President’s Column, May 2025

For the last several years that I have been president, I have printed the agenda for our LWVOR Board meetings under the familiar LWV maxim — “Making Democracy Work.” Used widely in its publications, the phrase is a reminder of who we are and why we do what we do. More than a collection of disconnected events, the efforts that constitute the League’s work are all similarly directed toward achieving a single, all important goal, i.e., “making democracy work” for all members of our society, whatever their race, income level, and wherever they may reside.

Events of the last several months—and particularly of the last several weeks—have made our shared task all the more critical. During the last three weeks, LWVUS, confronted with the serious threats it perceives as being afoot in our land, has turned repeatedly to our shared responsibility for the protection, the success, and the growth of our democracy.

Beginning the year, LWVUS announced the year’s theme, “Women Defend Democracy,” to kick off the first 100 days of the new administration and beyond. Pronouncing that the League of Women Voters is “well positioned to defend attacks on democracy,” the campaign is based on the power of women to create a more perfect democracy” by working to

• Provide Democracy Education and Election Administration Support
• Restore and Defend Voting rights Protections
• Abolish the Electoral College
• Protect Democracy Organizations and Institutions
• Fight for Reproductive Freedoms.

Two recent crises have led the LWVUS C.E.O. Celina Steward and President Dianna Wynn to take the campaign to new levels. In a joint statement on April 17th, they charge that from the current Trump administration’s “flagrant disregard for congressional authority and governmental checks and balances to defying Supreme Court orders to bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia back home, one thing is abundantly clear: our country is in a constitutional crisis.” Far from a moment in which we can proceed with “business as usual,” this is a time, they insist when “we the people must fight back.” They announced a “powerful new initiative—Unite and Rise 8.5” – for the purpose of engaging and mobilizing 8.5 million voters by November 2026 to protect and preserve our democratic institutions.

"The foundational principles that have sustained our democracy — checks and balances, the rule of law, free and fair elections — are under direct and sustained threats. In this extraordinary moment, we cannot proceed with business as usual. All Americans — no matter who you voted for in 2024 — need to come together, stand united, and fight back to save our democracy. We cannot afford to fail the generations to come.” Based on the understanding of voter engagement as a cornerstone of democracy the Unite and Rise campaign will showcase the many ways voters can drive change, including through advocacy, mobilization, civic education, and engagement. Individual LWV members are encouraged to sign up to receive email messages as the campaign unfolds. Go to https://www.lwv.org/take-action/women-defend-democracy to sign up.