Manhattan/Riley County
Manhattan/Riley County
Advocate. Educate. Inform. Empower.
In these trying times, it will take us all to have a future based on justice, our Constitution, and the power of an informed electorate. After 100 years of pushing forward, the League is not willing to stop now.
Please Vote! Exercise your most fundamental right as a United States Citizen because:
"Democracy is NOT a spectator sport."
Get Ready to Vote!
Learn about candidates on YOUR ballot and more voting information at Vote411.org (The LWVUS sponsored voting info site)
See your polling place, how to use the voting machines and more at Riley County Elections website, and your local county clerk! Check here.
Thanks For All You Do To Keep Democracy Alive! Interested in serving the League in some way this year? Please reply to lwv.manhattanks [at] gmail.com ! We are looking for members to serve in leadership and board at large positions. We will be electing new roles at our April election and Annual meeting!
Jan. 17th: Celebrating our most recent members. [Plus prizes & a Quick Orientation] 9:30-11 am, Manhattan Public Library, Grosebeck Room on 2nd floor, SW. Enjoy treats, handouts, and get to know each other better!
Upcoming Event: Dinner with League: January 7th, Wednesday [Day change for this event only.] League Issues Forum: The 2026 Kansas Legislative Outlook
You and your guests are welcome to join our League of Women Voters of Manhattan-Riley County for good food, an engaging conversation and connection with each other on WEDNESDAY, January 7th! [Note: Wednesday night instead of Thursday.]
The Kansas Legislature will convene on Monday, January 12th for the 2026 session. Please join our local legislators as they share their insight into the upcoming issues. 
WHAT: League Issues Forum: The 2026 Kansas Legislative Outlook
SPEAKERS: Area state Legislators Senators Brad Starnes & Kenny Titus, Representatives Sydney Carlin & Megan Steele have accepted to our invite so far. We have invited ALL Local representatives.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 7th, 6 pm optional dinner, 6:30 pm PANEL CONVERSATION with time to meet with representatives afterwards.
WHERE: Prairie Star Restaurant, Meadowlark Hills, 2121 Meadowlark Road, Manhattan, KS 66502
MENU: Prairie Star Quiche, Wild Rice, Broccoli, Beverage. Bar open for your convenience
COST: Price: $15 by check to LWVMRC or cash at the door. Meadowlark residents may sign up at the front desk. Dinner is OPTIONAL.
RSVP: For Meal only by MONDAY, January 5th : reply to lwv.manhattanks [at] gmail.com if you'd like to reserve a meal. Otherwise, we hope to see you at 6:30pm for the Meeting!
We hope you can Join us, and bring a friend! We welcome your suggestions for future programs anytime.
Thank You!
Your LWV MRC Leadership Team: Sara Fisher, Barbara Anderson, Tim May, Elke Lorenz, Linda Uthoff
Learn about the LWVUS new initiative, Unite and Rise, A campaign to defend Democracy
We encourage you to sign up with the League of Women Voters for current news releases and blog postings. (Newsroom Link) (Please note: The following statements are non-partisan as candidates are now elected officials. Our resistance is based on our national positions, not political parties.)
- LWV Declares United States in a Constitutional Crisis
- League of Women Voters, Lawyers Committee, NAACP, and Equal Justice Society File Brief Opposing Executive Order Attacking Birthright Citizenship
- How to Support the Immigrant Community
- Reflection on the Election: We Will Speak Up and Speak Out
Monthly Meetings: First Thursday evenings of the Month: Meadowlark; the exception is January 7th!
Jan. 17th: Celebrating our most recent members. [Plus prizes & a Quick Orientation] 9:30-11 am, Manhattan Public Library, Grosebeck Room on 2nd floor, SW. Enjoy treats, handouts, and get to know each other better!
Jan. 17th: LWVMRC Board Meeting, 11am-12:30 pm , Grosebeck Room, Manhattan Public Library. Members are always welcome!
Jan. 22nd: LWVMRC Bookclub: 6:30 pm; 1st floor West Collaboration Space & Classroom, Manhattan Public Library: On Tyranny, by Timothy Snyder. ALL ARE WELCOME!
January 29th: State League Day at the Capitol: Kansas Day, January 29th; 8:30 am-noon [Speakers & Lunch], afternoon is time to visit your legislators. Carpooling available. RSVP to this email if interested.
April 18th:LWV MRC Annual Meeting, Meadowlark Hills Community Room,Southeast entrance: Saturday, April 18th, 2026, 9:30-11:30 am
April 25th: LWVK Bi-Annual Council: Great Bend Public Library, In-Person and On-Line: Saturday, April 25, 2026. 9 am-2pm
UNITE & RISE 8.5: An initiative to Defend Democracy with the US League. Check It Out: Unite and Rise 8.5: An Initiative to Defend Democracy | League of Women Voters
Remember a very easy App to use to help communicate with your legislators via Voice messages: 5 Calls
For those of you who could not join us for the June DINNER WITH THE LEAGUE featuring Indivisible MHK! Find out more at their Website: Indivisible MHK
Don't forget to visit the Kansas Statehouse to see the new Suffragist memorial, "Rebel Women." This is first work by a woman artist in the Kansas Statehouse. The artist, Phyllis Garibay-Coon is a Manhattan resident. Congratulations, Ms. Garibay-Coon. More here.
League News
Recording of Candidates Forum, October 4, 2025
Manhattan City Commission and USD 383 School Board Forum Recordings posted on News Radio KMAN
This forum was sponsored by: League of Women Voters of Manhattan-Riley County, NAACP, AAUW of Manhattan, KS, Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, KMAN Radio
In the Spotlight: League of Women Voters Encourages Student Participation Ahead of Voter Registration Deadline
From KKSU Website:
[October 15, 2024]
MANHATTAN, Kan. As the voter registration deadline looms, Donna Shenk Hamlin from the League of Women Voters joined Delaney and Cadence on Wildcat 91.9™s Evening Drive Show to discuss the importance of civic engagement among students. With voter registration closing at noon on Tuesday, Hamlin emphasized the ease of checking registration status and making voting plans through the website ksvotes.org.
Hamlin, a long-standing member of the League of Women Voters of Riley County and a participant in Kansas State University's Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy (ICDD), highlighted the collaborative efforts to promote voter participation....(article continues.)
For a recording, visit here or: https://www.wildcat919.com/post/league-of-women-voters-encourages-studen....
Thank you, Donna, for your excellent advice, to Andrew Smith Multi-Media News Director KKSU-TV for the invitation, and to Delany and Cadence for your support!
In Memory of Bob and Jan Kruh
We are forever grateful to the legacies of Bob and Jan Kruh. Their leadership and generosity for the League of Women Voters of Manhattan-Riley County was unbounded. Our thanks to the Kruh family for designating our organization for memorial contributions.
(Donation information: Click Red Donate button or here. Thank you.)
Please Remember to Pay your Annual Dues online or by mail. Thank you for making all our programs possible, and reaching out to new members. (Use the Join/Renew button above.)
LWVK information is available on our website.
Other Online Links to stay informed:
The Kansas Reflector - you can subscribe to have an email update sent to your inbox daily
Legiscan - a national tracking site for legislative actions both at the national and state levels
The link to the new 2025 Kansas Legislature site will allow you to access and watch in real time or you can also watch later as all committee meetings are recorded.
All League Events are free and open to the public
More Information About Our Area?
Be sure to check out our blog for current observer reports on the USD 383 Board of Education meetings and the Riley County Law Board meetings.
Who we are:
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
The League of Women Voters Manhattan/Riley County believes in: respect for individuals, the value of diversity, the empowerment of the grassroots*, and the power of collective decision making for the common good.
What are current League Priorities?
The League of Women Voters of Manhattan-Riley County Supports Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion [LWVUS Policy Statement] Definitions
LWVKansas Legislative Priorities
LWVUS Positions and Priorities: At the National Level The LWVMRC is part of the League of Women Voters of the United States. Our positions and policies are informed by careful study and are agreed upon by the League members at local, state, and national levels. A complete description of our national positions, Imact on Issues, is available Here.
