Last week, the US Supreme Court preserved the power of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, affirming a lower court decision that ordered Alabama to draw a second majority-Black congressional district. The League of Women Voters of the United States joined the League of Women Voters of Alabama and other democracy advocates to file an amicus brief in Allen v. Milligan, calling on the Supreme Court to protect against racial discrimination in redistricting. This decision is a huge victory for fair maps and protecting Black political power, and I hope you will join me in celebrating this landmark win! Read our press release and learn more about the decision on lwv.org.
Please take a moment to remember this Monday is Juneteenth, a day to commemorate the emancipation of the last remaining enslaved people in the United States. We know that the fight for Black liberation was not resolved with the end of slavery, and this day reminds us of the injustice and brutality of enslavement in our nation’s history. As an organization dedicated to empowering voters and defending democracy, the League is committed to building a future of progress and equity for all. Leagues can learn more and share about Juneteenth with our resources on the League Management Site. Also, join an event wherever you are.
At the Voter Services Meeting March 29, 2023. Jennifer Hanf, LWVPA DEI Director, spoke on “Voter Services through a DEI Lens.” DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) describes programs and policies that encourage groups and organizations to embrace a culture of belonging and that welcomes all. Diversity recognizes everyone, equity means fairness, and inclusion is the idea of making a space welcoming.
What to Ask When Examining Your Work Through a DEI Lens
Pennsylvania has a new congressional map!
From The League Of Women Voters On Approved Legislative Maps
February 4, 2022
Contact: Susan Gobreski, Director of Government Policy: governmentpolicy [at] palwv.org
After a months-long effort, the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission today approved legislative maps for the Commonwealth.
The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (LWVPA) is committed to empowering voters and defending democracy. Far too much of the redistricting process is focused on politicians and parties, often causing regular Pennsylvanians to become an afterthought.
The League has shown that we will champion fairness. We remain committed to ensuring that the voices of voters are heard. LWVPA went to court in 2018 to have Pennsylvania’s 2011 congressional map invalidated as an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander under the state constitution. We are very glad to see that our action has had an impact on this cycle’s legislative mapping process.
The legislative redistricting process was much improved over past processes. Pennsylvanians witnessed different conduct from the commission, and benefited from the leadership of a Chair who was independent, prepared, sought information and input, and was willing to make changes.
We applaud the participation of women, including a Black woman, on the commission. While commission members did not always see eye to eye, it is not a coincidence that when women participated, the political process and the results were better.
The population of Pennsylvania has changed and moved and this map makes great strides in both undoing decades of gerrymandering, and in trying to keep up with population trends.
LWVPA will review the map changes and remains committed to fighting for the best maps possible. The overall criteria for a fair map has not changed: the best map allows people to pick their politicians, and not the other way around.
These maps are a marked improvement over our existing maps, and we commend the progress that has been made.
Check out the details on the Fair Districts PA website here!
Drawing Fair Maps
This month, all 50 states and Washington, DC dove headfirst into the redistricting process, which will determine our communities’ congressional representation for the next decade. Through our People Powered Fair Maps™ Campaign, LWV is working to help everyday Americans get involved in the process.
Last week, we answered your redistricting questions in an “Ask Me Anything” session on Reddit. We followed that up by partnering with the NAACP, Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote, and the National Congress of American Indians for a virtual panel on creating people-powered maps. Watch the panel here.
Senate Introduces Freedom to Vote Act
The Freedom to Vote Act, legislation that would protect and expand the right to vote, decrease the influence of money in politics, and stop gerrymandering, was introduced in the US Senate. Read a quick primer on the bill.
The League strongly supports this legislation. As stated by LWVUS CEO Virginia Kase Solomón, the “provisions in this bill work together to provide Americans with more options to participate in our democracy.”
A vote on this bill is anticipated in the near future. Should it fail to pass, LWV will continue to encourage President Biden and his administration to do everything within their power to pass federal voting rights legislation.
National Voter Registration Day
On September 28, thousands of League members led and participated in efforts to increase voter registration. From partnerships with the Houston Astros to registration tables in Tucson libraries to volunteers at universities across Wisconsin, our members successfully reached first-time voters and shared voting tools like VOTE411.
Voter registration is more than just a single-day effort. Get involved year-round through your state or local League, or by supporting our work to inform and empower potential voters.
Member Spotlight
LWV-ACJ Board Member Nancy Magid's article: Letter to editor: Don't let quarantine keep you from voting on using votespa.com and mail-in ballots was printed in the New Times Chronicle. Read it here!
Thanks Nancy!
