About

About

LWVDE

About the League 

The League has worked for nearly 100 years educating, advocating for, and empowering voters.

Our Mission and Roles

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. We never support or oppose any political party or candidate.

The LWVDE Board of Directors 2023-2025

Officers
      • President: Tiffany G. Lydon (NCC)
      • 1st Vice President: Marjorie C. Johnson (NCC)
      • 2nd Vice President: Linda Barnett (NCC)
      • Treasurer: Pat Newcomb (SC)
      • Secretary: Ceil Tilney (NCC)
Directors
      • Mary Ann Coe (KC)
      • Jill Itzkowitz (NCC)
      • Vicki Sessoms (SC)
      • Dr. Marlene Saunders (SC)
      • Melody Taylor (NCC)
      • Ashley Carson (KC)       
Local League Presidents:
      • Kent County: Chandra Owens 
      • New Castle County: Richard Johnson
      • Sussex County: Barbara Hedges-Goettl 
Nominating Committee
      • Letty Diswood, Chair (NCC)
      • Marj Johnson (NCC)
      • Pat Newcomb (SC)
      • Ellen Wasfi (KC)
Activity/Portfolio Chairs:
      • Climate Change/Energy – Peggy Schultz, chairperson 
      • Criminal Justice – Chris Asay, chairperson
      • Elections and Voting – Jill Itzkowitz, chairperson
      • Government/Redistricting/Finance/Taxation- Jack Young, chairperson
      • Health Care – Judy  Butler, chairperson
      • Housing – Vicki Sessoms
      • Land Use / Transportation- Anna Quisel, chairperson
      • Money in Politics – Chris Asay, chairperson
      • Natural Resources – Charlie Garlow, chairperson
      • Reproductive Choice – Linda Barnett, chairperson
      • Social Policy – Linda Barnett, chairperson

The League of Women Voters has two separate and distinct roles

Citizen Education

Advocacy

  •  Action/Advocacy: although we are nonpartisan, after study, we use our positions to advocate for or against particular policies in the public interest.

 

Resources

Lobby HandbookThe PDF icon Lobby Handbook is intended to be a viable and useable publication for individuals, groups and organizations seeking to expand their knowledge of the Delaware Legislature.Sources of information contained in the Handbook include: Tell It to Washington (League
of Women Voters of the United States); Delaware Government (League of Women Voters of Delaware), and the State of Delaware Division of Research.

LWVUS

LWVUS has numerous positions published in a document called Impact on Issues 2022-2024. It contains a short summary of the League's public policy positions that can be used as a quick reference for the League's various thoughts on positions. This PDF document contains national positions and documents the history of LWVUS action at the federal level. There are separate sections addressing four broad topics:  

      • Representative Government
      • International Relations     
      • Natural Resources
      • Social Policy

impactonissues2024 A printed/published version of Impact on Issues 2022-2024 by League of Women Voters of the United States. It ccan be purchased through Amazon for $5.00.

 

 

 

DelawareOur Work at the State Level: A Focus on Advocacy

      • Some League members achieve satisfaction by:
        • addressing their passion through involvement in the LWVDE Advocacy Corps
        • developing sufficient expertise and experience to become registered lobbyists for the League
      • Others support the official lobbyists and develop their expertise by:
        • researching issues
        • sharing their professional expertise
        • studying the implications of proposed legislation
        • drafting letters to the editor, or Op Ed's (Opinion Editorials), or testimony
        • tracking the status of bills as they work through the legislative process
        • observing committee hearings or legislative sessions.
Whatever our role, we are always inspired by the opportunity to learn more about our state government and have an impact on public policy, working with other Advocacy Corps members who are knowledgeable and anxious to share their enthusiasm and experience with others. League members are invited to: 
        • participate in our monthly meetings in Dover
        • deliberate on the pros and cons of proposed legislation that affects all of us
        • become a part of the work of the League in advocating for positions
        • help make democracy work here in Delaware
        • contact lwvde [at] comcast.net (Linda Barnett), the Advocacy Chair, if interested in coming to a meeting.

A lot of our work can be done from the comfort of home, researching, and writing about the issues. We'll be happy to mentor you as you learn about our work.

LWVDE Committees

Land Use Committee:
      • The LWVDE Land Use/Transportation Portfolio Chair serves at the pleasure of the Advocacy Corps of the LWVDE. The work of the chair is routinely reviewed by the Land Use/Transportation Committee of the LWVNCC and is directed by a consensus of views of that committee. The portfolio includes statewide planning, land preservation, transportation, the interrelation of transportation to land use, and climate change issues directly related to any of the preceding.
Election Committee:
      • The primary purpose of the LWVDE Election and Voting Committee is to promote legislation that facilitates voting in Delaware.  The committee also works on projects to assist those that may have difficulty in voting, such as the elderly and incarcerated, and partners with the Delaware Department of Elections to ensure that voting machines and the voting process operate smoothly.
Environment Committee:
      • The Environmental Committee is part of the LWVDE Advocacy Corps (AC). The work of the committee focuses on any issue that can impact Delaware’s environment and the ability to protect the land, water, and air from pollution. Committee members follow environmental legislation for the AC, and prepare and present testimony on bills of interest. Members also work with other environmental groups within and outside of Delaware.
New Citizen Ceremonies Coordination Committee:
      • After successfully fulfilling the required criteria to be granted US citizenship, applicants receive their certificates of citizenship during naturalization ceremonies.  In Delaware, these ceremonies are scheduled eight times a year either at the US District Court House in Wilmington or in Clayton Hall at the University of Delaware, Newark. The LWVDE New Citizen Ceremonies Committee co-chairs coordinate with the federal court to attend every event so as to assist each new citizen. With the assistance of LWVDE volunteers, the new citizens are provided with a packet of voting information including a roster of their US and Delaware legislators. League volunteers, traditionally from New Castle County (LWVNCC), are available to respond to citizens’ questions regarding voting issues.

CountiesLocal Leagues in Delaware

There are three local Leagues in Delaware. Each one serves one of our three counties. They are:

Those who join a local League in Delaware are automatically members of the LWV of Delaware and The League of Women Voters of the United States. Find other state and local Leagues.