League of Women Voters

Shirley Strange and Irene Strohbeen discussed how the League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.  They neither support nor oppose candidates at any level of government.  This does not mean that they do not have opinions or are willing to share them.  The League began out of the suffragists.  From 1848-1920, a group of women worked tirelessly to get the vote for women.  With the ratification of the 19^th Amendment on August 26, 1920, women got the right to vote and Wisconsin was the first state to ratify it.  From 1920-1929, the League began to evolve - designed to help 20 million women carry out their new responsibility to be an informed educated voter.  There are three levels of the League:  National, State and Local.  There are over 800 state and local Leagues.  The League helps with voter service, study issues, observe government, citizen education and action/advocacy.  When they speak out about an issue, it is because they have a position in their position papers.  They start by choosing an issue that is important in the community in January, present it as a study, accept it as a study, form a committee, gather information/speakers, disseminate information to the membership, call a consensus meeting, develops a position statement, goes before the full membership to accept as a position then it gets published and is advocated.  This process can take 1-2 years.  The League believes in respect for individuals and their opinions, diversity and the common good.  The U.S. Constitution grants voting rights to various groups:  15^th Amendment granted the right to vote to all citizens regardless of race, color or history of servitude; the 19^th Amendment granted the right to vote for women; and the 26^th Amendment granted the right to vote to 18 year olds.  The Voting Rights Act in 1965 ensured that these rights were being exercised.  The League’s mission is to maximize voter turn out among eligible voters. The U. S. historically is near the bottom of democracies of eligible voter turnout – 40-60%. The League’s Voter Service educates and informs through voter educational forums, voter registration assistance, outreach to 2^nd language speakers and candidate forums.  September 25 is National Voter Registration Day.  The 2011 Wisconsin Voting Law enables people to vote through voter registration, absentee voting and early voting.