How the Census Affects Your Political Representation (Blog) 5/5/2021 Last week, the U.S. Census Bureau released its first set of data from the 2020 Census. The data determines the number of U.S. House districts that…
5 Issues President Biden Must Address Before Congress (Blog) 4/26/2021 This Wednesday, April 28, President Biden will make his first speech before Congress. His address will take place near the critical 100-day mark of…, It's necessary to the welfare of our democracy that we counter these bills with legislation that expands voting rights rather than limiting them. Two…, The way our maps are drawn impacts our access to healthcare, clean water, and hundreds of other necessities. Yet the process is often threatened by…
Celebrating Earth Day by Fighting For Our Children’s Health (Blog) 4/21/2021 Tomorrow, April 22, 2021 is the 51st anniversary of Earth Day! First celebrated in 1970, Earth Day was created in a world that had few regulatory…
We Must Grant Statehood for the People of D.C. (Blog) 4/16/2021 This blog was written by Anne Anderson, Chair of the LWVDC Committee for Full Rights for DC Citizens As I write this article, we’ve…, The consequences are serious. Many examples of how Congressional control has harmed DC residents come to mind. For several years, DC was prohibited…
Demonstrating Our Impact: LWV’s Semi-Annual Survey Project (Blog) 4/9/2021 As the League moves into our second century, we do so with a focus on the importance of effectively telling our social impact story. …
Redistricting Watch: I Will Fight for Fair Maps Because I'm Against Prison Gerrymandering (Blog) 4/9/2021 This blog was written by Patricia Rossi of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut. For over a century, the League of Women Voters has advocated…, Prison gerrymandering is an extension of racist policies. In Connecticut, Black people account for 11% of the state population, but 41% of the prison…, We’re also backing legislation like Committee Bill 753, An Act Concerning the Counting of Incarcerated Persons for Purposes of…
Complexities of the Filibuster: The Accidental Rule That Is Interrupting the Democracy We All Deserve (Blog) 4/7/2021 Over the past several months, we’ve heard a lot about ‘the filibuster' — and yes, I can already feel some eyes glazing over at the wonky ‘inside…, Praised as the protector of political minorities from the absolute power of the majority, or attacked as a tool of partisan obstruction, the right of…, The Historical Use of the Filibuster: A Tool to Silence Communities of Color and Women The filibuster has been used by both major political parties…
In the Know: How the League is Transforming Money in Politics (Blog) 4/1/2021 For years, the League of Women Voters’ campaign for Making Democracy Work® has focused on five key areas: money in politics, voting rights,…, The League of Women Voters of Rhode Island has long been a strong supporter of campaign finance disclosure. In 2012, the Rhode Island League…
Then and Now: How Two Pandemics Tested the Power of Women (Blog) 3/30/2021 The situation was critical. The outcome of elections across the US would determine the fate of the nation, yet voters faced an additional threat: a…
The Formerly-Convicted Should Get to Vote. Here’s How the Senate Can Make it Happen. (Blog) 3/11/2021 This blog post was written in partnership with Stand Up America. With the For the People Act passing in the House earlier this month, it’s now…, Just like with gerrymandering, felony disenfranchisement laws allow partisan minorities to maintain their majority legislative power on the local,…