“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there "is" such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.”

Martin Luther King Jr., August 28, 1963

These words, delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. in his “I Have A Dream” speech, are as pertinent today as they were almost 60 years ago. Your vote in the 2022 midterm election will be pivotal in determining so many realities, from the balance of power in the U.S. Senate to the fate of voter suppression legislation and abortion access in our state. The importance of voter registration and voting could not be more dire and the League is stepping up to the challenge. Our intrepid voter services chair, Julia Ross, is holding voter registration assistance training this month and will follow through with an aggressive voter registration assistance tabling effort. Please respond to her call for volunteers!

Many of you may have read about the anti-abortion amendment in Kansas. For the first time since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, leaving it to states to determine abortion access, the issue appeared on a state ballot. The Kansas amendment, which would have denied women the right to an abortion under the state constitution, was overwhelmingly defeated by voters who cared more about women’s health than politics. 70% of new registrants in Kansas were women. And, in an analysis of new registrants in states where abortion is banned, as it now is in Wisconsin, women are registering to vote more than men. Wisconsin is seeing one of the largest registration gaps at 15.6%. Women are fed up, and ready for change. Every election is important, but if you have ever wanted to register more women to vote, this is the time.

Submitted by Mary Beth Byrne & Ellen Penwell, Co-Presidents