The LWV-Wilmette supports protecting the right to vote, opposing voter suppression and increasing voters’ access to the polls.
get involved:
Defend democracy in 2022
Help us protect democracy by calling elected leaders this month to show your support. Click the links below for details on contacting the White House and Illinois Senators.
pending federal legislation:
Freedom to vote act
The Freedom to Vote Act would set national standards to protect the freedom to vote, end partisan redistricting, ensure sound election administration and fix our broken campaign finance system. Among other things, the FVA would make Election Day a National Holiday, expand and ensure mail in voting, and set national standards for online voter registration and early voting. As an organization with the mission of empowering voters and defending democracy, the League of Women Voters supports this legislation that strengthens voting rights no matter where we live or what our background.
RESOURCES:
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pending federal legislation:
john lewis voting rights advancement act
The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (JLVRAA) will ensure discriminatory voting laws and policies are blocked from taking effect, expand the access to vote to millions, and make clear that racist voter suppression tactics will not be tolerated. The JLVRAA is designed to restore provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (inspired by Lewis and other protesters in Selma, Alabama, who were brutalized by state troopers during a march for voting rights) that the US Supreme Court struck down in decisions in 2013 and again earlier this year. It would create procedural rules governing voting-rights violations, restore the VRA and ensure that every voter—regardless of where they live, what they look like, or what language they speak—has equal access to the ballot box and is protected from unfair laws and practices that make it more difficult to vote.
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RESOURCES:
passed statewide LEGISLATION:
Illinois state bill 825
In June 2021, Illinois State Bill 825 passed in the Illinois Congress and was signed into law by Governor Pritzker. This law ushers in many changes.
The key changes that will affect local voting are:
Additionally, keep an eye on your mail for updates regarding your polling place; the redistricting that will occur, in part because Illinois lost one congressional seat, will result in changes to some polling places.
The key changes that will affect local voting are:
- establishes June 28, 2022 as the new primary date
- extends hours at Permanent Voting Sites
- expands the State’s Vote By Mail Program
- makes Election Day a State Holiday
Additionally, keep an eye on your mail for updates regarding your polling place; the redistricting that will occur, in part because Illinois lost one congressional seat, will result in changes to some polling places.
lwv-wilmette event recordings
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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FILIBUSTER
As critical voting rights legislation languishes in Congress, the LWV has called on the Senate to “nix or fix” the filibuster. What does it all mean? Northwestern University School of Law Professor Tonja Jacobi joined us via Zoom on January 26th to discuss the history, use and misuse of the filibuster and its implications on pending voting rights legislation. For those who missed it, a recording of the event is available at the link below.
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VOTING RIGHTS - LEARNING FROM HISTORY
Thank you to Kate Masur, PhD, Professor of History at Northwestern University, for an informative and enlightening discussion of civil rights and voting rights. Looking at America’s long history of anti-Black racism and organized efforts to build a multiracial democracy, Dr. Masur shared insights from her new book, Until Justice Be Done: America’s First Civil Rights Movement, from Revolution to Reconstruction, one of NPR’s Best Books of 2021. If you missed it, a recording of the event is available at the link below.
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