LWVUS 2026 Convention Recap

Report to LWVRA Board

07-06-2026

LWVRA Virtual Delegate:  Pam Crowe

 

 

The LWVUS 2026 Convention was convened in Columbus, Ohio June 25 – 28, 2026.  I attended virtually, which meant I did not have access to the 39 breakout sessions on numerous topics. I was able to attend talks and the plenary (business) sessions, the meat of the convention.  The following are the highlights as I interpreted them.

 

Friday, June 26

Jane Ruby, president of the Chicago LWV, went over the League’s community norms. As we go through the convention (and as we work together in our chapters over the year) remember:

• Interpersonal norms

                ◦        Be respectful: Always assume good intent on the part of the other; understand your impact

                ◦     Understand privilege and position; park yours at the door

                ◦     Talk to each other, not about each other

 

• Participation norms

                ◦     Participate fully; limit your use of phones

                ◦    Foster an environment of learning – mistakes are OK

                ◦     Step up, step back

                ◦     Allow space for conversation and flexibility in the agenda as needed 

 

• Conflict norms

                ◦     Actively listen: be present, use repeat backs, ask clarification questions

                ◦     Agree & commit / Disagree & commit

                ◦     Allow new ideas, use positive framing; use “yes and” not “yes but”

◦     With respect and civility embrace hard conversations/conflict.  Agree to intent, impact, and resolution.

 

Current Foci are to Empower Voters &  Defend Democracy using DEI lens

 

Use DEI lens whenever making changes at state or local level

• Who’s involved in the process?
• Who’ll be impacted?
• What are the intended and unintended consequences?
• Does this (change) align with our vision for an equitable and inclusive organization?
• What changes can be made to make this/us more equitable?

 

Policies v. Bylaws

 

Chapter bylaws are to be reviewed for necessary updates after each national convention.   Remember, bylaws cannot be suspended. Bylaws are the base of actions. Policies go into more detail and are easier to change.

 

Find LWVUS bylaws at lwv.org; click on League Management, then Operations and Governance. Bylaws questions can also be sent to bylaws [at] lwv.org.

 

** LWV is a c-3 and a c-4 nonprofit.  Members are part of the c-4 part of LWVUS.  (Check into this for our LWVRA bylaws.)

 

To keep meetings on track, use Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.

 

 

 

Future LWVUS Leadership

 

The nominations committee processed these nominations for two years assessing, looking at DEI considerations, potential candidates’ commitment, and their ability to embrace the League as an activist organization. Our new board will be bold, nimble, courageous, and activist.

•	President	Sania Irwin
•	Vice President	Vedna Lacombe
•	Secretary	Toni Monette
•	Treasurer	Julie Stackhouse

 

 

LWV is an activist political organization and is nonpartisan.

• If any member is hesitant to take action, redirect him/her.
• Non-partisanship strengthens League’s positions. LWV puts citizens and communities first – not parties,
• League is in transformation time.  
• LWV acts 12 months per year – not just at election times.

 

 

Transformation Roadmap

• DEI accountability – are we diverse and inclusive? How many races, ethnicities, cultures are members of our league?
• Do we have a platform for people to join at every level? Adults and students for two.
• Build state readiness and grow on the ground.

 

 

Work on the National Voter Interstate Compact.  1 person/1 vote → Abolish the electoral college.  

 

 

 

Saturday, June 27    (begin 6:30 am)

 

Chapters encouraged to participate in the Day of Action,  August 8, to honor the Voting Rights Act.

 

 

Quick update on 2025-26 figures:

• Average dues payment:  $69.17
• Observer corps: 8,154 members
• Convention attendees: 4660 from 45 states and DC
• Toolkit coming soon to help develop new leaders

 

 

LWV DEI in Action:  Building on Foundation

 

Objectives:

1. Align on DEI foundations
2. Understand & prioritize pillars
3. Build skills and tools
4. Plan for FY27 action

 

Get the most out of the next year:

1. Relate to framework as context not contest
2. Ground your thinking in your league’s experience
3. Engage as a learning experience, not a debate space
4. Balance big picture thinking with practical application
5. Center impact on members and communities
6. Be honest about where LWVRA is today
7. Stay future oriented
8. Prioritize what matters most
9. Share responsibility within your league
10. Capture insights for continued work

 

Note:  White supremacy has us working in isolation.  (As a nation) we have so much (racial) tension within us, stop and break it down with purposeful breathing or humming.

 

 

LWV began its transformation journey in 2016. Now in Phase 3, we are to reflect on community, actively dismantle exclusionary practices, and share power. Look at equity – focus on the disadvantaged.  Look at inclusion – who is heard, who is not.  Look at power – power over, power to, power within, power with.

 

 

Foundational Pillars of DEI

1. Address interpersonal challenges
2. Equitable decision-making and conflict management
3. Community engagement and coalition building
4. Collective leadership and systems thinking

 

 

Interpersonal Challenges

1. Welcome comments, consider them, accept new ideas
2. Recognize and interrupt microaggressions
3. Bystander v. upstander
4. Create allies:  person to person
5. Ensure members feel valued and heard
6. Consider lived experience as expertise:  center diverse perspectives
7. Give and receive feedback across differences
8. Build psychological safety in League spaces
9. From intent to impact, use accountability and repair in response to harm
10. Navigate conflict and defensiveness with a DEIB (B=belonging) lens

 

 

Work through Interpersonal Challenges

• Acknowledge  What happened?
• Clarify                         How were you affected?
• Turn forward  How to repair the harm(s)?   How to move forward?

 

Embed equity into League’s everyday systems, decisions, and operations:

• leadership & participation
• budgeting & resource allocation
• communication & outreach
• meeting structures & accessibility

 

Topics under Equitable Decision Making & Operationalizing DEI

• Equity centered decision making
• Power dynamics in the League:  who speaks – who is heard?
• Budget for equity
• Equitable meeting design and facilitation
• Tokenism v. shared power
• Align policies and practices
• Interrupt bias

 

Be in the community – go out to other groups’ functions all year.

 

Equity considerations:

• senior needs
• disability needs
• black, brown, indigenous people
• gig workers • care givers
• etc.

Be active beyond election cycles ---  all year!

 

 

Planning the coming year . . .

• Focus on one goal related to one of the 4 Pillars (check out 4 Pillars LWV)
• Promote democracy and voting (anchor issues)

◦     remember LWVUS declared a “Constitutional Crisis” in Ap. 2025; D.C, members/staff have had to wear bullet-proof vests since Trump was elected

• Increase boldness
• Be more engaged in activism

                ◦     League partnered with No Kings at the national level

                ◦     It is essential to show up

                ◦     Do not use non-partisanship to stay apart from the fight for democracy

◦           Do not be the weakest link in a time of over-comers ◦             GO BOLDLY AND LOUDLY into the fire.

                ◦     Sign on to participate in Unite 8.5

• Choose principled action over fear
• Do not speak apologetically
• Be agents of change toward democracy

 

 

Voting rights are indispensable. Power must rest with the people. League is 70,000 members strong. We must collaborate and work together operating as a mesh network. Movements are built on relationships.

 

The LWV is resilient. Members are deeply committed; they won’t take “no” for an answer. Good energy will come from our 20,000 new members.

 

Actions to take this year:

• observers
• letters
• registration of voters
• educate
• forums
• youth workers
• tabling
• Get Out the Vote

This is the moment LWV was made for. Build a better democracy!

 

LWVUS has partnered with Girl Scouts of America, for one.

 

Sunday, June 28 (begin 4:00 am PDT)

 

Motions Passed

 

Support for Civil Service workers

 

Support for D.C. statehood 

 

Get Congress to do its job – reinstate checks & balances

 

Support the National Popular Vote Compact:  Achieve 1 person/1 vote; end the electoral college Support privacy concerns: control surveillance cameras picking up license plates and facial recognition; stop info shared without a warrant: stop the way ICE picks up people

 

Educate the public about human trafficking

 

Biennium budget was approved

 

Colorado motion to support religious freedom (separation of church and state)

 

Protect immigrants

 

For the national bylaws:  strengthen member rights and clarify board emergency powers; aligned national budget committee with biennial calendar

 

 

 

 

 

◘  Remember to check the accuracy of our c-3 designation in our bylaws.

 

 

 

◘  Check out complete 2026 Convention report on line.