Who Are We? | New LWV Series |
Who are we?
This sometimes comes up not in the form of a question, but in the form of a statement: “Oh, the League. You register voters, right?”
Yes, but registering voters is only part of what we do. Our mission is much broader. The League promotes informed and active participation in government as essential to a healthy society.
We focus on policy. The League – national, state, and local – supports policies seen as helpful to our nation and our communities. We work to change existing policies and to stop implementation of policies that do not meet that standard.
A common assumption is that policy proposals are split along party lines. The League is nonpartisan. We never oppose or support any political party or candidate for office. Instead, the League supports policies based on League principles and study of the issues. We actively weigh in on policy issues, but our approach is politically neutral.
Our local League was formed at Union College in 1925. Its first task was to conduct a study of city government. The goal was to learn as much as possible about how the city is run, the advantages and disadvantages of the current system, and ways to improve its service to its residents.
One hundred years later, the Schenectady League is still dedicated to good government at the local and state levels. Recently, at the national level, the League has worked with attorneys, joined lawsuits, and organized call-in and letter writing campaigns to oppose policies that interfere with citizens’ rights, particularly their right to vote.
Some examples:
- The SAVE America Act (Safeguard American Voting Eligibility), which would require that new voters register to vote in person at a Board of Elections or other approved government office with a passport or certified birth certificate; it would disenfranchise citizens who lack those documents, including married women or can’t provide the (certified) paperwork that proves their names. The League actively opposes this legislation.
- The US Postal Service introduced a rule to withhold mail-in ballots from citizens in states that did not turn over voter information, which often includes sensitive data, to the federal government. The League and other voting rights groups have brought lawsuits to stop this. Those that have brought suits are winning in court.
- Another USPS rule, now in effect, reduced the number of regional processing centers. This has slowed mail delivery, which can affect whether absentee ballots arrive on time. Our League is cautioning people who vote by mail to do so as early as possible.
None of these are good policies. And that’s true, no matter which party introduced them.
If you're curious about a topic about the League, please contact me at lwvschenectady [at] gmail.com
Katie Beltramo
Bulletin Editor
New LWV 101 Series
We are planning a new series for the Bulletin in which we explain a bit more about different aspects of the League of Women Voters, including how decisions are made on the local, state, and national level; how to learn more (or unsubscribe!) from various emails; and more.
This month, to coincide with implementing Givebutter to take credit card donations, our topic is donations. We promise that we're not going to start asking for donations all the time! We are, however, including donation buttons at the bottom of the Bulletin for quick reference. And the topic of how renewal fees are used vs. donations can feel a bit opaque, and we're in favor of transparency, so it's our first 101 topic.
If you're curious about a topic about the League, please contact me, Katie Beltramo at lwvschenectady [at] gmail.com
