League of Women Voters of Washington will be hosting a Consensus Meeting on the LWV of the United States Federal Judiciary Study on Saturday, April 5, at 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Note: the time has been moved earlier to accommodate requests from several members who will be attending rallies beginning at noon.

The Federal Judiciary consensus meeting will be open to all members who have not otherwise participated in a local League consensus meeting on the study.  Only LWV members may participate in this meeting and can register here.

Information on the Federal Judiciary Study can be found at 2024-2025 Federal Judiciary Study Process, Committee, and Resources | League of Women Voters.  The Study consists of 9 nine short policy briefs on various subjects, and an index of key terms to be familiar with glossary. Here are links to the policy briefs:

• Financial Disclosure
• Judge Shopping
• Judicial Ethics and Enforcement 
• Legitimacy and the US Supreme Court
• Recusal
• Representation
• Shadow Docket
• Stare Decisis and Binding Precedent
• Structural reforms for the US Supreme Court 
• Key Terms for the Federal Judiciary Study

Additional background information from the Study Committee includes:  Understanding Federal Courts; US Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges; and Congressional Research Service Paper, The Supreme Court Adopts a Code of Conduct.

Also, and in case you missed it, LWVUS hosted a 90-minute “Town Hall” that was recorded and on the website. A Study Guide outlines the consensus process.  Responses to the consensus questions are due April 14, 2025, and must be submitted through the online survey form. 

We will be sending out detailed instructions to registrants in the week prior to the meeting.  Members should familiarize themselves with the study and the consensus questions prior to the meeting. For any questions or for more information, contact Shelley Kneip at skneip@lwvwa.org.

President Trump issued an Executive Order, Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections on Monday, March 24th. In fact, this order disenfranchises millions of voters and creates chaos and confusion in our electoral systems. On Tuesday, the League of Women Voters of the United States issued a statement opposing the order.

Leagues across the country are appalled and alarmed for American democracy. LWVUS is leading our work to resist the threats to democracy. LWVWA is responding to the order with strong support for the LWVUS statement.

At the state League level, we are working hard to coordinate and support local League efforts.

• State League Advocacy Chair Marty Gibbons organized a zoom meeting (March 20th) for LWVUS Lead Council Marcia Johnson to talk with League members about what National League is doing. Over 200 people attended. You can find the recording of this meeting on the For Member website. Marty is following up to share themes and concerns expressed at the zoom meeting and develop next steps.
• The state League is putting together a committee in support of local League efforts to resist threats to democracy. This will highlight communications around rallies and protests. We are working to get National League guidance on which rallies League supports; members should wear t-shirts and carry signs to show a League presence at these rallies. Examples: the recent Light for Democracy and the upcoming April 5th event. See your March 25th League Update for more information.
• We are looking into t-shirts and signs for use at rallies and protests. State League has a small amount of grant dollars from LWVUS for support of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act Amendment. We will direct those dollars to t-shirts and signs for local Leagues.
• We are looking at how to expand use of the LWVWA EveryAction platform for action alerts.
• Important guidance from National League. Please click here to learn more about our nonpartisan policy as it relates to events with partner organizations who may be more partisan.

What can individual League members do now? Here are some ideas to get started.

• Go to rallies and protests. Wear League t-shirts and carry League signs. We are looking into t-shirts and signs to give to convention attendees, and a way for Leagues and individuals to buy their own. Don’t just go; let everyone know Leaguers are willing to put bodies on the line.
• RE: safety: follow the same practices we urge for volunteers at tabling events:
• • Don’t engage with people who want to pick a fight.
  • Use common sense and make sure there’s an exit. If it feels crowded, leave.
  • If it feels uncomfortable, leave. We cannot guarantee anyone’s safety, but people shouldn’t be cowed.
  • Anger is not helpful. Fight smart. League can be a leader in civil protests and rallies.
  • National League advises League members not to proactively participate in campaign or partisan groups' photos or videos and to be mindful of images shared on League platforms.
• Action alerts. Sign up for League in Action and any other action alerts you know about. Use them. Members of Congress who are fighting in support of democracy need to know we've got their backs. Members who are silent about threats to democracy need to know this is not OK.
• Family and friends. League in Action allows you to forward their action alert by text. Ask your friends and family if you can text them and ask them to text their friends. If you have friends and family (who are willing) in districts where there are vulnerable Members of Congress who are not supporting democracy, target them.
• Tabling. This is important. Tabling this fall may be more important than ever. Let your local League know if you are willing to help and acquaint yourself with your local League's elevator speech and talking points.
• Economic Boycotts. Keep alert to boycotts; they can make a difference.
• National League. Keep up to date with National League activities to safeguard democracy. Check https://www.lwv.org/take-action for actions you can take. Supporting National League is critical to our success and to speaking with one voice.
• Take note of opportunities for your League to play an organizing role in rallies and protests.
• Support your local League leadership. These are the folks who can organize to show a League presence in your community. Please help them!

These are some ideas for now. More ways to resist threats to democracy will present as we move forward. Unfortunately, we must think in terms of the long haul in ways that have never before been needed. Now is the time to Stand Up for Democracy.

On Thursday, March 27, the League of Women Voters of Washington sent out the media advisory below to outlets across the state.

League of Women Voters of Washington Opposes President Trump’s Anti-Voter Executive Order 

On Tuesday, President Trump issued an executive order on elections, which includes the following actions: 

The League of Women Voters of Washington strongly opposes President Trump’s executive order. It will damage Washington state's vote-by-mail election system and introduce chaos to our well-functioning system. The League notes the following potential impacts on Washington elections: 

Proof of Citizenship Requirement: This order could disenfranchise millions of Washingtonians who lack passports (over 2.7 million¹), have name changes due to marriage (over 1.5 million²), or lack enhanced driver’s licenses or ID cards (78% in 2024³). 

Ballot Deadline Restrictions: Washington’s vote-by-mail system ensures all ballots postmarked by Election Day are counted. Changing this common-sense process would unfairly penalize voters, especially in rural areas. 

Federal Oversight of Voter Rolls: Washington already maintains a secure, statewide voter database.⁴ The EO would introduce unnecessary federal interference by DOGE, undermining election integrity. 

The League of Women Voters of the United States issued a statement about the impact nationally. 

________________________________

1. SAVE Act Tables, The Center for American Progress
2. SAVE Act Tables, The Center for American Progress
3. Getting There: Most Washington IDs won’t fly in a year, state officials say, urging people to get their enhanced licenses for airplane travel, The Spokesman Review, 5.13.2024.
4. Washington State Voter Registration Database (VRDB) | WA Secretary of State

By Necia Quast, LWV of the San Juans

I had the chance to be one of two in-person official observers for the League of Women Voters of the US at 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 29) in Baku, Azerbajan in November 2024. The other observer covered the first week of the COP and I covered the second.

My brief was to report back on whatever I found interesting. I decided there was no point in watching the negotiations; journalists, spokespersons, and observers gave regular readouts on the lack of progress. I attended panels on agriculture, on cities, sea ice and mountain glaciers, and on youth. I talked to a state representative from Yakima on a panel at the U.S pavilion about disaster preparedness. I went the pavilions of countries where I had lived and worked, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, and Bangladesh. I tracked down the observer from the Quaker UN Office and occasionally caught up and exchanged notes with a young doctor from Kenya who was seated next to me on my flight there. He worked in a refugee camp and was an observer for Physicians Against Nuclear Weapons.

I learned that petrostates, patriarchy and corporate interests sought to roll back previous commitments, especially to phase out fossil fuel use and obstructing stronger action. The UN acknowledged there were 1800 fuel industry lobbyists present. Many groups protested as this same cabal, host Azerbaijan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Vatican proposed to remove language about human rights and gender equality from climate agreements, now an annual battle.

I learned the climate impact on agriculture and food security is high with increasing droughts, fires, extreme heat, and floods. We are not hitting the targets to limit the temperature rise to 1.5C degrees and at 2C degrees 70% of food crops will not be viable where they grow now. Still agricultural innovation is moving fast with higher-yield drought resistant varieties, dry seeding rice that produces two crops, uses less water, and lowers emissions and nitrogen-fixing versions of maize, wheat and rice that are self-fertilizing.

With each recent years being the hottest on record and emissions still increasing, last year for the first time the carbon sinks—the ocean, forests, ecosystems that usually sequester some carbon, failed, emitting carbon equal to the amounts absorbed. Out of thirty some key eco-system, six are unstable and approaching tipping points where collapse would become irreversible-- polar ice, permafrost, glaciers, and the Atlantic circulation system, among them. Young people at the conference were especially frustrated at the lack of urgency.

Still there is positive news. With renewable energy now cheaper than fossil  fuels for producing electricity the market is doing more to phase out fossil fuels than official actions. The most important action is ultimately local and because that is where people experience the impact local government, especially cities. Nearly 11k cities have climate plans and more than 800 have committed to becoming Net Zero, with 75% of are reducing emissions faster than national targets. Whatever federal government does, U.S., states representing over half the U.S. population remain committed to climate action through the We’re Still In movement. The more steps we take as individuals, the more individual action becomes collective action.

We are so pleased that the League's hard work around local news is paying off. Please be on the look-out for an op-ed from President Mary Coltrane and Issue Chair Dee Anne Finken in a news outlet near you. Several news outlets have committed to publishing it, including the Seattle Times. It is scheduled to appear in the Times’ Sunday edition.

This op-ed states League's strong support for Senate Bill 5400. Please read on. And please check the Legislative Newsletter to follow the progress of this bill.

Protect Our Democracy by Protecting Our Sources of Information

By Mary Coltrane, President, League of Women Voters of Washington and
Dee Anne Finken, Local News and Democracy Chair, League of Women Voters of Washington

The League of Women Voters of Washington strongly endorses Senate Bill 5400 in support of local journalism. This measure seeks to defend democracy in communities that have been hard hit by a changing news landscape. There is amazing access to information in our times; however, this information does not necessarily include what is going on in local communities. This puts democracy at risk.

SB5400 requires major social media platforms to pay slightly more to the state Workforce Education Investment account. These new dollars are an investment in the future and will not detract from existing uses.

In its 2022 study, The Decline of Local News and Its Impact on Democracy, the League describes how the loss of local news outlets over the last two decades has led to lower voter turnout and less civic engagement; fewer candidates seek local office. These are impacts a functioning democracy can't afford.

Washington has lost roughly two-thirds of its local journalists since 2008. From Everett to Walla Walla, from Clark County to the Methow Valley and locations in between, millions of Washingtonians have fewer places to turn for accurate information about what's happening in their communities. People have less information about how their government works, and what they can do to make sure it works well.

Without the common framework local news offers, it's more challenging for community members to talk about shared problems and political polarization grows. When there's little or no local journalism, too few people learn of decisions by elected officials; government costs escalate. Finally, it's harder for officials to get the word out on critical public health issues when they need to. This puts lives at risk.

People cannot work to make their communities robust and vibrant if they don't know who is making decisions. They cannot hold decision-makers accountable if they don't know what decisions they are making. Interest in government wanes, and along with it, democracy.

For all of these reasons, the League of Women Voters of Washington supports Senate Bill 5400, introduced by Sens. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, and Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick. Senate Bill 5400, now in the Labor and Commerce Committee, will do the following if passed:

• Establish the Washington Local News Journalism Corps Program (Journalism Corps Program) in the Department of Commerce to make grants supporting the employment of news journalists covering civic affairs in underserved communities.
• Require- $20 million of the funds deposited into the Workforce Education Investment Account to be used to support the Journalism Corps Program each fiscal year.
• Increase the cap for the workforce education investment surcharge imposed on select advanced computing businesses from $9 million to $15 million annually.

All forms of local news organizations are eligible—online, print, TV, and radio, both for-profit and nonprofit. Solid standards and safeguards will determine which news organizations are eligible for support. For example, news organizations must regularly update content; provide systems for verifying facts, and for reporting and correcting errors; and hire professional staff.

Grants will be based on the number of journalists at eligible news outlets and would likely range from $10,000 to $13,000. Funding will come from a modest increase in a business tax surcharge on large software companies such as Microsoft and Amazon, which pay into the aptly named Workforce Education Investment Account.

It is worth noting that a recent Columbia University study reports Google would need to pay publishers $10 to $12 billion annually and Facebook $1.9 billion annually to compensate news outlets for the true value their content adds to their platforms. Democracy cannot calculate costs in this manner.

The League is proud to support this bipartisan bill. It speaks to the heart of our mission: to empower voters and defend democracy. When mis- and disinformation are widespread, protecting our sources of information is akin to protecting our democracy.

The League thanks Sens. Boehnke and Liias for proposing a common-sense solution to promote democracy. We thank the sponsors of the bill, and we urge the members of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee to advance SB 5400 to its next step in the legislative process. We look forward to Gov. Ferguson signing the bill into law and witnessing its positive effects in our communities.

In just two weeks, February 14th, 2025, the League of Women Voters will celebrate its 105th anniversary. With a new administration in place, and much going on at the federal level, I note the times they are a changin’. What doesn't change is League’s commitment to democracy. At every level of League, volunteers are redoubling efforts to empower voters and defend democracy. What does that look like at the League of Women Voters of Washington? Here are highlights of what's going on right now.

Advocacy. Our Lobby Team is working hard to get League positions brought to life via legislation that turns positions into reality. League members and friends can learn about the bills the Lobby Team is following by subscribing to the Legislative Newsletter. If you're a subscriber, you know this is a great way to stay abreast of what's happening in Olympia. You can support League's positions by noting the Action Alerts and following the Legislative Newsletter instructions on how to support or oppose. If you are inspired to contact legislators, please keep in mind you should do so as an individual, not a member of the League. Your voice is important! Legislators want (and need) to hear from you.

Two committees also work to further League positions: The Local News and Democracy Team and the Redistricting Task Force Campaign.

Program of Work. State League has sent two studies to local Leagues for discussion and member consensus: Elder Caregiving and Welcoming Immigrants to Washington State (this study is also available for purchase in paperback and Kindle versions .). These issues were selected for study and action at Convention 2023. The study phase of this process is nearly complete. Local Leagues are holding consensus meetings on the Elder Care study and will soon follow with the Welcoming Immigrant study. Local League Boards of Directors will send their League's consensus in response to the study questions. These reports will come to the state Board via each study committee. The board will adopt new positions sometime this spring. With new positions on the books, state and local Leagues can take action on these issues. They will be ratified at the state Convention.

Program Planning. Local Leagues have received their program planning input forms and directions. This initiates the process that leads to selecting issues for study and action at the state Convention. Local League Boards of Directors have until March 6 to submit topics to the state Board. The Board will review the submittals and make a recommendation for Program of Work to be adopted at Convention 2025.

Voter Services. For those active in Voter Services, it seems the winter is when less work is needed. Not true. After the election, there may be a hiatus, but now is the time to gear up for the summer. This can mean learning about the rules and regulations that affect voting in Washington state. The committee lines up speakers who can educate volunteers for the heavy lifting they do come summer when they are tabling at locations across the state. League sharing is a favorite topic; there is much we can learn from each other!

Civic Education. Civic education touches everything League does. We are always looking for ways to reach out to the voting public and offer information on how to participate in democratic processes. Promoting The State We're In does much to help educate the public on how our government works. There are other opportunities for civic education as well. The Civic Education Committee is on the lookout for these opportunities and brings them to bear on all the work League does.

Administration. Administration matters: MELD (membership, leadership, engagement, development); policies and procedures; the critically important work of our treasurers and secretary and staff—all are essential to how well League functions. Communications, including social media and our webpage, are essential to informing and educating our membership and the public. This ongoing work undergirds all League does.

Convention. Planning for Convention 2025 is underway. It will be in Vancouver, WA from Thursday, June 5th through Sunday, June 8th. In addition to the Program of Work, delegates will adopt a budget, elect officers and directors, propose resolutions for adoption and give direction to the board. The Convention committee is looking into speakers, workshop topics, and more. LWVUS President Dianna Wynn will be a virtual speaker.

Two committees that are especially important to how state League functions are the Budget Committee and the Nominating Committee. Work in these areas is underway. The Nominating Committee sets the direction of the League when it selects a slate of nominees. The Budget Committee works to put together a realistic budget to carry out League's work. The work of these committees will culminate in recommendations for delegates at the Convention.

Development work is also underway; contributions from League friends and members are what make the League go! Thank you.

LWVUS. National League is doubling down on priorities and work that will further our core mission. They've embarked on a campaign: Women Defending Democracy. This is another way we in Washington state can make our voice heard nationally.

Reflecting on League's upcoming birthday, and all that League does, reminds me that League has always been about making change in difficult times and circumstances. Perseverance and willingness to take on the hard challenges have been our ally. Empowering voters and defending democracy has been our calling. Rolling up our sleeves and doing the work has been our answer. Please join this work in whatever way works best for you. All are welcome!

If you would like to be in touch with those shepherding the many facets of League—to learn more and/or to plug in—please let me or staff Amy Peloff know.

Kind regards,

Mary Coltrane, President
president@lwvwa.org

By Cindy Madigan, Multi-Member Districts Education Project

Is there a relationship between the method used to select our representatives and peoples’ numerous complaints about the government it produces? This question led to League interest in multi-member districts, and in May of 2023—at the LWVWA's Convention in Pasco—members approved a new education project on the topic. We have been working hard on this project ever since!

The group spearheading the project, which consists of Kit Muehlman and Cindy Madigan from LWV Bellingham/Whatcom County; Chris Mason from LWV Mason County; Cindy Black from LWV Snohomish County; and Kirsten Rooks from LWV King County, have spent many months creating educational materials on Multi-Member Districts. The group also worked with two professors from Western Washington University and other League members to read and review the materials.

On November 9 the group will launch their education program, beginning with a presentation on Zoom. 

About the Presentation

The presentation will take place on Saturday, November 9 at 10 AM. It will be a Zoom presentation with a Q&A session afterwards. League members and the public alike are welcome and encouraged to attend!

The system used for electing our representatives is seldom questioned in the United States. Recently, in the face of voter apathy and increased expressions of antipathy towards government, some have begun to consider the potential relationship between the method used to select our representatives and peoples' numerous complaints about the government it produces. This presentation will outline what multi-member districts are, where and how they are used, as well as how they could improve representation.

The presentation will be recorded and soon a webpage will be available with resources and FAQs about multi-member districts.

Register Now

Please reach out to Cindy Madigan or Kit Muehlman with questions or for more information at mmd@lwvwa.org.

OMG! The League of Women Voters has been doing A LOT across Washington state as we lead up to the 2024 election. From tabling for voter registration and education, to serving as election observers, and, of course, hosting candidate forums and debates—local Leagues are stepping up to empower voters and defend democracy. This election season, Leagues are being called on to do all of these things and more to help voters in Washington. Crucially, much of this work has been aimed at young voters and high schoolers. It's a lot, but well worth the effort. Please take a moment to thank yourselves and each other for all this great work!

At the LWVWA, there is also much going on. Four general election debates are posted on our website, along with the list of questions that were asked during the events. The debates were for Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commissioner of Public Lands, Secretary of State, and U.S. Senate.

What stands out about League debates is the quality of the questions. Guidance from the League of Women Voters of the United States has done much to ensure our questions aren't "gotcha" questions, but instead apply to the job being sought, stick to one topic, and represent the interests and concerns of the community at large. This makes for a great debate. I recall hearing a League member once say "great questions make great debates." So true!

The LWVWA is also working to make sure the community knows that Vote411 is available as a resource for voters. We recently sent an email to League friends and members asking for their help in nudging candidates to answer questions for the League's nonpartisan voter guide. Here are some stats from that effort:

• Vote411, the League's online candidate guide, hosts 615 candidates. These candidates represent every race in Washington state—from cemetery district to President. No matter where you live in Washington, you can access important voter information on Vote411.
  
  
• Of the 615 candidates included in the guide, 334 failed to respond. We targeted 132 of those candidates in 105 races—those who were running for state-wide races (9 candidates), Congress, and the state legislature. These candidates are who we asked you to reach out to.
  
  
• You sent out an overall total of 1,100 emails asking candidates to complete the League's questionnaire, and as a result, many of the candidates did fill out the questionnaire. Thank you! Though there remains work to do, this is one of the best responses we've gotten in our efforts to nudge candidates to participate in this important voter resource.

Thank you to all who helped nudge the candidates! If you would like to jump in on this effort, there is still time. Take a look at Vote411 and see who still needs to fill out the questionnaire—and who should be thanked for already doing so. The message we sent out asking you to nudge candidates showed the names of those who had not responded. The names of those who did respond didn't appear, but thanking these candidates for participating is hugely important! If you can do that, many thanks to you!

 In League,

Mary Coltrane, LWVWA President

This month we hear from incarcerated journalist Antoine Davis, who shares a piece about how the Washington Department of Corrections prioritizes prison labor over rehabilitation.

In The Profitable Prisoner, Antoine explains that many people engage in criminal behavior as a result of living with unmitigated trauma. But instead of producing and supporting programs that help hurting people heal, Washington's Department of Corrections places greater emphasis on utilizing incarcerated bodies for cheap labor.

The results are simple: incarcerated individuals learn how to wash dishes and dirty underwear, but never learn how to process the harm that initially led them to prison. This article exposes the sad reality that keeps recidivism rates high, while undermining the push for public safety.

Read the Full Article 

Antoine E. Davis, is incarcerated with a 63-year prison sentence. He is a licensed pastor for Freedom Church of Seattle, and the Inside Director of Organizing for Look2Justice, a grassroots organization that provides civic education for system impacted community members.

By Raelene Gold, LWVWA's Representative to the Columbia River Treaty NGO Caucus

The Columbia River is of upmost importance to the Pacific northwest, contributing 40% of US hydropower, irrigation for agriculture, transportation for commercial cargo, and a highway for migrating salmon. The LWVWA, along with the LWV of Oregon, LWV of Idaho, and LWV of Montana, has a long and significant history of involvement with the 1964 Columbia River Treaty and its current modernization process. The LWVWA and LWVOR participated in the 2013 Regional Recommendation that included a third treaty goal of ecosystem health to help salmon survival. The other two goals are maximum hydropower production and flood risk management to prevent flooding in southern British Columbia and the lower Columbia. 

In the current modernization of the Columbia River Treaty (CRT), Canada and the US announced an Agreement in Principle (AIG) on July 11. It included flexibility for Canada, a reduction in the Canadian entitlement that the US pays Canada, and a new flood risk management regime. It also included a new Tribal and Indigenous advisory body. But it excluded the third treaty goal of ecosystem health to help salmon. The LWVWA has a representative on the CRT NGO caucus which is composed of environmental, faith and civic groups. The caucus wrote a letter to the State Department and northwest Senators expressing disappointment in the AIP’s exclusion of the third treaty goal, and listing five actions that the State Department and northwest Senators could take to improve the AIP (see attached letter). To get League approval to sign onto the letter, it was first necessary to get approval of the President of LWVWA and then from LWVUS filling out a Request for Federal Action form. Fifty-seven organizations signed onto the letter including LWVOR, LWVID and LWVMT. You can read the letter here. 

Another concern for the League has been how little transparency or public involvement the US State Department has offered, in contrast to British Columbia which meets with and discuses treaty progress with BC environmental groups regularly. 

If you would like to join the LWVWA’s exciting work on the CRT, please contact Raelene Gold or LWVWA President Mary Coltrane. Once the modernized CRT is agreed to, it will go to the US Senate to be ratified, so there's still lots more to do!