After a long, hot summer of relaxation and recuperation, it’s time to kick it into high gear. As the fall approaches, so does the general election, it is our responsibility as League members to educate and activate voters on our way to the polls.
The tempo, and the “heat”, from the current administration just seems to keep rising. In the past month, we’ve seen the National Guard deployed to Washington, D.C., with threats of similar actions in other states, including right here in New York.
At the same time, mid-cycle redistricting has stirred up plenty of debate within our own League family. How do we remain nonpartisan while still pushing hard for fair maps? LWV has responded with a new set of standards, No Harm to Our Communities: Mapping Guidance for Elected Leaders, which lays out clear expectations for governors and redistricting bodies, with a strong call to protect historically disenfranchised communities. Want to learn more about redistricting? Join us this Thursday at 6pm, to hear from Jeff Wice, Adjunct Professor and Senior Fellow at the NY Elections, Census & Redistricting Institute, New York Law School. See below for more info or click here to register today.
And then, of course, we’ve all heard the threat of an executive order banning mail-in ballots and even voting machines. On top of that, you may have seen the United States Citizen and Immigration Services Agency (USCIS) has enacted a policy that will no longer allow non-profit organizations to do voter registration at administrative naturalization ceremonies (ex. ceremonies held by USCIS). Read more here. LWVUS has just responded with a statement here calling for the policy to be overturned and LWVNYS has done the same. We are waiting for additional information on the details of the policy and how this may impact our work as an organization.
If there’s one bright light in all of this, it’s the way we’ve leaned on one another like never before, local Leagues, the State League, and LWVUS, all working together to navigate these truly unprecedented times.
Even though it’s been summer, your State League has been busy. We’ve been sending out thousands of Voter Guides to local Leagues across the state, improving local League access to take action in VAN, launching the new Local League Support Committee, and putting serious thought into how we can make Students Inside Albany the strong and sustainable program we know it can be for years to come.
We are grateful for the work you’re all doing and are looking forward to a successful election season!
In League, Nancy and Erica
Nancy Rosenthal, President, nancyrosenthal9@gmail.com
Erica Smitka, Executive Director, erica@lwvny.org