Blog

Voter ID laws have long been debated in the United States. While supporters argue that voter photo ID laws are necessary to prevent voter fraud and ensure the integrity of elections, reality tells a different story. Not only do these measures disproportionately impact Black, Native, elderly, and student voters, but they also fail to effectively address any real issues related to election integrity.

The League’s history of breaking down barriers to voting is perhaps best exemplified by its contribution to the passage of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) in 1993. This legislation makes it easier for all Americans to register to vote and maintain their registration.

LWV's legislative & policy coordinator shares her experience as a voting rights advocate in Tennessee.

The League of Women Voters became a household name in the mid-twentieth century as the award-winning sponsor of the US’s first televised presidential debates. Why did that change, and will the League ever sponsor Presidential debates again?

Civic education and involvement are key to a healthy American democracy. Included are stories from states across the country about the importance of civic engagement and the work that they are doing to promote it. 

This blog highlights work in Florida, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania.

When redistricting is done fairly, each person’s vote is equal to every other person’s because their districts are drawn in ways that accurately represent the voting power of the people within them.

When redistricting is done unfairly, however, and maps are created to favor one party (partisan gerrymandering) or with race as the predominant factor (racial gerrymandering), voters in certain districts are given more power than others. 

In March 2023, LWV staff met with four women attorneys — Trudy Levy, Katherine Mazzaferri, Cynthia Hill, and Maureen Thornton Syracuse — who pioneered the League’s litigation work between the 1970s and 1990s. The goal was to learn about their experiences litigating alongside Leagues during those critical decades.

Almost 1 million immigrants became naturalized citizens in 2022, expanding the electorate significantly. During that time, 31 League volunteer teams across the country reported attending close to 800 naturalization ceremonies and registering over 37,000 New Americans to participate in our democracy — this represents just a small portion of our 750+ Leagues’ impact. 

Ensuring elections are fair and equitable includes maintaining clean and accurate voter rolls. 

The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) is a nonpartisan membership organization comprised of state election officials from around the United States who have chosen to opt into ERIC, and the states that do so make up ERIC's funding. At this time, 26 states and Washington, DC, are members. 

In 2023, US and DC League members joined other leaders in the movement for DC Statehood to honor the holiday and discuss how statehood is both a human rights and racial justice issue. 

Led by moderator Nile Blass, panelists included:

• Virginia Kase Solomón, LWVUS
• Jason Fink, DC Office of Federal and Regional Affairs
• Jamal Holtz, 51 for 51
• Dr. George Derek Musgrove, DC Vote, co-author of Chocolate City: A History of Race and Democracy in the Nationa's Capital
• Philip Panel, Anacostia Coordinating Council