Defending democracy is not partisan.
May 27, 2025
Each day that passes, I ask myself if it has been four years yet. The anxiety and uncertainty that we feel is unprecedented – just as this administration is. The question I most often hear is how the League can remain nonpartisan as our system of government is being systematically destroyed.
We have to think strategically. The threats we face are not about Donald Trump or any particular party. They are about our democracy.
Think back to what it must have been like in 1920. We have a romanticized idea that with the right to vote came equality. But the women who fought for that right were considered radical individuals who were going to ruin the fabric of the family and our nation.
And we have always been accused of being partisan. We are not. We are rooted in positions and studies so that no one can define us that way.
We are nearing our local and state annual meetings, and this is a good time to reinforce the term “activism.” The League of Women Voters has been an activist organization since our founding.
If you have not recently, go to Impact on Issues and see how much we have done. There is much more to be done, and I expect to see new and ongoing studies take hold at all of our annual meetings.
Why? Because we “promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government and to act on selected government issues.”
Our national League sends us updates on their actions, and we will continue to share some of them in these ongoing League letters.
Congress Updates
Reconciliation Debate in Congress: The House passed its “big, beautiful bill” this week in the very early hours of Thursday morning. The reconciliation power now goes to the Senate, where they will most likely rewrite the bill and send it back to the House for final passage and then to the President for signing. They will need to pass the bill before the August recess.
There are two recess periods coming up where Leagues can discuss the cuts to Medicaid with their members of Congress: May 26 – 30 and June 16 – 20. LWVUS will put together additional materials in the coming weeks, but you can also use our action alert to contact your Senators about the bill. Take action today!
In addition to cuts to Medicaid, the bill included ideological riders covering the declaration of nonprofits as “terrorist organizations” and a provision barring courts from enforcing contempt citations for violations of injunctions or temporary restraining orders unless a bond has been paid.
Litigation Updates
League of Women Voters Education Fund v. Trump
The Trump Administration will not appeal a federal court’s April 24 order blocking part of the illegal Executive Order that required the EAC to require documentary proof of citizenship on the federal voter registration form. The League sought this relief in a motion for preliminary injunction. The case will continue to a final resolution toward the end of 2025.
See our press release.
Check out the Legal Center for more.
The critical redistricting case Louisiana v. Callais was heard by SCOTUS on March 24. A decision is expected in June but could be announced anytime between now and the end of the term.
Nonprofit protection
It is more important than ever to prioritize proactive preparedness, coordinated response strategies, and solidarity through coalition-building across the sector. Our new guidance on nonprofit preparedness outlines key steps League leadership can take to strengthen planning and organizational resilience.
Documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC)
LWVUS continues to support Leagues doing work on state-level DPOC bills. For a list of legislation we are tracking see our tracking board.
Next week, we will launch a toolkit for states who may anticipate dealing with this legislation in their next legislative session or who may be continuing to fight these bills through the rest of 2025.
Reminder to use our talking points around voter eligibility when talking about these bills.
No Kings Rally Guidance to Leagues
The League is not an official national partner of the No Kings protest on June 14, as current messaging for the national event appears to be more focused on the President himself than the broader public policy issues that impact our mission. We will continue looking for opportunities to lead and support nonpartisan mobilizations that focus on legislation, policies, and issues. If the protest in your local area is focused on policies and issues that impact your community, Leagues may choose to participate. That decision should be made by local and state League boards to assess whether participation helps or hinders your ability to do their work effectively within your own community. If the event is deemed nonpartisan, members may wear League paraphernalia. If the event is deemed partisan or questionable, Leagues should discourage members from wearing paraphernalia and members should attend in their personal capacity only.
This event in Raleigh, NC, is an example of a rally that a League may opt to participate in: https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/786218/
— Katharine Biele, LWV Utah President
