On June 25-28 I had the pleasure, honor, and privilege of representing the Evanston League of Women Voters at the biennial National Convention of the League of Women Voters of the United States in Columbus, Ohio. There were 1,983 registered delegates from 49 states and the District of Columbia, more than 800 of whom attended in person. Others, like LWVE Secretary Kelly Fidei, participated virtually.
The Illinois delegation included 72 delegates from 30 local Leagues. Here’s a photograph of us with Illinois League President Becky Simon.
The event itself was filled with informative and consequential breakout and plenary sessions addressing a myriad of timely and important issues. And it was demanding. Breakfast was at 6:00 a.m. Sessions started at 7:00 a.m. and, after a short break for lunch, continued into early evening.
Notwithstanding the very full schedule, we had opportunities during breakfast and lunch sessions to meet delegates from other states and exchange stories and ideas. We learned how very much we have in common and how we have dealt with a variety of challenges.
I attended breakout sessions on Local League Governance, How to Build People Power, Recruiting Gen Z Members, and Leadership Succession. The sessions emphasized the need to recruit young people as members, directors, and officers, so that they not only provide perspectives from younger generations but also become empowered to carry on the League’s mission in the years ahead.
Consistent with this emphasis on youth involvement, LWVUS leadership announced a Memorandum of Understanding with the Girl Scouts of America to provide voter education and civic engagement to local troops and councils. Girl Scouts have long supported the League. During the suffrage era, they provided childcare for suffragists, and they continued doing so after suffrage was granted so that women could go to the polls and vote.
I also attended the plenary sessions, where we approved a budget and elected officers, directors, and a nominating committee. I am very happy to report that the new LWVUS President is an Illinois resident from the Glen Ellyn League. Here is the full list of officers:
President: Sania Irwin of Illinois
Vice President: Vedna Lacombe-Heywood of Massachusetts
Secretary: Toni Monette of Nebraska
Treasurer: Julie Stackhouse of Colorado
Delegates also approved several changes to LWVUS bylaws; these will apply to state and local Leagues too.
Speakers at the plenary sessions highlighted ongoing challenges to democratic norms, the theme of this biennial convention. Delegates adopted a program for 2026-2028 titled “Defending Democracy Under Siege,” pledging to take action in response to ongoing challenges by
- Ensuring equitable access to voting rights;
- Protecting fair elections;
- Providing equitable representation in redistricting;
- Advocating for a fair immigration process that provides a path to citizenship and ensures immigrant communities are granted fair treatment under the law;
- Protecting the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution; and
- Guaranteeing that presidential power is exercised with the checks and balances provided in the Constitution, along with advocating for abolition of the electoral college and promoting adoption of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact so that the US President is elected by a majority of the voters. (Read more about the Compact in this newsletter.)
Delegates passed a separate resolution that declared a Constitutional crisis and urged Congress to act in support of Constitutional rights.
Addressing other issues, Convention delegates adopted resolutions that: (1) encourage Leagues to educate their communities on how to prevent and stop human trafficking; (2) protect against improper use of surveillance technology by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); (3) support statehood for the District of Columbia; and (4) promote an independent, non-partisan federal workforce.
The convention was productive and illuminating. It authorized the League to speak and act collectively on the pernicious dangers currently facing our democracy. As is the custom of the LWVUS in a presidential election year, the 2028 National Convention will take place in the District of Columbia–and attendees will undoubtedly address any additional perils and work to promote a path to a more secure democracy. Our League is allotted several delegate spots. Think about attending!