize this reform this congress.

The League joined, immigrant rights advocates to oppose a COVID relief package amendment that threatened to deny survival checks to mixed-immigration status families.

This blog is the first of a series of blogs about redistricting and the different issues it impacts.  

The League joined housing justice coalitions in urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission to enforce the eviction moratorium.

The journey to enshrine equal rights among the sexes in the US Constitution has been a long one. But this year the ERA is closer than ever to taking its rightful place in the supreme law of our nation.

LWV signed on to a Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights letter urging Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Cameroonians.

LWVUS joined a Public Citizen letter to President Biden asking him to allow low/middle-income countries’ access to COVID-19 vaccines by waiving WTO rules.

LWVUS signed on to a letter to Senators supporting the confirmation of President Biden's nominee for Associate Attorney General, Vanita Gupta. 

LWVUS signed on an ACLU and disability rights groups letter asking President Biden end federal funding of police in schools

Board president, Dr. Deborah Turner reflects on the contributions to voting rights advancement from Black women. 

LWV of the United States joined partners in filing an amicus brief in support of plaintiffs in a trio of U.S. Supreme Court cases challenging the imposition of work requirements on Medicaid recipients.  

A blog highlighting Black LWV staff for Black History Month 2021. 

LWV  calls upon President Biden and DHS Secretary Mayorkas to exercise executive authority to designate Mexico for Temporary Protected Status because of their COVID-19 crisis.

A federal judge approved a sweeping settlement in a lawsuit brought by voting rights advocates against a private security contractor, Atlas Aegis, for illegal voter intimidation in Minnesota.

As the first African American woman in Congress and the first African American woman to run for president, Shirley Chisholm’s work and legacy are endlessly inspiring. The fact that her activism began in part with a League of Women Voters membership in New York City makes her my personal League of Women Voters hero.

More than 100 years ago, the League of Women Voters of the U.S. was founded to be a nonpartisan voice for American women who wanted free, fair, and open elections, above all else. The politics may change, but our commitment to democracy remains the same.

LWV urges President Biden to fulfill his promise of justice by immediately commuting all federal death sentences and reinstating the federal moratorium on the death penalty

The League joined letters in support of the New Deal for New Americans and National Office for New Americans Acts.

Ahead of the House’s COVID package release, the League joined a letter opposing income limits on survival stimulus checks.

The League joined a letter lead by the Indigenous Environmental Network urging the President and Vice President to shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) .

The League of Women Voters strongly endorses this common-sense bipartisan legislation, and we stand ready to work with lawmakers to see it become law.

The League joined a coalition letter to the Department of Health and Human Services urging an extension of postpartum Medicaid from 60 days after birth to one year after birth.

the League issued a rare vote recommendation  last week urging them to protect immigrant/mixed-status family access to stimulus checks/vaccines and oppose Youth Amendment and others.

The League joined a letter to Members of Congress advocating for a swift passage of pay equity legislation.

Senator Warnock's historic win in Georgia highlights how voter suppression disproportionately impacts voters of color.

We commend President Biden for prioritizing the reunification of thousands of families separated by the previous administration.

The historic 2020 election highlights the need for Congress to pass the For the People Act. 

LWVUS and LWV of Rhode Island filed an amicus brief in the case of Cook v. Raimondo, in which twelve student plaintiffs are suing the state of Rhode Island to demand a right to an education adequate to prepare students to engage in civic society. 

As a law student, some of the most valuable experiences you will have are through internships. Internships provide law students with the opportunity to apply the knowledge they have built in school to gain insight into day-to-day life as a legal professional.   

 It is essential that all persons in America have access to affordable health care and that no one be denied coverage after contracting COVID-19.   

At the League, it is our hope that we will be able to work in step with the current administration to make progress on LWV priorities aimed at working toward a better democracy, together. 

Celina Stewart spoke with The 19th about voting rights bills and priorities in statehouses across the country.

The Senate must serve as impartial jurors not tied to party lines, and convict him, ensuring that Donald Trump is banned from running for federal office again.

Brnovich v. DNC is a case before the Supreme Court addressing the collection of ballots by third parties and the counting of provisional ballots cast outside of a voter’s designated precinct. 

LWV joined other census and redistricting champions in calling for the recission of EO 13380, which mandated the Census Bureau creation of a block-level citizenship database.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom, with a transformative vision for the American South. Dr. King implored both the southern Dixiecrats and Republicans in Congress to fully enfranchise Black voters...

California is considering making permanent changes to voting following historic voter turnout in the 2020 elections.

 The Founders established a set of checks and balances to ensure the health and stability of our democracy, and that if impeachment or the 25th amendment is pursued that it is the best course of action.  

LWV joined Muslim Advocates’ coalition in urging the new Biden Administration to stop the Trump denaturalization regime.

People Powered Fair Maps^TM is a national redistricting program of the League of Women Voters focused on creating fair political maps nationwide. The program includes actions in all 50 states + D.C. 

Donald Trump must be immediately removed as President of the United States of America and banned from running for federal office ever again. 

Today, there is a critical runoff election in Georgia! Two US Senate seats that will determine control of the Senate and a Public Service Commissioner position are on the ballot. 

The U.S. House of Representatives introduced H.R. 1, the For the People Act, a sweeping democracy reform bill that was first introduced in 2019.

Any objection to this process is simply political theater which directly mocks and defies our Constitution. 

The League joined national environmental advocates opposed to the Department of Transportation’s midnight action to curtail National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) regulations.

The League applauds bipartisan support and urges Congress to consider more relief

The Idaho law  violates Title IX’s prohibition on sex discrimination in educational programs or activities.

In letters to the CDC and Biden COVID-19 Transition Team, LWV joined allies in laying out clear principles for COVID-19 vaccine distribution to immigrants.

In partnership with the Value our Families and No Muslim Ban Ever Campaigns, LWV advocated for President-elect Biden to rescind every iteration of the Muslim Ban.

LWV joined civil rights allies in calling for equity, transparency, and data collection in COVID-19 vaccine development and distribution.

The League aligned with housing coalitions in urging the Centers for Disease Control to extend, improve, and enforce the federal eviction moratorium.

LWV of South Carolina wrote an op-ed about the upcoming redistricting cycle and how "safe" districts silence the voice of voters.

Next week, the Electoral College will convene as is required by the Constitution to formally elect the next president and vice president of the United States.

LWVUS joined a letter to the heads of the Senate Appropriations Committee last week on funding for the Election Assistance Commission (EAC)

More voters than ever before participated in our elections in 2020, thanks in part to the work of the League across the country. Here are just a few of our successes in 2020.

The League joined healthcare professionals and community-based organizations in pushing the COVID Community Care Act.

Today the League of Women Voters of the United States board of directors took steps to withdraw recognition of the League of Women Voters of Nevada.

Changes to election laws due to COVID-19 creates an opportunity for election reform in some southern states.

A blog thanking election officials, workers, and volunteers. 

LWVUS give thanks to the lawyers and partners who helped secure safe voting in the 2020 election cycle. 

LWV sent a letter to Secretaries of State thanking them for their dedication and hard work in making the 2020 election run successfully.

LWVUS sent a letter to Senate and House leadership outlining our continued support for the legislation commonly referred to as HR1 or the For the People Act. 

A federal district court judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by President Trump’s reelection campaign against Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar and seven counties.

This blog shares updates of the redistricting initiatives that were on the 2020 ballot. 

The League of Women Voters of the United States calls on the General Services Administration to fulfil the duties and ascertain president-elect Joe Biden immediately.

Recap of the VOTE411 performance in the 2020 elections cycle.

LWVUS is urging Congress to extend the statutory reporting deadlines that the U.S. Census must follow when sending apportionment numbers to the President and sending redistricting data to the states. 

We commend Mr. Krebs and. the staff of CISA for their hard work to safeguard our votes and ensure American elections are safe from cyber-attacks.

In addition to all the successes of our election this year, we have a very special success to celebrate: we have a woman ready to take her rightful place in the White House. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is prepared to be the first woman to ascend to one of the highest offices in our country. It has been a long time coming, America. 

This case involves the question of whether the President can exclude undocumented immigrants from the state-population totals from the 2020 Census that are used for apportionment. 

LWV of the United States and the Leagues of California, Florida, and Texas filed an amicus brief in New York v. Trump, a case which challenges President Trump’s executive order to block undocumented individuals from being counted in the U.S. Census.

Virginia Kase shares three things about the Electoral College.

Democracy defines America, and democracy has prevailed in the 2020 elections.

LWV of Pennsylvania and partners filed an amicus brief in Hamm v. Boockvar, a case that challenges the state’s practice of notifying voters whose ballots have signature errors and allowing them to cast a provisional ballot. 

The Electoral College has been a part of our democratic process since the start, but what does it really do and what can we expect this year? Here is what you should know.

The League joined coalition partners in urging the U.S. Senate to extend statutory reporting deadlines for apportionment and redistricting data, to give the U.S. Census Bureau sufficient time to thoroughly implement complex data processing activities and complete the most accurate 2020 Census possible.

On November 4, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the next pivotal LGBTQ rights case. 

The US Supreme Court heard arguments in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, a case that could allow private agencies to deny taxpayer-funded public services to people who are LGBTQ+, Jewish, Muslim, or Mormon—as well as to discriminate in adoption and foster care placement.

The League joined a letter for Rep. Pressley’s bill which refocuses federal funds towards school counselors, nurses, and social workers.

Alexa and VOTE411 have teamed up to add more voting logistics information to Alexa!

The attempt to disenfranchise more than 120,000 voters who lawfully cast their ballots during early voting is disgraceful and un-American.

Native Americans, the first people to inhabit the area now known as the United States, have tragically been disenfranchised for much of the nation’s history.

A federal district court judge ruled in favor of CAIR-MN and LWV of Minnesota, granting a preliminary injunction in a move that prohibits private mercenary contractor Atlas Aegis from moving forward with its illegal voter intimidation plans in the state.

It's important to understand why the ERA is necessary and look to states that have already passed such amendments in their own constitutions for guidance on this important subject.

A federal judge ruled in favor of LWV of South Carolina to establish a notice and cure process for absentee ballots flagged for rejection due to a missing signature.

The US Supreme Court denied the Gear v. Wisconsin State Legislature plaintiffs’ application, declining to restore Wisconsin’s back-up option for voters who do not receive their requested absentee ballots in the mail.

CAIR-MN and LWV of Minnesota today celebrated a major victory in their federal lawsuit against a private mercenary contractor, Atlas Aegis, for voter intimidation in Minnesota.  

A federal judge ruled in City of San Jose, California v. Trump that the president’s executive order to block undocumented individuals from being counted in the U.S. Census is unconstitutional.

The US Supreme Court issued a decision granting a stay in People First of Alabama v. Merrill, allowing Alabama to restore its ban on curbside voting.

Foreign actors have used American voter registration data to create distrust in our democratic process.

USA Today asked experts and voting rights advocates for the best way that voters should cast their ballots.

Notice and cure processes are the most effective mitigation factor against voter suppression relating to mail-in ballots.

In a 4-4 decision, the US Supreme Court today ruled that Pennsylvania mailed ballots postmarked by Election Day will be counted if they arrive before 5:00 pm on Friday, November 6.

LWV of Mississippi, along with other plaintiffs and civil rights groups that challenged Mississippi’s burdensome absentee ballot requirements, celebrated new protections put in place for absentee voters as the state conducts an historic election during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CAIR-MN and LWV of Minnesota filed a federal lawsuit against a private mercenary contractor, Atlas Aegis, for voter intimidation in Minnesota.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay in Richardson v. Texas Secretary of State, which exempts the state from requiring a notice and cure process for absentee ballots cast in the 2020 general election.

After system crashes in Virginia and Florida, other states are warned of the possibility of glitches as registration deadlines approach.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling denying special accommodations for Navajo Nation absentee voters due to mail delivery delays. LWV of Arizona had filed an amicus brief in support of the Navajo Nation.

Here’s what to know about in-person voting.

A consent decree was signed today extending the Virginia voter registration deadline for the November 3 election to 11:59 PM, October 15, 2020.

Join us in getting out the vote on social media this election season! 

The 11th Circuit issued a decision allowing Alabama counties to mandate curbside voting. However, the court failed to waive photo ID requirements for in-person voting and witness requirements for absentee ballots.

LWV of Wisconsin filed an application in the U.S. Supreme Court that would provide voters with a back-up option to receive delayed mail-in absentee ballots.

Here are a few stories from LWV staff members about their favorite memory of the voting process that we hope will inspire you as you plan to make your voice heard!

The League sent a memo to all members of the U.S. House and Senate asking them to prioritize a COVID-19 relief package to aid American families during the ongoing pandemic.

The US Supreme Court granted an emergency request from the Trump administration, allowing it to rush the 2020 Census count to an early close. LWV CEO Virginia Kase issued this statement in response to today’s decision.

LWV of Virginia filed a federal lawsuit asking the court to grant a 48-hour extension for voter registration and to extend in-person early voting due to a system outage.

A federal judge granted an injunction against Governor Greg Abbott’s order limiting Texas absentee ballot drop-off locations to one per county.

A federal judge issued a ruling in Trump v. Boockvar stating that voters must be allowed to utilize ballot drop-off locations other than county election board offices.

What sorts of obstacles do overseas Americans face in voting and how can they overcome them?

A federal judge ruled that Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s order limiting ballot drop boxes to one per county is unconstitutional.

LWVUS joined a letter to the National Archives disapproving of the Dept. of Homeland Security's (DHS) proposed request seeking permission to destroy civil rights complaints, sexual abuse records, and civil liberty violations before they could be investigated. 

A federal judge ruled in Trump v. Murphy that election provisions allowing election officials to begin canvassing vote-by-mail ballots 10 days before Election Day and allowing ballots without a postmark to be counted if received within 48-hours of the election do not violate federal law.

This year, we are going to have to wait for democracy to run its course. We need to allow time for every vote to be counted accurately and completely. 

LWV of Arizona filed a friend of the court brief in the federal court case, Yazzie v. Hobbs, which asks the state to count ballots received from reservations if they are postmarked for Election Day and received within 10 days.

LWV of Alabama filed an amicus brief in People First of Alabama v. Merrill, which seeks to ease absentee ballot requirements and mandate curbside voting. The case is now pending in the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Every 10 years, after the collection of the decennial census data, states redraw their state and congressional district lines. Here are 10 things you should know about it works.

The League wishes President Trump and the First Lady a safe and speedy recovery.

LWV of South Carolina filed a federal lawsuit against the state’s Election Commission, asking the court to establish a notice and cure process for absentee ballots flagged for rejection due to a missing signature.

LWV of Texas filed a lawsuit against Texas Governor Greg Abbott for his proclamation that would dramatically limit options for Texas voters seeking to hand-deliver their completed absentee ballots for this fall’s election.

Creating a voting plan that fits your needs makes casting your ballot easier and less prone to complications. This year is unlike any other election year in recent memory. And at the League of Women Voters we know that there is a lot of information out there to sift through as you develop the best voting plan for you.  Here are four easy ways that VOTE411.org can help you get started on your plan today.

A federal court has upheld Montana Governor Steve Bullock’s directive allowing the state’s counties to proceed with conducting vote-by-mail elections this November.

Whether it is a local or a national race, elections are a time to consider the issues that you care about and decide which candidate you support. 

Today, a federal judge permitted LWV of Michigan and five local Leagues to intervene in support of the State in Daunt v. Benson, a federal lawsuit concerning voter purges.

LWVUS President, Deborah Turner, and CEO, Virginia Kase sent a memo to the U.S. Senate urging them to prioritize American families hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic over the pending U.S. Supreme Court nominee.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ordered the Trump administration to halt its rush to end the 2020 Census, extending deadline for counting to October 31. 

LWVUS sent a letter of support endorsing Senator Manchin’s Revitalizing the Economy of Coal Communities by Leveraging Local Activities and Investing More (RECLAIM) Act to recover and reinvest in Appalachian communities. 

The League of Women Voters joined a letter as part of the Declaration for American Democracy (DFAD) coalition calling on debate moderators to ask questions relating to democracy reform. 

Now is not the time to rush a lifetime appointment to the United States Supreme Court.

With each voter we register, we are helping to get as many people participating as possible. Help us make sure no one is left out. 

LWV of Arkansas filed a lawsuit in federal court asking that the state offer a notice and cure process for voters whose ballots are marked for rejection due to signature-related issues.

League members and volunteers will be hosting more than 850 registration events and virtual activations September 22.

A federal court in Wisconsin gave voters a back-up option to receive mail-in absentee ballots online or via email when they do not receive their previously-requested ballot in the mail in time for the November 3 general election.

Whether on the ballot in 2020 or beyond, Leagues are continuing to work towards meaningful redistricting reform in their states. Let’s meet the Leagues leading this work!

A settlement agreement for the November election has been reached, addressing issues brought by LWV of New York State in their July case over the process by which the state counts absentee ballots.

A guide for voters to make a plan to cast their ballot in November. 

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled that state law allows county bureaus of elections to set up drop boxes and satellite offices to accept mail and absentee ballots.

A federal judge ruled in Miller v. Thurston that 150,000 signatures collected for a ballot measure that would create an independent redistricting commission in the state were invalid.

Challenges to signature mismatch on absentee ballots causes an increase of litigation.

n response to a lawsuit brought by LWV of Pennsylvania challenging the state’s election procedures, PA Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar issued guidance to establish uniform processes across counties for counting mail-in ballots.

LWV of Montana filed a motion to intervene in Donald J. Trump for President v. Bullock, which challenges Governor Bullock’s August 6 Directive allowing counties to conduct the general election primarily by mail at their discretion.

This year, more Americans than ever will be using these methods to vote in upcoming elections, and so it is important to understand the similarities and differences between the two.

A federal judge ruled that Texas must notify voters if their ballot has been marked for rejection due to a signature match issue and give them an opportunity to confirm their identity and save their ballot from rejection.

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order in National Urban League v. Ross against the winding down of in-person counting for the 2020 Census.

LWVUS and LWV of Texas sent a letter to the Postmaster General demanding that the Postal Service continue their longstanding practice of displaying and providing voter registration forms in post offices across the country.

Election Day is two months from today, but this year millions of voters will cast their ballots before November 3.

The League of Women Voters Education Fund launched the award-winning election website VOTE411.org in Spanish.

LWV of Arkansas filed a lawsuit seeking to reinstate the Arkansas Voters First ballot initiative calling for a constitutional amendment establishing a fair, citizen-led redistricting process on the November ballot.

UPDATE: Motion to intervene was granted in Trump v. Murphy, which challenges New Jersey’s plan to mail vote-by-mail ballots automatically to every registered New Jersey voter.

LWV of Ohio filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State LaRose challenging his unconstitutional August 12 order limiting drop boxes to one per county.

LWV of Mississippi filed a lawsuit seeking to expand absentee voting, waive the witness and notarization requirements, and set up a notice and cure process during the COVID-19 pandemic.

LWV joined public health advocacy groups in a letter expressing grave concern regarding the United States Government’s decision to terminate its relationship with the World Health Organization (W.H.O). 

LWVUS submitted a letter to members of the Senate asking for them to co-sponsor S.Res. 672, a bipartisan Senate resolution to establish September 2020 as National Democracy Month. 

With the ongoing discourse around the United States Postal Service, LWVUS joined 50 other organizations in a letter addressing the U.S. House of Representatives urging them to vote YES on the Delivering for America Act. The Delivering for America Act prevents the Postmaster General from enacting structural changes to the Postal Service and allocated $25 billion in funding for the organization. This legislation passed the U.S. House in a bipartisan vote on Saturday, August 22.

Women’s Equality Day is a time to honor and acknowledge all of the women who came before us, and to use the lessons of their fights to shape a fairer, more just future.

We all have one issue that we hold dear. In my case, it’s Equal Rights.

Kentucky has announced allowances and dropped several requirements for absentee ballots that would have put voters at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parties in LWV of Virginia v. Virginia State Board of Elections have agreed to waive the witness requirement for absentee ballots in the November general election. The agreement was accepted by a federal judge today.

LWV of the United States and partners filed a lawsuit against the Postmaster General and United States Postal Service challenging recent changes to postal service procedures and equipment. 

LWVUS and partners filed a lawsuit challenging the federal government’s decision to rush the Census counting period to a close amid a national public health emergency.

We issued the following statement in response to the announcement by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to delay operational changes to the U.S. Postal Service until after the 2020 election.

On this day in 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified, bringing a hard-fought campaign to allow women the right to vote to a conclusion.

Virginia Kase speaks about how to vote-by-mail and why voters should do it in the 2020 election.

Virginia Kase was featured on the Today Show speaking about the 19th Amendment. 

LWV of the United States and LWV of California, Florida, Texas filed an amicus brief in New York Immigrant Coalition v. Trump, a case which challenges President Trump’s executive order to block undocumented individuals from being counted in the U.S. Census.

The US Postal Service warns states that some absentee ballots may not be delivered. 

Voters voting by mail in 46 states are at risk of being disenfranchised due to delays with the US Postal Service.

The Supreme Court of the United States blocked an attempt to stop Rhode Island officials from waiving mail-in ballot security measures due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With three months to go until Election Day, America is facing a critical shortage of poll workers, all of whom need to be signed up and trained in time for November.

The League of Women Voters of Arkansas, as members of Arkansas Voters First, filed an amicus brief in support of having the signatures collected for redistricting reform counted.   

A national overview of the League’s engagement in COVID-19 litigation

A First Circuit Court judge upheld a lower court ruling to accept an agreement waiving the witness/notary requirements for mail-in ballots throughout the 2020 elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

LWV of PA filed a lawsuit challenging the state's practice of conducting signature match verification yet providing no notice or opportunity for voters to fix any issues before rejecting their ballots.

It's been 244 days since the VRAA passed the House, 7 years & 1 month since Shelby v. Holder, and 55 years since the VRA was originally signed into law.

LWVUS and Common Cause have written a letter to Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham asking him to commit to a fair and accurate census count. 

The League joined the Census Project on a letter extending statutory reporting deadlines for the Census.

A federal judge ruled in the League of Women Voters of North Carolina’s case that the North Carolina State Board of Elections must provide a notice and cure process for absentee ballots marked for rejection.

The League of Women Voters signed onto a letter asking for House Leadership to allocate $32 Billion for public transit in additional, targeted, emergency operating support for public transit systems across the country to continue to safely provide essential services.

LWVUS joined 189 organizations addressing Congressional leadership and standing in solidarity with Black Women’s Reproductive Justice advocates to protect the bodily autonomy and reproductive rights of all people.

LWV of Ohio and partners are challenging Ohio’s flawed system of matching voter signatures on absentee ballots and absentee ballot applications.

The League joined a letter to President Trump,outlining the constitutional authority around setting Election  Day.

The League joined a letter calling on the U.S. Senate to address the health and economic impacts of COVID-19 by enacting legislation that achieves certain objectives.

The League joins its partners addressing Congress and asking for new pandemic relief legislation that protects and meetings basic human needs to reduce the effects of the pandemic on our population.

Voters can trust in the safety and security of the mail-in voting process, regardless of recent politicized claims to the contrary. Here are five reasons why.

The Senate legislation fails. It is essential that there is funding to protect the health of voters, our elections, and our democracy.

With the recent passing of Congressman John Lewis, the League has signed onto a letter through the Leadership Conference, asking members of Congress to honor his legacy by passing the Voting Rights Advancement Act. Additionally, the letter emphasizes the coalitions current ask for $3.6 billion in elections funding to ensure all Americans can vote safely this November, as a way to honor Congressman Lewis’ work in fighting for the right to vote.

The state of Rhode Island has agreed to eliminate witness/notary requirements for vote by mail throughout the 2020 elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

As LWV celebrates 100 years, & next month marks 100 years since the 19th Amendment was ratified, here are 100 ways to take action before Election Day!

LWV of Rhode Island filed a lawsuit seeking to suspend the state’s mail ballot witness and notary requirement during COVID-19.

The increasing number of attacks on our democracy requires our organization to speak out against unconstitutional acts.

The coronavirus outbreak has caused disruption for redistricting reform in states where groups have attempted to use the ballot initative process to reform the redistricting process. 

The President’s proposal to exclude immigrants in the 2021 redistricting cycle is unconstitutional and unconscionable.

The League has joined a letter addressing the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, urging the Senate to make additional investments in state and local elections. 

The League sent a letter urging U.S. Senators to include $3.6 billion in funding for elections in the next stimulus package.

The League joined the following letter to condemn the U.S. Government’s decision to terminate their relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO). 

LWV of Pennsylvania and partners filed a motion to intervene in Trump v. Boockvar, a case seeking to limit vote-by-mail options in Pennsylvania. The League and its partners seek to intervene on behalf of impacted voters.

As campaigns prepare to file their latest campaign finance reports, the League has signed onto a letter along with its partners, asking candidates to publicly disclose information about bundlers.

LWVUS and LWV of New York State filed a federal lawsuit to ensure absentee voters have the opportunity to cure their ballots for the remaining 2020 election cycle.

LWV of Connecticut filed a federal lawsuit seeking to make mail-in voting available to every eligible Connecticut voter during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The League of Women Voters of the United States filed a friend of the court brief in the federal case that supports ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as completed by the states of Virginia, Illinois, and Nevada.

The League joined members and affiliates of The Census Project , urging Congress to include supplemental funding to help the Census Bureau cover costs related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its conduct of the 2020 Census. 

We commend the Court on today’s ruling and celebrate that Louisiana will retain the three existing clinics in the state that provide abortion care.

The League joined a letter with other environmental partners in support of H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act. This legislation is a bold infrastructure plan that will transform our transportation systems, transition the nation to cleaner sources of energy,  invest in clean and safe water, protect workers, preserve nature, and address the challenges from a changing climate to our communities.

The LWV of Wisconsin filed an amended complaint ahead of the November election seeking back-up options for mail-in absentee voters who do not receive their ballot in the mail, as well as suspension of the witness signature requirement for mail-in absentee ballots.

Dr. Deborah Ann Turner elected 20th president of the League of Women Voters of the United States.

The League joined partners expressing support for H.J. Res. 90, a Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval that will nullify a rulemaking by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) that, if allowed to stand, would drastically undermine one of our nation’s most important civil rights laws, the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (the CRA).
 

The League joined coalition partners calling for passage of H.R.51, the Washington DC Admission Act. This legislation passed the U.S. House on June 26, 2020.

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is a first step to creating police accountability and eliminating police brutality in America, but it does not go far enough.

Since the launch of the campaign for People Powered Fair Maps, Leagues across the country have engaged in litigation for fair redistricting practices.  Here's where we've been fighting.

The League joined allies on a letter urging Senators to vote NO on a motion to proceed to the JUSTICE Act.

According to a USC study, Arkansas is the 8th most gerrymandered state, in regards to their state legislative districts. Here's how we're working toward fair maps in the state.

LWV and VOTE411 team up with HBCU Alumni Alliance to prepare voters in an election year.

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, and just one of several “Emancipation Days” observed by Black diasporic communities in the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, and the U.S.

The league joins several public health organizations in expressing concern on the decision of the United States government to terminate its relationship with the World Health Organization.

Today’s decision brings a sigh of relief and celebration for the hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients and those seeking DACA status who led this fight.

On the week that marks the eighth anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, SCOTUS has decided to overrule the wrongful termination of this crucial program.

Earlier this week, LWVUS signed onto a letter addressing Congressional leadership on the deployment of federal troops to the District of Columbia against protestors. 

Parties in League of Women Voters of Minnesota Education Fund, et al. v. Simon reached an agreement to suspend the state’s witness requirement for absentee ballots.

Parties in LWV New Jersey v. Way drafted reached an agreement establishing a notice and cure process for vote-by-mail ballots in New Jersey.

This landmark victory provides long overdue protections for LGBTQ people in education, housing, and healthcare. 

The Supreme Court  rules that sexual orientation and gender identity are included in Title VII's prohibition of discrimination on the basis of sex.

COVID-19 is causing a shift in how elections will be held. 

The League sent comment to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee ahead of their Oversight Hearing on Policing Practices and Law Enforcement Accountability on June 10, 2020.

The Justice in Policing Act of 2020 is a necessary first step towards eliminating police brutality in America.

The League of Women Voters of California and partners filed a motion to intervene in a case brought in response to Gov. Newsom’s executive order requiring mail-in ballots to be automatically sent to all registered California voters for the November general election.

Georgia's primary election raises several concerns for the general election.

Vivian chose to join LWV of Minnesota Education Fund v. Simon because she hopes that, by telling her story, she can make progress in dismantling subtle systems of voter suppression.

LWVUS joined hundreds of organizations, including many of our partners, in requesting that the United Nations hold a special session on the escalation of police violence in the United States and repression of protestors.  

USPS is a critical piece of infrastructure helping many individuals navigate daily life. Congress must protect USPS so it can continue to provide its critical services.

The League joined letters to the Department of Justice calling on investigations into the circumstances surrounding the killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.

 A federal judge ruled that North Dakota’s process for absentee ballot verification will include a notification and remedy method for voters whose ballots are flagged for rejection due to signature mismatch.

Last week, the League joined hundreds of other organizations calling on the United Nations to take robust action around COVID19 recover and response. The letter, written on behalf of the Conference of NGOS (CoNGO) in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations which the league is a member of, outlined important steps that need to be taken to address the on going global pandemic in addition to promoting sustainable development and growth.

People from all over this country are exercising their First Amendment rights as they protest the killing of countless Black lives that have been taken at the hands of police.

LWVUS joined a letter with over 400 civil rights organizations calling on Congress to implement needed policing reforms. 

A federal judge ruled that the deadline to collect signatures should be extended for Fair Maps Nevada’s ballot initiative petition due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

LWVUS joined a coalition of groups supporting the Coronavirus Oversight and Recovery Ethics Act (CORE Act).

Help us spread the word this election season by sharing our digital assets. 

A federal judge granted a motion to intervene to the League of Women Voters of Michigan and Detroit in a case which seeks to force the City of Detroit to conduct an aggressive purge of their voter registration rolls.

Attempts to suppress votes through voter purges have led to legal battles. 

Because of COVID-19, the Census has been forced to propose changes to its operating timeline and the dates for sending data regarding apportionment and redistricting.

The League of Women Voters of Kentucky filed a federal lawsuit asking the court to invalidate the state’s recently-passed picture ID requirement for voting.

The League of Women Voters of North Carolina filed a federal lawsuit challenging several of the state’s registration and voting requirements.

LWVEF joined the Census Counts campaign and the 143 undersigned organizations urging the Census Bureau to closely examine its adjusted operational timeline and advocate for enhancements to address the severe disruption the COVID-19 crisis has caused for successful completion of the 2020 Census. 

The League of Women Voters of Louisiana filed a federal lawsuit challenging Louisiana’s emergency election plan, which does not provide voters adequate protection during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Very much like life, there have been challenges often, but with each test, the NVRA has uncovered valuable lessons on how to remain standing.

VOTE411 named Best Government & Civil Innovation Website in the 24th Annual Webby People’s Voice Awards

The League of Women Voters of Minnesota Education Fund filed a federal lawsuit challenging the state’s witness requirement for absentee ballot signatures.

The League of Women Voters of New Jersey filed a lawsuit asking for relief for voters from the state’s flawed ballot signature match requirements.

LWVUS joined the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and 112 organizations urging the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to open a full and thorough hate crimes investigation into the horrific killing of Ahmaud Arbery.

CBS News Anchor to commemorate League’s 100^th anniversary with remarks in June 2020.

A year ago SCOTUS declined to set a standard to rein in partisan gerrymandering, leading to the launch of our nationwide fair maps campaign. Here's where we are six months in.

Our democracy depends on an election system that protects voters, poll workers, and the right to vote. The latest House bill does just that.

The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania filed a motion to intervene in support of defendants in Judicial Watch v. Boockvar, et al., a case that seeks to forcibly purge tens of thousands of voters in the Philadelphia area.

A federal judge ruled in Arizonans for Fair Representation v. Hobbs that Arizona cannot permit online signature collection for ballot petitions.

 A federal judge has ruled in League of Women Voters of Virginia, et al. v. Virginia State Board of Elections that the witness requirement for absentee ballots is waived for the state’s June primary.

The League of Women Voters of North Dakota filed a lawsuit asking the United States District Court of North Dakota to provide relief for voters from the state’s burdensome signature match policy.

The League of Women Voters Education Fund launched the COVID Elections Fund to reduce the crippling impacts of the coronavirus on voters. 

VOTE411, the League of Women Voters’ one-stop-shop for nonpartisan election information, this week was announced as a Webby Awards Nominee.

  Afederal appeals court panel ruled in the League of Women Voters of Kansas case, Fish v. Schwab (previously Fish v. Kobach), that Kansas voters do not need to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote.

With a surplus of time that must be spent at home, we are here to help you bring some productivity into your quarantine while also satisfying the urge to relax on your couch.

The League of Women Voters of Arizona filed an amicus brief in Arizonans for Fair Representation v. Hobbs, asking the state to permit online signature collection for ballot petitions via the state’s online system candidates for federal and state office use to collect signatures for nominating petitions.

The Virginia attorney general and the League of Women Voters of Virginia reached an agreement in League of Women Voters, et al. v. Virginia State Board of Elections, to remove the witness requirement for signatures on absentee ballots. 

LWVUS has actively been supporting additional measures for inclusion in the next emergency funding stimulus bills related to the coronavirus. 

The League of Women Voters of North Carolina filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit that would remove individuals en mass from voter rolls in Mecklenburg and Guilford counties.

The League joined a letter drafted on behalf of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), the Democracy Initiative, and more than 150 undersigned organizations to denounce the continued increase in racist attacks and discrimination against the Asian American community.

2020 marks 50 years of celebrating Earth Day, a day meant to generate action to protect the planet.

With the increased demand for absentee ballots due to COVID-19, the witness requirement presents a burden for voters’ health and safety. 

The League sent a memo to Congress urging them to include policies in the next COVID-19 stimulus bill that that will protect our elections, protect all families regardless of immigration status, and re-classify the District of Columbia, while continuing to help families, communities, and workers facing hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A federal court judge ruled that Texas voters may cite COVID-19 in mail-in ballot request forms as a “disability” requirement. The League of Women Voters of Texas and the Austin Area asked the court to rule that the definition of “disability” in Texas law encompasses all registered voters, since the coronavirus prevents voters from appearing at a polling location without a real likelihood of injuring their health.

A New Hampshire judge dismissed a state law that opponents, including the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire, said made it more complicated for students to register to vote

In these times of uncertainty and physical distancing, standing together with our communities is more important than ever.

The League joined 56 civil rights and worker rights organizations expressing deep concern about the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs’ (OFCCP) March 17, 2020 decision to temporarily exempt and waive certain affirmative action obligations connected to supply, service, and construction federal contracts specifically to provide coronavirus relief. 

When removing voters from the rolls, election officials should err on the side of protecting democracy not increasing disenfranchisement. 

Organizations give insights on how they are continuing advocacy work amid the coronavirus outbreak. 

VOTE411 now has everything you need to know about election changes during COVID-19—in both English and Spanish. 

The League of Women Voters of Texas and the League of Women Voters of Austin Area requested to join a lawsuit arguing that Texas law expressly permits expanded vote by mail options due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

A Wisconsin district court judge granted partial relief to protect the rights of self-quarantining voters who cannot obtain a witness signature on their mail-in ballot, as required under Wisconsin law.

Today is Census Day, the official launch of the 2020 Census!

LWV of Ohio challenges the cumbersome vote-by-mail process in one month’s time will prevent thousands of eligible citizens from casting a ballot in the state's primary.

Local elections officials are in a unique position to take steps—right now—to protect voters’ rights and address voters’ safety concerns.

Today the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin filed litigation in federal court seeking to protect the rights of self-quarantining voters who cannot safely obtain a witness signature on their mail-in ballot during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $400 million included in this third relief deal is a mere fraction of what is needed for all voters to safely cast their ballot with confidence this November.

The League calls on Congress to include at least $2 billion for election funding in COVID-19 (cornoavirus) stimulus package

The League joined a letter led by OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates and 186 other organizations calling on President Trump, Attorney General Barr, and FBI Director Christopher Wray, to publicly recognize and denounce the increasing racist attacks and discrimination against the Asian American community, in the wake of rising concerns over the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19).

March 26 is the one-year anniversary of the arguments of the League’s consolidated redistricting cases Rucho v. League of Women Voters. Here's what has happened since.

LWVUS sent a memo to the U.S. House and Senate urging them to support policies for communities, families, and workers experiencing hardship during the coronavirus pandemic on March 13, 2020. LWVUS has also continued to join with partners on letters to the Congress during this time.

The League of Women Voters of Ohio filed an amicus brief in the case Ex Rel. Ohio Democratic Party v. Frank LaRose. The case concerns when and how to conduct Ohio’s rescheduled primary election in light of last week’s postponement due to COVID-19.

In response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic disrupting primary elections, the League urges the national bodies of our political parties to speak for flexibility in upcoming primaries.

Voting amid the coronavirus has highlighted the need for expanding the vote-by-mail process. Celina Stewart, LWVUS senior director of advocacy and litigation, contributes.

Congress must provide states with the funds they need to protect the right to vote amid COVID-19 in the economic stimulus package.

It’s 2020, and that means in addition to a presidential election, this year is also a critical census year.  

The League of Women Voters of Ohio, along with other voting rights partners, sent a letter to Ohio Secretary State Frank LaRose demanding that changes to the Primary Election calendar comply with the National Voter Registration Act and the Ohio Constitution.

The League joined over 200 organizations supporting an effort led by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights urging federal lawmakers and state elections officials to adopt key policies to ensure both the public’s safety and the orderly conduct of the 2020 primary and general elections in light of the current threat posed by COVID-19.

We commend Ohio leaders for recommending tomorrow’s in-person primary election be postponed until June and expanding absentee ballot options for all Ohio voters.

The League of Women Voters calls on all states to expand no-excuse absentee voting and mail-in ballots for the duration of the 2020 election cycle.

Today the League of Women Voters of the United States filed an amicus brief in Juliana v. US, a case that challenges the government’s lack of climate change action and the impact it will have on future generations.

There are many ways for voters to participate in elections while mitigating their risk of exposure.  

The League submitted a its own comment letter and joined a coalition letter urging the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to withdraw proposed changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 

The League joined coalition partners in supporting H.R. 2214, the NO BAN Act when it came to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on March 11, 2020.

In 2018, voters in Missouri made it clear that transparency, reforming campaign finance, & ending gerrymandering were important steps to be taken in reforming our democracy.

LWV founder Carrie Chapman Catt was featured in TIME's 100 Women of the Year.

This week the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case that challenges a Louisiana law designed to undermine access to abortion.

The state of South Carolina will be using new voting machines in the upcoming election, a process watched closely by the League of Women Voters of South Carolina.

On February 12, I had the opportunity to participate in one of the many activities occurring across the country to commemorate the 100th birthday of the League of Women Voters.

LWVUS published a letter in the Washington Post on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the League of Women Voters.

LWVUS CEO Virginia Kase wrote an op-ed celebrating the League's 100th Anniversary.

To celebrate 100 years, the League is hosting a nationwide Day of Action, with hundreds of events around the country celebrating how ‘Women Power the Vote.’

On the eve of LWV’s 100th Anniversary – a step towards Constitutional equality 

LWVUS CEO Virginia Kase wrote an op-ed celebrating the League's 100th Anniversary and a century of voting rights activism. 

The delay in results of the Iowa Caucus is another reminder why we need to invest in our election infrastructure and election security.

State of the Union Bingo Cards 

The LWV of Charlottesville reflects on the importance of Virginia ratifying the ERA.

The Michigan Court of Appeals has struck down part of lame-duck petition drive law that would have put a 15% cap on petition signatures from one district.  

The League and Family Tree Entertainment are teaming up to promote voting at the 9^th Annual Pre-Grammy Managers’ Brunch.

In 2019, LWV of Houston volunteers registered more than 31,000 new citizens to vote. Here's how they did it.

After many inaccuracies with the Ohio voter purge, the state of Ohio has called for a change in how they will manage voter rolls moving forward.

Community organizing and advocacy will be an essential part of GOTC efforts this year. Here's what's at stake.

LWV of Texas filed a federal lawsuit claiming that the state violates the National Voter Registration Act by not providing voter registration with driver’s license applications online.

Virginia ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment, achieving support from three-fourths of all 50 states required for the ERA to become a constitutional amendment.

LWVUS joined a letter sent to the White House and staff of Senators McConnell, Blunt, Schumer and Klobuchar asking them to make appointments to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

An in-depth look at how the Voting Rights Act has protected voters of color and language-minority voters—and why we need the Voting Rights Advancement Act.

On the eve of LWV’s 100th anniversary, today we celebrate the birthday of our founder, Carrie Chapman Catt.

LWVUS sent a letter to leadership in the U.S. House and Senate urging them to remove the ratification deadline on the Equal Rights Amendment.

Voting rights advocates celebrated an agreement requiring the State of Arizona to provide more effective voter registration services.

Throughout 2019 the League defended democracy in the courts on issues relating to voting rights, redistricting, money in politics, and improving elections.

LWV of Nevada defends its fair maps ballot initiative from a legal challenge.

 2019 was filled with great moments for our citizen-led democracy. Here are just a few of our favorite highlights from the year.

We submitted comments opposing a rule that would cease to require tax exempt organizations, other than those incorporated under 501(c)(3) and 527 of the IRS code, to report their major contributors.

LWVWI filed a federal lawsuit challenging a planned voter roll purge based on unreliable data. Voters had 30 days to respond to a letter about their purge status, a timeline that is only allowed with reliable data. 

The League joined the Census Project and other national and state organizations calling for full funding of the 2020 Census in the FY20 appropriations bills. 

The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin filed a federal lawsuit to stop the unjust purge of over 200,000 Wisconsin voters.

LWV of Georgia filed a federal lawsuit to stop an unjust voter purge from taking effect.

Following a report on disenfranchisement from LWV of Kentucky that found more than 312,000 Kentuckians cannot vote because of felony convictions, the state's governor issued an executive order restoring voting rights for those with past felony convictions.

Human Rights Day celebrates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Everyone is entitled to inalienable rights regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national or social origin, or other status.

 The Voting Rights Advancement Act, H.R. 4, restores protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that were stripped by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013.

The League joined the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights on a letter sent to the U.S. House of Representatives in favor of final passage of H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act.

LWV of New Hampshire is challenging a state law that imposes burdensome requirements on voter registration.

The League joined the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and a dozen other prominent civil rights organizations on an amicus brief in June Medical Services, LLC v. Gee which is pending in the United States Supreme Court. 

This past Wednesday, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee ruled 21-11 to remove the ERA's ratification deadline and now the resolution moves to the House floor for a vote.

LWVCT's Carol Reimers joined CT SOS Denise Merrill,  Rep. Jim Himes, & UConn Center for Voting Tech.'s Alex Russell to raise awareness on election security. 

On November 12, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a trio of cases suing the administration over its decision to end DACA. 

On October 8, the U.S. Supreme Court heard Bostock v. Clayton County, et al. and R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes Inc. v. EEOC. The Court’s decision will determine whether it violates federal law for employers to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people.

Legislation that responds to the Shelby decision will now come to the floor of the U.S. House. H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA), has broad support from civil rights and voting rights groups across the country. 

CEO Virginia Kase's op-ed about how democracy fixes can bring about immigration reform.

The state of Georgia is threatening to purge over 300,000 voters from the voting rolls. After experiencing serious problems with purge lists in Ohio, LWV of Ohio weighs in.

Election Day is tomorrow in many states! You’ve made your plan, you’ve found your ballot information, and now it’s time to get out and vote! 

As the League prepares for 2020 and continues to defend democracy, it is the power of women like Virginia and each of us that is advancing this movement.

Florida state officials are working with local and federal authorities to assure citizens that they are doing all that they can to be certain that the 2020 election is secure. LWV of Florida calls for greater transparency in the process.

Our state leaders met last week in Dulles, VA, to learn and strategize on how they could organize, empower, and mobilize their state leagues to accomplish our goal to end partisan gerrymandering.

DC Vote will honor the League of Women Voters of the United States with the Champion of Democracy award at DC Vote’s annual gala on November 21, 2019.

The League of Women Voters of Oklahoma, as part of the People Not Politicians coalition, filed an initiative petition to end gerrymandering in Oklahoma.

The League joined a letter to U.S. House members urging support for HR 4617, the SHIELD Act.

After the Supreme Court's decision in the Rucho case this past June, "failing to take a stand for voters and...limit...partisan gerrymandering," we promised to  fight harder than ever.

Virginia Kase on behalf of the League of Women Voters, submitted testimony to the U.S. House Committee on House Administration, Subcommittee on Elections on October 17, 2019.

Impeachment does not mean removal of an elected official from office. As a nonpartisan organization, the League of Women Voters offers this unbiased information to voters seeking to learn more about the impeachment process. 

A federal judge ruled in an LWV of Florida case that outstanding fines cannot bar formerly incarcerated Floridians from voting.

The League of Women Voters CEO Virginia Kase, testified before the U.S. House Committee on House Administration, Subcommittee on Elections on Thursday, October 17, 2019. 

As you think about your plan for voting this year—whether you take advantage of early and absentee voting opportunities in your state, or you vote on Election Day November 5th—I hope you will encourage your loved ones to make a plan, too.

Jen Miller, LWV of Ohio Executive Director, found her own voter status at risk of illegitimate purging, along with over 200,000 others. LWVOH contacted voters to inform them of their status.

We were proud to take part in one of the largest global protests in history. Children of all ages filled the lawn of the Capitol and the surrounding avenues, practicing their first amendment rights.

Last month we were joined by Hon. Gabriela Cuevas Barron, Hon. Sunna Aevarsdottir, Sen. Susan Kihika, and Ginger Gibson for a panel discussion on violence against women in politics.

September 19^th dawned crisp and bright as DC citizens streamed into the Rayburn HOB to be present at the first DC Statehood hearing held by the House in 26 years.

On National Voter Registration Day (NVRD), the League will host more than 500 voter registration events in local communities.  

The League of Women Voters will hold more than 500 voter registration events on September 24 for National Voter Registration Day.

On Thursday, September 19^th, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform Committee will hold the first hearing on DC statehood in more than a quarter-century. 

LWV Texas and other partners joined North Carolina redistricting case Common Cause v. Lewis as amici curiae.

Today a federal judge granted the LWV of Tennessee a preliminary injunction in their case against a recently passed law that leveled fines and penalties on organizations that register voters.

In a suit brought by LWV of Tennessee and partners, a federal judge blocked a new Tennessee law that sought to restrict paid voter registration drives.

We joined 92 organizations in requesting that the Department of Labor extend the comment period for proposed rules on the equal opportunity clause's religious exemption.

With 136 organizations, we wrote to Congressional leadership to ask that provisions that promote health care access for millions of people in the U.S. and globally be included in the final budget.

We signed a letter asking the Senate to increase funding for the EPA's Nonpoint Source Management Program under the Clean Water Act. The funding levels requested have been approved by the U.S. House.

People Powered Fair Maps^TM is a national redistricting program of the League of Women Voters focused on creating fair political maps nationwide. The campaign includes actions in all 50 states + D.C. 

Live interview with LWV CEO Virginia Kase on the rollout of the People Powered Fair Maps Campaign, a nationwide effort to end gerrymandering in the United States.

Opinion piece from LWV CEO Virginia Kase on what it means to celebrate the passage of the 19th Amendment 99 years later.

Guest authors Cathy Frischmann and Claudia Keith encourage Leagues to get involved in climate strike activities.

A St. Louis attorney who filed a slate of voter reform petitions in Missouri is suing Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, alleging that Ashcroft “intentionally cherry-picked portions of the initiative petitions and described them in as loaded and pejorative terms as possible, while leaving out aspects of the initiative petitions likely to be popular with voters.” League of Women Voters of Missouri president comments.

Voting rights groups are concerned that thousands of voters could be erroneously purged from Ohio’s voter rolls. In a letter to Secretary of State Frank LaRose, the League of Women Voters Ohio, All Voting Is Local, the NAACP Ohio State Conference and Campus Vote Project called on him to “pause the state’s voter purge process and not move forward on September 6” as planned.

LWVUS sent Congresswoman Barbara Lee a formal letter supporting H.R. 1923, the Women’s History and Nineteenth Amendment Centennial Quarter Dollar Coin Program Act.

A memo to members of the U.S. House supports H. Res. 513, which reaffirms the importance of democracy and the freedoms that it brings.

LWVUS seeks to find common ground with lawmakers as H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act moves forward in Committee this fall. 

With just one more state needed to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, we are closer than ever to ensuring that equal rights for all are guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution.

Leagues in Illinois are mobilizing to recruit polling station judges needed to run elections in 2020. All seven League of Women Voters chapters in DuPage County are helping the clerk's office recruit up to 4,000 judges it expects to need to run elections next March and November.

Today, the League of Women Voters of Texas, along with individual plaintiffs and partners, filed a complaint against the Texas Secretary of State to resolve the unclear and unfair rules for rejecting mail-in ballots in the state.

In the aftermath of the tragic mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, LWV joins our partner organizations in condemning white supremacy and demanding real reform to combat hate.

Opinion piece from Grace Chimene, president of the League of Women Voters of Texas, on the League's support of Crystal Mason-Hobbs's case seeking clarity and fairness in laws around returning citizens voting.

Florida judges and prosecutors are working with felons and public defenders to find ways to register former inmates to vote, a process approved by voters last year that Republican legislators have made more difficult.

September is when most Americans start paying attention to fall elections and presents the perfect time to highlight democracy as individuals engage and register to vote.

In letters to the U.S. Senate and U.S. House, the League expressed support for  joint resolutions that would remove the timeline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).

With a population of over 700,000 who pay more federal income tax per-capita than any other citizen of any other state, it would make sense for DC citizens to have their own state. 

Today, the League of Women Voters of Texas joined as amicus in Mason-Hobbs v. Texas, arguing that genuine confusion around voter eligibility does not violate Texas state law.

June marked the end of our 2019 High School Voter Registration project. With a record-breaking 60 Leagues participating, volunteers registered a total of 20,115 high school student in 28 states across the country, plus D.C.  

"The racist rhetoric and attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar and other female members of Congress are deplorable, they dishonor the office of the President, and frankly, they are un-American."

On June 27, the Supreme Court held that it would not intervene in partisan gerrymandering cases, refusing to set a standard for when redistricting intentionally groups voters by party.

Officials at the state level in Texas have decided not to spend any money on the 2020 census, even though in the past 10 years the population of Texas has grown massively. So business leaders, large cities and even nonprofits in Texas say they're being forced to step in instead.

Momentum is growing among state legislatures to award electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. LWV National Popular Vote Taskforce Chair Toni Zimmer contributes.

Now that the threat of a citizenship question on the Census appears to have ended, the focus must turn toward ensuring the 2020 Census is conducted appropriately and comprehensively.

League of Women Voters CEO Virginia Kase issued the following statement ahead of the administration’s planned raids to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants living in the United States.  

On the sixth anniversary of Shelby v. Holder, the Supreme Court decision that gutted the heart of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), the U.S. House Judiciary Committee conducted a hearing on the continuing challenges to voting rights in our country. 

The LWVUS Volunteer Lobby Corps had a very active spring this year focusing on the For the People Act, the Voting Rights Advancement Act, and the Women's History commemorative coin program.

The League joins partner organizations on a set of cases before the Supreme Court which could ensure much-needed protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in the workplace.

Late Tuesday the Trump Administration announced the 2020 Census forms will be printed without a citizenship question. The announcement came days after the Supreme Court blocked the question.

LWVUS joined organizations connected to the National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF) on a letter expressing collective concern with revising the methodology for adjusting the official poverty measure or poverty thresholds. 

The LWVIA notified the Secretary of State that some voters were wrongfully listed as felons and thus disenfranchised, a violation of Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld highly partisan state election maps that permit one party to win most seats, even when most voters cast ballots for the other side.

Today the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Rucho v. League of Women Voters of North Carolina that no fair test exists for courts to determine when partisan gerrymandering has gone too far. 

Today, the Supreme Court ruled in Department of Commerce v. New York that a citizenship question in the U.S. Census report cannot proceed. LWVNY was one of the several plaintiffs.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on the question of if Maryland's redistricting violated the First Amendment in the case Benisek v. Lamone.

The League joined more than 150 organizations in support of the Humane Enforcement and Legal Protections (HELP) for Separated Children Act and Help for Separated Families Act (H.R. 3451/H.R. 3452). 

LWVUS joined organizations connected to the Coalition on Human Needs on a letter urging members of Congress to lift severe caps on domestic and international discretionary spending in Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was one of the most important pieces of legislation of the 20th century. But in 2013, the Supreme Court gutted important sections of it in Shelby County v. Holder.

The League of Women Voters sent a memo to U.S. Senators urging them to co-sponsor S. Res 252, a resolution to establish September as National Democracy Month.

The League joined letters to the Census Project and other affiliates calling on Congress to support the funding levels for the Census Bureau appropriated in the FY 2020 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill. 

The administration’s no tolerance policy for asylum seekers has created constant fear and chaos for immigrant families while doing nothing to strengthen our national security.

Wisconsin Supreme Court upholds state legislature's lame-duck laws limiting the powers of the incoming Governor.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Republican state lawmakers and upheld laws limiting the power of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

The Court provided clarity that state Attorneys General will maintain the exclusive right to bring future redistricting cases.

Guest column in Chicago-area newspaper the Daily Herald, from LWV of Illinois executive director Audra Wilson.

The League of Women Voters of the United States and the League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia today filed an amicus brief along with partner civil rights groups in the D.C. voting rights case Castanon v. United States.

The League of Women Voters of the United States and the League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia filed an amicus brief along with partner civil rights groups in the D.C. voting rights case Castanon v. United States. 

 It’s important we remember the struggles so many go through to become what so many are just born into, so that none of us take the right of citizenship—and all the responsibility that entails—for granted. 

The League sent a letter to U.S. Senators encouraging them to support and pass a resolution making September National Democracy Month.

This month the Supreme Court will issue their decision in Rucho v. League of Women Voters of North Carolina, our redistricting lawsuit that could set a standard for the whole nation when it comes to partisan gerrymandering.

Have you wondered what you can do to fight climate change? One of the most critical actions is putting a price on carbon emissions.

On May 11, the LWV of New Mexico participated in a voting rights panel on the For the People Act (SB949), moderated by Senator Tom Udall. President Judy Williams shares her experience on the panel.

Last year, an army of paid workers with stacks of voter registration forms fanned out in Memphis, Nashville and other parts of Tennessee to persuade African Americans to vote. In response, the legislature passed a law imposing civil penalties on groups that employ paid canvassers if they submit incomplete or inaccurate voter registration forms.

The League joined more than 30 organizations in urging the House Administration Committee to vigorously support for the bipartisan and independent U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

The League joined 400 national, state, and local groups urging Congress to ensure passage of legislation that permanently protects Dreamers and beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).

On May 6, the House Administration Subcommittee on Elections visited Fort Lauderdale, Florida to hold a field hearing on voting rights and elections. I represented LWVFL as a testifying witness.

LWVUS sent a memo to all members of the U.S. House asking them to co-sponsor H.R. 1923, the Women’s History and Nineteenth Amendment Centennial Quarter Dollar Coin Program Act.

Op-ed written by Cecile Scoon, vice president of the League of Women Voters of Florida. 

The arc of justice bent briefly toward Florida in November, when citizens here restored the right to vote for most people with felony convictions who have completed their sentences. However, the state legislature devised a way to once again deprive the vote of most of the people we had hoped to re-enfranchise.

The League joined over 100 organizations on letters to all announced presidential candidates urging them to implement a democracy reform plan. 

LWV of Tennessee filed a federal lawsuit today challenging a new Tennessee law that imposes substantial penalties on groups that foster political participation via voter registration efforts.

The League of Women Voters of Texas and other civil rights groups reached a settlement with Texas state officials today to end the discriminatory purging of the state’s voter rolls.

Following the introduction of the For the People Act in the Senate, we launched a nationwide campaign to promote a hearing on the bill. We published newspaper ads and wrote postcards to Senators.

Today a panel of federal district judges ruled in favor of the League of Women Voters of Michigan in their First and Fourteenth Amendment challenges to the state and congressional redistricting plans. 

LWVUS and 87 organizations sent comments to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) regarding proposed rulemaking for procedural changes to the Coastal Zone Management Act (CMZA). 

Federal judges ordered the state of Michigan to draw new legislative districts on Thursday, after finding that a gerrymandered plan enacted by the state’s Republican-dominated legislature in 2011 constituted an “extremely grave” constitutional violation.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard Department of Commerce v. New York, a case challenging the Administration’s decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census short form. Learn more about the case here.

The League sent a memo to the U.S. Senate calling for a hearing on the For the People Act. 

Dakota citizens and members of Congress gathered at Fort Yates, on the Standing Rock Sioux Nation, for a field hearing of the Committee on House Administration, Subcommittee on Elections.

The Mueller report makes it clear: Congress should pass the For the People Act  to modernize our elections and increase transparency.

The sooner we can start educating young people about our election and voting systems, the more empowered they will be to make their voices heard. 

A coalition of 16 advocacy groups — including the Campaign Legal Center, Issue One, the League of Women Voters and Public Citizen — is calling on candidates for president to release lists of their top fundraisers.

 On March 26, the U.S. Supreme Court heard three high-profile cases pertaining to gerrymandering, including Rucho v. League of Women Voters of North Carolina.

LWVUS joined a broad cross-partisan coalition urging presidential candidates to disclose their big-money campaign fundraisers.

The League and coalition partners support passage of HR 9, the Climate Action Now Act.

In less than one year, on April 1, 2020, the Census will be in full swing. This process of counting will ensure that the political power, health, and safety of every community is maintained or enhanced in the upcoming decade.

The League joined 178 civic organizations on an amicus brief for the census litigation case in New York.

The League of Women Voters celebrated the record number of women serving in the House and Senate this year with a reception for the female members of Congress.

This bill will make elections fairer and put power back in the hands of the American people.

LWVUS joined a letter opposing the inclusion of three troubling anti-democracy riders from the 2019 spending package.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Tuesday urged the U.S. Supreme Court to act on partisan gerrymandering, calling the matter “one of the most important issues in America today.”

Hogan and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke at an anti-gerrymandering rally Tuesday morning organized by Common Cause and the League of Women Voters.

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear Rucho v. League of Women Voters North Carolina, which could result in ending partisan gerrymandering across the nation. 

Supreme Court justices heard arguments Tuesday on a North Carolina map, drawn by Republicans who explicitly sought a partisan advantage, and a Maryland voting district designed by Democrats to oust a Republican lawmaker.

One North Carolina case was Rucho vs. League of Women Voters of North Carolina.

The League urged Representatives to support HR4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act.

Today a Wisconsin judge ruled in favor of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin in our suit against the state legislature. 

A Wisconsin judge on Thursday blocked several lightning-fast actions in December by the state legislature to limit the power of its incoming governor and preserve policies implemented by his predecessor.

Watching the passage of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, was a spectacular experience. The League worked to build support for this legislation and shape the bill’s language.

LWVUS submitted substantive comments to the U.S.  Census Bureau on the 2020 Address Canvassing operation.

LWVUS joined other civil rights organizations supporting the Native American Voting Rights Act of 2019. 

The League of Women Voters of Maryland joined a brief filed with the United States Supreme Court challenging political gerrymanders.

The League of Women Voters of Maryland joined as amici on a brief filed in the U.S. Supreme Court case Lamone v. Benisek.

The League of Women Voters sent a statement for the record in support of HR1.

The League submitted a brief to the 9th Circuit in the case of Juliana v. US.

Small donor, public matching funds provide an opportunity for candidates to consider running for office who otherwise might not.

The League filed an amicus brief in Rucho v. Common Cause at the U.S. Supreme Court. The League's case, Rucho v. LWVNC, is combined with this case.

Voting rights groups that charge that Ohio’s congressional map was unfairly manipulated by state Republicans will have their say in federal court.

The plaintiffs include groups such as the League of Women Voters of Ohio, Democratic organizations, and Democratic voters in GOP-held districts.

This Women's History Month, we're highlighting some of our most prominent members. These women made great strides toward a more perfect democracy and inspire us to work toward the same goal.

The League of Women Voters strongly urges members of the U.S. House to vote for HR1, the For the People Act.

With the introduction of this bill, it is time for Congress to update the Voting Rights Act and restore the vote for millions of disenfranchised voters. 

The League of Women Voters joined the Brady Campaign and other groups to support HR8 in the U.S. House.

The League sent a memo to the U.S. Senate urging members to support and co-sponsor a companion bill to HR1, the For the People Act.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) unanimously voted to hold a new election for the 9^th Congressional district. This decision comes after claims involving absentee voter manipulation arose following the 2018 midterm election.

The League of Women Voters CEO Virginia Kase issued the following statement following President Trump's declaration of a national emergency.

The League joined with coalition partners on a letter sent to the chairmen of the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committees urging them to protect and maintain the Johnson Amendment.

The League of Women Voters national president Chris Carson issued the following statement on the passing of Congressman John Dingell.

A group of unions on Monday filed a fourth legal challenge to controversial laws passed by Republican leaders just before Gov. Tony Evers took office — this one contending they violate the state constitution’s separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches.

Was the last re-drawing of Michigan’s political district maps so biased in Republicans’ favor, they were illegal?

That question literally went on trial Tuesday, with a three-judge panel in Detroit’s federal court hearing arguments for and against Michigan’s 2011 redistricting maps.

This year, in addition to helping register a record number of new voters in 2018, 853 League volunteers dedicated 6,600 hours of their time to inform, assist, and engage with over 47,000 new citizens at the ceremonies nationwide.

While you're watching, our SOTU Bingo is a fun and easy way to track how the President’s speech and agenda for our nation match up with our priorities.

Tuesday, January 31, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on HR1, the For the People Act. As legislators asked questions of the six expert witnesses, several strong arguments for HR1 emerged.

Our League volunteers spent over 180,000 hours working to register, inform, and protect voters. Check out our impact in the 2018 midterm elections.

The League and members of the Declaration for American Democracy Coalition sent a joint statement from diverse groups to the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of HR1, the For the People Act.
 

A report from the League of Women Voters of Kentucky shows 92 percent of those with felony convictions have been released from prison or jail and live in the community, but cannot vote.

The state of Texas' announcement that it was flagging tens of thousands of registered voters for citizenship checks was met with dismay among civil rights attorneys and voting rights advocates, who said it echoed efforts around the country to remove eligible voters from the rolls.

If this settlement is approved by the court, 11 state house districts will be redrawn to fairly represent voters—that’s one more step toward making sure voters are picking their politicians, and not the other way around.

The League sent a memo to the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate urging them to re-open the government.

 Female candidates shouldn’t be shoehorned into a “narrative” dominated by their identity that excludes the policies they’re championing, said Virginia Kase, CEO of the League of Women Voters.

Members of the LWVUS Lobby Corps visited members of the U.S. House urging them to support HR1, the For the People Act.

The League sent a letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives addressing HR1 as the bill needed to heal our country.

The LWVNC v. Rucho case is a partisan gerrymandering challenge to the North Carolina congressional map. Partisan gerrymandering is the practice of drawing electoral district lines in a way that discriminates against a political party.

After the 2018 election, the outgoing WI legislature called a special session and passed several bills aimed at undermining the new governor. LWVWI sued, contending that the session was unconstitutional.

The lawsuit contends that because the Legislature unconstitutionally convened the December 2018 “extraordinary session,” all business conducted during the “extraordinary session” is void and unenforceable.

League urges Congress to propose bold legislation addressing climate change.

What will keep our nation secure is not a wall, but a comprehensive immigration plan executed through a fully funded government.

The Supreme Court will hear arguments in a challenge to North Carolina’s 2016 congressional redistricting plan, one of the most egregious partisan gerrymanders in U.S. history.

The first bill introduced by the 116th Congress will make our election system more free, fair, and accessible to all eligible Americans.  

U.S. House leadership unveiled a democracy reform bill, HR1 (the For the People Act), that will make elections fairer and put power back in the hands of the American people. 

Same Day Registration is the best stop-gap solution to solve errors in the registration process, fix inaccuracies in voter rolls, reduce provisional ballots, and increase voter participation.

After the election, I joined fellow members of the League of Women Voters of DC to register new voters at a naturalization ceremony. It was my first time at one; I was uncertain of what to expect.

Activists are arranging in-person meetings with incoming members of the 116th House of Representatives and dropping in to have conversations with staff members on the need for HR 1, the first bill that the House plans to take up in January. 

LWVUS  submitted comments about the federal government's role in civil rights enforcement on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights' Fall Report.

Proposition 4 promises an independent redistricting commission to draw lines for electoral districts: those in power will no longer shape their districts and choose their voters.

Congress could make history with HR1, a comprehensive package of democracy reforms. We have been working to ensure that it strengthens voting rights.

LWV of North Carolina supports the Board of Elections’ decision to delay certification of the results of the 9th Congressional District election until a thorough investigation has been conducted.

On November 6^th, Missouri voters approved Amendment 1 with a 62% majority – demonstrating a commitment and desire to clean up Missouri politics.

This past Election day, Michigan voters approved Proposals 2 and 3, creating an independent redistricting commission and expanding access to the polls.

On November 6, 2018, Coloradoans voted to pass Amendments Y and Z, two key redistricting ballot initiatives made possible by the League and coalition partners in Colorado.

Every Election Day, we participate in election protection to ensure that voters are treated fairly. Watch our video to hear stories from real voters on Election Day.

The League celebrates 2018 midterms voting rights victories in Florida, Maryland, and Michigan. When it came to issues of elections, voters overwhelmingly selected to expand voting rights.

Today a three-judge panel ruled that four Wake County House Districts violated the North Carolina Constitution and ordered the district maps redrawn in the next legislative session.

People are social creatures - and studies have shown that talking about voting makes people more likely to vote. So talk about voting to your friends and family!

The League filed a brief in the case of Common Cause v. Rucho with the Supreme Court on October 31.

In states across the country, the League is working to put the power to draw lines in the hands of the people, not politicians.

This week, I had the privilege to attend a talk by Arturo Vargas at the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) on Latinos and the 2018 election.

On Monday, a Judge in New Hampshire issued an injunction stopping the state from advancing a controversial election law requiring extra documentation in order to register to vote.

Like many Americans, I never know where I’ll be on Election Day. What if I have to travel for work? What if the baby is sick and I can’t make it to the polls? What if I get stuck at the office late and the lines are super long?

Election Day just three weeks away. Voters across the country will participate in important state and local elections on November 6.

Voting registration deadlines are soon approaching. 

The League of Women Voters’ President Chris Carson and CEO Virginia Kase joint statement after the Senate voted to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh as the next Supreme Court justice. 

Yesterday I watched as my CEO was arrested in an act of civil disobedience in the atrium of the Hart Senate Office Building.

The League of Women Voters' CEO Virginia Kase participated in the civil disobedience to protest Judge Kavanaugh and was among the activists arrested at the Capitol. 

Judge Kavanaugh has shown the country that he does not possess fair and unbiased judicial temperament.

Maryland judges floated the idea of leaving the drawing of electoral lines to an independent, nonpartisan com­mission.

With five short weeks before Election Day, now is the time to get the information you need so that you can participate in the 2018 midterms and the League is here to help! 

On November 6, 2016, I woke up at 5am and headed to a San Francisco museum, preparing myself for a 12-hour shift as a poll worker. I spent the day witnessing democracy in action.

This National Voter Registration Day, Leagues in more than 40 states will host over 400 registration events.

Arizonans who recently updated their address with the Motor Vehicles Division  may not have had their voter registration updated. Now is the time for voters to check their registration status.

Learn different ways to become active this election season. 

The League sent a memo to the U.S.  House regarding the citizenship question on the U.S. Census.

On the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria, the League stands united with our Puerto Rican neighbors and ready to support new voters throughout the midterms this season.

LWVUS sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the U.S. Supreme Court nomination hearing of Brett Kavanaugh.

The League joined a letter to the conferrees of the Farm Bill  asking them to protect and strengthen the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the final version of the Farm Bill. 

Tuesday, September 25 is National Voter Registration Day (NVRD)! This year, a record-breaking 400 LWV affiliates have signed up to hit the streets and help register voters.

Nearly half a century ago the League of Women Voters of Iowa joined the fight for fair maps in Iowa. 

After three days of hearings, this is what we’ve learned about Judge Kavanaugh’s record as it relates to our priority issues.

When the 2012 Presidential Election season approached, excitement rushed through me. I had voted in local elections, but this was the first time I could participate in a presidential election.

The League of Women Voters of Arizona filed a lawsuit against the Arizona Secretary of State for violating the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). 

The League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF) and Rose Community Management (RCM), an affiliate of Jonathan Rose Companies (JRCo), are joining forces to empower voters to make use of their electoral power in 2018.

September is National Voter Registration Month—and Leagues across the country are working hard to make sure eligible voters are registered to vote.

The Virginia General Assembly will convene in a special session to redraw eleven House of Delegates districts that a three-judge panel deemed in June were an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.

A three-judge panel struck down the state’s congressional map as an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander. 

The League was proud to work with Senator McCain on his bipartisan efforts to reform campaign finance reform and remembers his legacy as a political maverick. 

The decision to keep polling places open in Randolph County is a victory for African American voters. But in 2018, it should never have been an issue.

Ninety-eight years ago, on August 26th, after decades of tireless advocacy, women finally won the right to vote with the adoption of the 19th Amendment—opening the democratic process to more than 23 million women.  

The Trump Administration announced their plan to gut the Obama Administration regulation that combats climate change by setting the first-ever federal limits on carbon pollution from power plants.

The League of Women Voters of Arizona joined voting rights organizations in a lawsuit filed against Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan , nine months after notifying her office of significant federal voting rights violations.

The League endorsed the Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act introduced by Senator Warren.

The League joined organizations opposing the attempted repeal of the 2015 Clean Water Rule.

The League joins advocate groups to denounce intimidation and violence by white supremacists.

Throughout our history, the League has not always been welcoming to women of color. As we approach our 100^th anniversary, we are not only striving for better, we will do better.

The League submitted organizational comments regarding the inclusion of the citizenship question on the 2020 Census.

Americans do not need a photo ID to buy groceries, and they shouldn't need one to vote either!

This month the election information website VOTE411.org surpassed expectations and hit the 1 million user milestone before primary elections are complete.