By Dee Anne Finken, Communications Portfolio Director, LWV of Washington

Building on its century-old commitment to defend democracy and empower voters, the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Washington took another major step this summer to keep pace with growing assaults on our democracy.

The state League hired its first executive director to help guide the nonprofit through an organizational transformation. Since its founding in 1920, when the 19th Amendment extended voting rights to women, most Leagues across the country have been led primarily by volunteers.

The move to restructure also comes as the League — at national, state and local levels — is experiencing record growth.  

In the past two years, the national organization has added 20,000 members, while membership in the state League in the past year and a half has increased by 740 since January 2025↗️, bringing its total to more than 3,200 women and men. 

The growth has included the establishment this summer of a new local League in Grays Harbor County↗️. The League is active now in 20 of Washington’s 39 counties. 

“We are seeing significant membership growth because people are concerned,” state President Karen Crowley said recently. “We are all responding to very real threats against our democracy.”

Amy Peloff, hired for the new top spot effective Aug. 1, echoed that perspective. 

“Democracy is definitely under attack, even in Washington state,” said Peloff, who was the state League’s single full-time employee the past eight years, most recently as administrative director. 

“As a grass-roots operation, we need to find ways to activate every single member in every corner of the state whenever and wherever those threats rear their heads,” she said in addressing a major aim of the new structure.  

In recent months, the Washington organization, in step with the country’s other state Leagues, has become more visible and outspoken. That’s all come in the wake of the national organization’s April 2025 declaration that the United States is experiencing a constitutional crisis, a determination that stems from the Trump administration’s disregard for the authority of the courts and Congress and its attacks on voting rights. 

Both Crowley and Peloff make clear that responses by Leagues across the country are in line with the organization’s unwavering commitment to nonpartisanship. 

They note an individual or an organization can be political and not be partisan.

Being partisan, they explain, involves endorsing or advocating candidates or political parties. No Leagues — at any level — are permitted to take such action. 

They are, however, allowed and encouraged to hold elected officials accountable to the responsibilities of their positions and the laws and needs of the communities they serve.

After extensive, objective study and member consensus, Leagues at all levels routinely take positions or advocate on a range of issues. Among those are protecting voting rights and human and reproductive rights, promoting justice in the courts and corrections systems, expanding and improving education and healthcare, and protecting the environment, energy and natural resources.

The League’s political but nonpartisan acts include participating in No Kings rallies, speaking against the so-called SAVE Act that would limit access to the ballot for millions, and calling for investigations of conditions at detention centers.

State organization is a national leader
The Washington League is not among the largest state leagues by membership count or geographic size but, Peloff said, it has developed a reputation for its robust participation and action. 

Twice in the past two years, she noted, the Washington League has crafted new policy positions that went on to be adopted by the national organization. One identifies local news as foundational to democracy and calls for its support. The other seeks to enhance the lives of immigrants and ensure they have pathways to economic, social and civic integration where they chose to live.

Among the Washington League’s long history of accomplishments: leading major legislation that created the state Public Disclosure Commission. That law requires expenditures disclosures for candidates and lobbyists. The League also championed legislation that mandates the teaching of civics education in high school. In 2026, the League has been a prominent supporter of the so-called Millionaires’ Tax, which will lead to a more equitable state tax system.

Peloff said she will continue to honor the many talents and dedication of the organization’s members, individuals she refers to frequently with adjectives such as “incredibly accomplished” and “brilliant.”  

National-level reorganization pays off for state
President Crowley said the LWVWA’s restructuring also was born from a change in the disbursement of LWV dues. A larger percentage of money collected now goes to state League coffers. “This is going to enable us to invest more resources at the state level,” Crowley said.  

The increased budget will allow for hiring more staff. At present, in addition to Peloff working full-time, the state has a half-time professional, Carolyn Stewart, who directs the LWVWA’s social media and other communications-related projects.  

In October, Crowley said the state intends to hire a half-time development director as well as a part-time program manager to handle the League’s highly acclaimed “The State We’re In: WA” textbook project. So far, the books have been placed in 48 school districts. 

Peloff anticipates involving local leagues more directly in governance. “The state League is very good at statewide initiatives,” she said. “I’d like us to see us operate more as a collective of the local Leagues so we can have even broader impact.”

Peloff said she also looks forward to the League building relationships with other organizations across Washington. Among those she identified are Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union and Common Cause. Already the League partners with the Girl Scouts of the USA, the American Association of University Women and the National Council of Jewish Women.

As Peloff moves into a position that makes her updated leadership role, she said members shouldn’t see much difference in the way she interacts with others, whether they are local members, Lobby Team Issue Chairs, or local or state leaders. “My primary philosophy of leadership is collaboration and humility,” she said.

She plans to focus on building partnerships with those individuals, too.  

“The door is always open and people are always welcome.”

She also intends to use her position to raise the profile of the League. “I’d like to make sure the governor’s chief of staff knows my phone number and name. The same should be true for the secretary of state and both U.S. senators.” Her goal is to boost communication with these offices to more effectively advocate for League priority positions, such as protecting our elections systems.

Peloff earned a Ph.D. in Women’s Studies from the University of Washington. She also holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from the College of William and Mary. She continues to be affiliate faculty in the Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies department at the University of Washington, a position that has involved teaching and accompanying students to study in Amsterdam, Cuba and India.

Former state president Ann Murphy said Peloff’s extensive knowledge of women’s history was one of the reasons the League hired her in 2018.

“It was that, but also her genuine enthusiasm for the job,” Murphy said. 

In that role, Peloff oversaw daily operations, implemented technology solutions, improved efficiency, streamlined communications and solved seemingly hundreds of last-minute crises, all with good humor and great aplomb.

“She does all of these impressive things, including working with technology,” Murphy added.

Peloff noted that many of the suffragists who founded the League were women of means who did not work outside of the home.

To keep up with the times, Peloff will prioritize making participation in the League easier for those who have family, career and other commitments. 

“We need to adapt League structures to be more accommodating,” she said.

Where do you find reliable information about candidates? The voters’ guide from your county Auditor publishes basic information candidates provide about their background, experience and focus. And, closer to the General Election, VoteWA.gov↗️ and Vote411.org↗️ can be helpful sources.   

But it is particularly valuable to hear directly from the candidates themselves.  

Candidates who take questions in a forum display their willingness to engage publicly, a sign they also may willingly meet and engage with constituents if they win. The way they conduct themselves during these events also may say much about how they will serve if they win.  

Every election cycle, the League of Women Voters takes on the same quiet, unglamorous task of booking a room or scheduling an online session and inviting every candidate on the ballot to participate. The forum moderator asks each participant the same questions, which are chosen to prompt thoughtful responses about important issues in a community or region.  

And every election cycle, some candidates decline to participate. The reason is almost always some version of the same complaint — the League is "partisan," the forum is "rigged," or showing up would be pointless or unfair.  

Whatever the explanation, the suggestion the sponsor is partisan isn’t reflected in the way the League operates.  

The League’s commitment to supporting and defending democracy is vigorous and unyielding, as it has been since its founding in 1920.  Passage of the 19th amendment extended the vote to women, and suffragist leaders established the League “as a mighty political experiment” to help women navigate their new roles as voters.  

Since then, at the local, state and national levels, the League has never endorsed or opposed candidates or political parties.    

We do, however, support issues — on the environment, reproductive rights, voting rights, education, health care, criminal justice and redistricting, to name but a few. We advocate for those policy positions only after extensive study and consensus of our membership.  

The questions we pose — and the manner in which we ask them — are professional and polite. Yes, they can be probing and tough. After all, responding to difficult questions about how to solve difficult problems is rarely easy.    

But the questions the League poses are far from the interrogations a candidate may encounter from a cable television reporter or an angry constituent.    

Political scientists tell us that decisions in high-profile races typically are made long before candidates face off on stage. News coverage consumed months earlier usually shapes decisions, and debates in these races barely move the needle on a voter’s final choices.   

The research, however, says little about races for school boards, city councils, or state legislatures, where League forums tend to have the most impact. In fact, with no significant news coverage — a reality worsened by the decline of local journalism — a forum may offer the only meaningful opportunity to compare candidates.  

Political scientists say risk-averse candidates may sit out public forums. Candidates leading the pack early on have little to gain by sharing a stage with opponents.  But they have much to lose from a gaffe, an unscripted misstep, or a moment clipped out of context.   

Declining typically stems from a calculation that broad public scrutiny offers greater risk than benefit.  

A forum invitation extended equally to every candidate and by an organization with no endorsement to give, strips away the benefit of having a familiar name, a bigger budget, or an incumbent title.   

Sadly, the practice of retreating from public accountability is growing. Debate participation among U.S. Senate↗️ and gubernatorial candidates↗️ has been falling since at least 2016.    

Voters needn’t assume the worst about a candidate who doesn’t participate. But they should ask what a candidate may be trying to avoid.  

A candidate confident in their record and their answers should welcome the comparison. One who avoids it makes a choice, too.   

And that choice should be part of a voter’s calculation.   

A frequently updated new feature on the League of Women Voters of Washington website↗️ provides links to candidate forum and events across the state — lwvwa.org/Forums↗️. Be sure to check back regularly for added dates.  

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that neither supports nor opposes candidates or political parties. The League encourages informed and active participation in all levels of government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.   

By Susan F. Martin, Co-chair, Study on Protection of Immigrant Rights, LWV of Washington 

Overnight, more than 400,000 Haitians and Syrians became undocumented and subject to deportation in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 25 decision allowing the administration to end Temporary Protected Status without judicial review. 

The court’s decision, although primarily directed at Haitians and Syrians, will affect more than 1.3 million immigrants who have held temporary protected status.  

The next test for TPS comes on Sept. 9, when TPS protection for more than 170,000 Salvadorans is set to expire. Many of these individuals have lived and worked in the United States for decades and are married to U.S. citizens and parenting U.S. citizen children.  

It is broadly a poor move for the United States, once a beacon for the poor, the tired and the huddled masses seeking to be free.   

As Justice Elena Kagan intimated in her dissent, the move by the current administration to end TPS reflects undeniable and unconstitutional bias against Haitians. She also highlighted major procedural deficiencies, particularly noting that the administration failed to consult on the conditions in Haiti and Syria prior to ending TPS. 

The consequences are not trivial. Kagan concluded that “hundreds of thousands of lives will be uprooted, most permanently” while likely illegal termination orders will proceed. 

TPS can be triggered for one or more reasons: Ongoing armed conflict; environmental disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and epidemics; and other extraordinary and temporary conditions that prevent nationals from returning to their country in safety.  

Unfortunately, the administration is revoking TPS on the specious argument that allowing Haitians, Syrians and other TPS recipients to stay here is not in the nation’s best interest. This will lead to significant family separations. At present, TPS holders live with an estimated 390,000 U.S. citizen children and more than 410,000 U.S. citizen adults.  

The decision will also be economically detrimental to our country, clearly not in national interest. According to FWD.US, individuals with TPS “contribute about $29 billion annually to the U.S. economy, in addition to the payment of $7.8 billion in combined federal, state, and local taxes.”  
 
Members of Congress have urged Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to extend the TPS designation for residents of their districts and beyond. Democratic Rep. James McGovern of Massachusetts, for one, gathered the signatures of 80 representatives on a letter he sent to Mullin asking for extension of TPS for Salvadorans. 

Several bills before Congress would allow TPS recipients from designated countries to remain in the country. The American Dream Act and Promise Act of 2025↗️ and the SECURE Act↗️ would provide TPS recipients a pathway to legal permanent residency after multi-year, continuous presence in the U.S. 

In addition, the Afghanistan TPS Act↗️ would specifically designate and extend protection for Afghan nationals with TPS, many of whom worked for the U.S. military. 

Meanwhile, the TPS Relief Act↗️, would overturn the Supreme Court's limitation on judicial review.  

Each of these bills have merits and together would address clear weaknesses in the current provisions of the act. 

Needing particular attention is the assumption that TPS would be temporary, regardless of the situation in the home country.  

While it is true that some immigrants need only temporary status, the assumption that all can eventually return home safely couldn’t be further from the truth. The American Dream and Promise Act and the SECURE Act address the assumption by providing pathways for legal permanent residency for those who cannot return home.  

What the bills do not address, however, are situations in which return-to-home is the best and, in many cases, the most desired option for TPS holders themselves.  
 
Helping those who are willing and able to return in safety and dignity to their countries and providing a pathway to permanent residence and citizenship to those who are unable to return would go a long way toward restoring the United States’ reputation as a nation of immigrants. 

It is the humane and wise move to take, and the League of Women Voters of Washington encourages such action.  

Susan F. Martin is Donald G. Herzberg Professor Emerita of International Migration in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Dr. Martin was the founder and first director of Georgetown’s Institute for the Study of International Migration. Previously, she was the executive director of the bipartisan U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform, which was mandated by statute to advise the President and Congress on U.S. immigration and refugee policy.  

By Dee Anne Finken, Communications Portfolio Director, LWV of Washington

On Washington’s southwest coast, with world-class bird-watching, great razor clamming and the stunning Quinault Rainforest nearby, Grays Harbor County offers visitors a bevy of natural treasures.   

In the early 1900s, the region was considered the West Coast’s lumber capital. But as logging declined, Grays Harbor became better known for its tourism and commercial fishing.  

Aberdeen, the area’s most populous city, gained 1990s fame as the birthplace of Kurt Cobain, lead singer of the grunge band Nirvana whose“Smells Like Teen Spirit” was a global hit.  

Now, Grays Harbor has another identity: The board of directors of the League of Women Voters of Washington in late June approved its formation as the state’s 20^th and newest League local. Its formal recognition by the national League is expected any day.    

Thirty-five members — many more than the minimum eight members that League bylaws require to become a local--were on hand the evening of June 17 for the group’s organizing meeting at the Hoquiam Timberland Library.  

There, Hoquiam resident Lisa Chappell was selected president of the new local League, which for now, will be a unit at large. Vice president is Cynthia Winder and secretary is Kat Bryant. 

As state board First Vice President Nancy Halvorson explained, a unit at large is one of two types of local Leagues. A stand-alone local is responsible for its own bylaws, corporate filing and treasurer accounts, for instance, while a unit at large relies on the state for some of those administrative duties. “The idea behind a unit at large is to make it easier for a League to form,” she said.  

That same evening, also as bylaws require, members reviewed and agreed to abide by the state League’s nonpartisan and diversity, equity and inclusion policies, added Halvorson.  

Halvorson’s role shepherding the new local into being has given her a front-row seat on what’s happening in the organization. Describing Grays Harbor County members as spirited and ready to work, she added, “They’ve very enthusiastic and educated and involved. They know the issues in Grays Harbor, and they are very active in the community.” 

Among those new members are two city council members and a former deputy county auditor. A former editor of the local newspaper, The Daily World, also has expressed interest in moderating an upcoming candidate forum and college officials have indicated a willingness to partner on the forums. 

Halvorson was impressed by the speed at which the Grays Harbor local came together.  

In late March, Chappell was attending a No Kings Rally in downtown Aberdeen when she met Dale Larson, a former Grays Harbor College faculty member. Larson, who taught English and philosophy, was voicing his concerns about threats to the democracy. 

In short order, Larson connected Chappell with others at the rally and from there was born the plan to establish a local League. 

Chappell, a former social work provider,immediately got to work. “In 58 days, I lived, breathed and slept the League,” she said.   

She reached out to everyone she knew to drum up interest. 

“I attended every meeting and community gathering that I could. I told everyone I spoke with about LWV and I invited them to our event and handed out flyers,” she said. “I attended the Home and Garden Show at the county fairgrounds and shared the news with everyone there. It was exciting because many people told me that they had already heard about the meeting, and one woman showed me that she even already had the meeting on her calendar!” 

In late May, slightly less than two months after the No Kings rally, the group held its first meeting. Fifty people attended. 

Before night’s end, determined not to lose the momentum, attendees had set a date for a subsequent meeting. Then came the organizing meeting, where the elections were conducted. 

“Lisa is a driving force,” said Halvorson, whose praise for Chappell is endless. “She is so effective at communication and people just want to help and want to help her.” 

Voting rights and voter participation rank high among the issues facing the75,000 people who make their homes in Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Montesano, Ocean Shores, Westport and surrounding areas.  

“Oh, my gosh. We have an incredibly low voter turnout in our county,” Chappell said. Referring to statistics from the Washington Secretary of State’s Office, she noted that Grays Harbor had the fourth lowest turnout of the 39 counties in the November 2025 general election. Grays Harbor only bested Franklin, Yakima and Grant counties. 

Environmental issues are on the list of concerns, too, heightened by proposals to build a data center and a wood pellet factory.  And with Grays Harbor featuring a bounty of bodies of water, local members are concerned about the health and well-being of shorelines, too. 

A local League in Grays Harbor is not entirely a new development.In previous years, a small local League served the community. Chappell served as secretary and then co-president.  

“It was a very small group of us, back in 2011-2012. We were small, but all of us got candidate forums going and voter registration and guest speakers,” she said. 

The group disbanded in 2017 or so, said Judy Davis, a former Washington state League board member who moved to Aberdeen a few years ago after retiring.  

Some blame a downward turn in the economy for the group’s folding. But Davis, having been active in Leagues in eight states and a former member of the national board for six years, said the disbanding could just have been part of evolution.  

“Sometimes Leagues die and then they are reborn.” 

From all indications, the new Grays Harbor local League is looking at a long and prosperous future. 

By Kathryn Hobbie, LWV of Clark County

“I just felt I had to do something.” 

That’s the near-universal first response when new members are asked why they join the League of Women Voters. And there are many new members in the nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. Nationally, the League has added 20,000 in the past two years.  

In Washington state, League membership shot up 30 percent to 3,190 in 19 months. “Compared to past trends, that is huge growth,” said LWVWA President Karen Crowley. 

Barb Tengtio, immediate past president of the Seattle King County League, cited political upheaval as a major reason. “Given the climate in our country, people have a desire to do something, even if they’re not sure what,” said Tengtio, who was honored at this year’s national convention for the Seattle King County League’s growth.  

Of the several factors drawing newcomers, increased visibility may be the biggest, Tengtio said. A 2025 national League campaign titled “Women Defend Democracy,” called for increased efforts to protect voting access and other rights. In response to the current administration’s defiance of Congress and the courts, the League also declared a constitutional crisis. 

“Defending Democracy got our members out in public for marches and events, giving them the opportunity to talk to their neighbors about the League. We’ve gotten more vocal at community events and in the media,” Tengtio said.  

Another factor is partnerships with groups like the American Association of University Women, the National Council of Jewish Women, and the Girl Scouts of the USA. 

 “Partnership is how we expand our impact and advance our mission,” said Sasha Bentley, a state board member from Klickitat-Skamania. “Sharing our resources and knowledge is equity in action. When people experience the League as a partner, they’re more likely to want to be part of it.”  

New members who log into the LWVUS website are asked what issues prompted them to join. “Some cite the environment or immigrants’ rights, but the vast majority express voting-related concerns,” said Clark County’s Nancy Halvorson, who is also first vice president of the state board. 

Indeed, some of Seattle King County’s new members joined just to be election observers. (In several Washington counties, auditors have authorized League members to serve as volunteer observers to ensure proper procedures are followed.) “For the August primary, we had more than 30 at the observer orientation, half of them new members, including several men,” Tengtio said.     

For most of the League’s history, members have mostly been women who were retired or not employed outside of the home. But demographics are shifting, said Bentley, whose expertise includes diversity, equity and inclusion. “We’re working hard to create a more inclusive culture,” she said.  

Amy Peloff, the state League’s new executive director, said one of her chief goals is to expand opportunities for members who are juggling careers, families and other commitments.  

Is the League’s impressive growth an anomaly among civic groups? “It’s hard to know,” said Travis Ridout, Thomas S. Foley Distinguished Professor of Government and Public Policy at Washington State University.  “Smaller organizations often don’t track the numbers. But there is a well-supported theory that people get more involved politically when the stakes get higher.” 

People join a group for many reasons, Ridout said; sometimes it’s to commiserate or channel their anger.   

Grays Harbor County is perhaps the most robust example of League growth. From a No Kings rally earlier this year in downtown Aberdeen where she got the idea, Lisa Chappell needed only three months to marshal 35 new members to form the state’s newest — and 20th — chapter↗️. 

 Halvorson, the state membership director, agreed that strong emotion is behind some of the growth. “What’s happened since the 2024 election has made people feel powerless. Our members are joining because they want to act.”  

And why do they select the League?  

Credibility, Crowley said.  “When you choose to do action in times as challenging as these, you want an organization you can feel safe with. We’ve built a legacy that people trust.” 

 That legacy stretches back to 1920, when the 19th Amendment extended voting rights to women.  The League was “a mighty political experiment” by the National American Woman Suffrage Association to help women navigate their new role as voters. 

Beyond adding members, it’s also vital to engage them. That’s best achieved at the local level, said Halvorson.  “I can’t impact what’s going on with the Supreme Court, but I can affect my local community. Doing candidate forums, joining the Observer Corps — these things really do make a difference.” 

By Sasha Bentley, Director, LWV of Washington (Klickitat-Skamania Unit-At-Large member)

What we learn in school shapes how we understand our communities, our neighbors, and ourselves. But perhaps just as important is recognizing what we don't learn along the way. 

That's one reason the League of Women Voters of Washington continues to invest in civic education through its “The State We're In: WA” civics textbook.  

With two editions, one for youngsters in grades 3-5, and the other for middle school and older students, the book goes beyond explaining how government works. It helps students understand the history of the state, the relationship between local, state, and tribal governments, and the role each of us plays in civic life.  

Fully integrating information about tribal governments and Native history into the history of the state, it reflects the League's commitment to civic education, serving as a vital tool to empower voters and defend democracy. 

Recently, Beth Pellicciotti, with the Spokane League’s Civic Education project, secured a LWVWA Civic Education grant to provide classroom sets of the textbook to Salish School of Spokane↗️ or, in the language, Sƛ̓x̌atkʷ N̓səl̓xčin̓ Sn̓maʔmáyaʔtn̓. Their school motto is: kʷu haʔnwixʷ, kʷu kʷułnwixʷ, kʷu txət̓nwixʷ, which translates into English as “We respect each other, we share with each other, we take care of each other.” 

The Native-language immersion school, incorporated in 2009 by five Salish women as a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to revitalizing the four Southern Interior Salish languages: n̓səl̓xčin̓ (Colville Salish), n̓xaʔm̓xčín̓ (Wenatchee-Columbian Salish), n̓sélišcn̓ (Spokane-Kalispel Salish), and sn̓čicʷúʔum̓c̓n̓ (Coeur d’Alene Salish). 

Pellicciotti learned about the school from fellow Spokane League member Suzi Hokonson, who serves on the LWVWA committee updating the League's Tribal Study.  

As Salish School of Spokane builds a new campus on the Spokane River for its pre-kindergarten through ninth-grade programs, its mission is a reminder that history isn't just something we study. Rather, history is something we choose to preserve and pass on to the future. 

As she presented the textbooks to the school in late May, Pellicciotti reflected on how her own education left important stories untold.  

Growing up near Seneca Falls, New York (the birthplace of the women's rights movement), Pellicciotti learned all about the 1848 Women's Rights Convention↗️, but not the influence Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) women had on many of the movement's earliest leaders.  

Later in life, she discovered how much history she hadn’t been taught. Beyond the native women themselves, they were inspired by their way of living in equal partnership and participation in tribal government and society. Unfortunately, women suffragists turned that inspiration into appropriation and erasure, actively excluding Native women from their movement↗️.  

Pellicciotti and the teachers also discussed how understanding Native history and government will grow as we learn more, making room for voices and perspectives that have too often been overlooked. 

This spring, the KSPS Civics Bowl in Spokane↗️ included questions from the League textbook about Native American history and government. Doing so helped even more students and viewers develop a broader understanding of Washington's past and present. 

Pellicciotti also noted that Spokane Public Schools purchased 1,700 copies of “The State We’re In: WA” for all seventh graders in July 2025, with students in the dual-language program receiving copies in both English and Spanish. By using the textbook, Pellicciotti said, “students are learning a history of Native tribes and government in Washington state that is important and not to be lost.” 

LaRae Wiley, Salish School of Spokane co-founder and elder linguist, shared similar sentiments. "It took many hands to push our language and our culture down, and it will take many hands to lift it back up again,” she said. “We invite you to partner with us to restore what was nearly lost."  

Spokane County

• Find information for voters from Spokane County HERE↗️. 
• Find ballot drop box locations HERE↗️.
• Check your ballot's status OR get a new ballot at VoteWA.gov↗️
• Get a new ballot in person at any county elections office. In Spokane County: 
• • Spokane County Elections Office
    1033 W Gardner Ave
    Election Day, Aug. 4: 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
    
    
  • Center Place Event Center
    2426 N Discovery Place, Spokane Valley
    Election Day, Aug. 4: 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Condado de Spokane

• Encuentre más información para votantes del Condado de Spokane AQUÍ↗️
• Encuentre las urnas oficiales para depositar su boleta AQUÍ↗️
• Obtener el estado de tu boleta O obtener una boleta de reemplazo en VoteWA.gov↗️
• Obtener una boleta de reemplazo en cualquier oficina electoral del condado. En Condado de Spokane: 
• • Divisón Electoral del Condado de Spokane
    1033 W Garden Ave
    Spokane, WA 99260
    Día de las Elecciones, 4 de agosto: 7 a.m. a 8 p.m
    
    
  • Center Place Event Center
    2426 N Discovery Place, Spokane Valley
    Día de las Elecciones, 4 de agosto:7 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Douglas County

• More information from Douglas County HERE ↗️.
• Find ballot drop box locations HERE↗️
• Check your ballot's status OR get a new ballot at VoteWA.gov↗️
• Get a new ballot in person at any county elections office. In Douglas County: 
  
• • Douglas County Elections Office
    203 S Rainier Street
    Monday-Thursday: 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
    Election Day, Aug. 4: 8:30 a.m.- 8 p.m.
    
    
  • County Voting Center at the Douglas County Law and Justice Building
    100 19th St NW
    East Wenatchee, WA 98802
    Election Day, Aug. 4: 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

Yakima County

• Find ballot drop box locations HERE↗️
• Check your ballot's status OR get a new ballot at VoteWA.gov↗️
• Get a new ballot in person at any county elections office. In Yakima County: 
• • Yakima County Elections Office
    128 N 2nd Street, Room 117
    Monday - Friday: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
    Election Day, Aug. 4: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Condado de Yakima

• Encuentre las urnas oficiales para depositar su boleta AQUÍ↗️
• Obtener el estado de tu boleta O obtener una boleta de reemplazo en VoteWA.gov↗️
• Obtener una boleta de reemplazo en cualquier oficina electoral del condado. En Condado de Yakima: 
• • Oficina Electoral del Condado de Yakima
    128 N 2nd Street, Sala 117
    Lunes a viernes: 9 a.m. a 4 p.m.
    Día de las Elecciones, 4 de agosto: 8 a.m. a 8 p.m.

Okanogan County

• Find information for voters from Okanogan County HERE↗️. 
• Find ballot drop box locations HERE↗️.
• Check your ballot's status OR get a new ballot at VoteWA.gov↗️
• Get a new ballot in person at any county elections office. In Okanogan County: 

Ferry County

• Find information for voters and ballot drop box locations from Ferry County HERE↗️. 
• Check your ballot's status OR get a new ballot at VoteWA.gov↗️
• Get a new ballot in person at any county elections office. In Ferry County: 

Stevens County

• Find information for voters and ballot drop box locations from Stevens County HERE↗️. 
• Check your ballot's status OR get a new ballot at VoteWA.gov↗️
• Get a new ballot in person at any county elections office. In Stevens County:
• • Stevens County Auditor's Office
    215 S Oak St, Rm 106
    Colville, WA 99114
    Election Day, Aug. 4: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
    

The winning videos in this year’s League of Women Voters of Washington Student Video Contest include a breezy, informative look at the state’s Future Voter program and a toe-tapping parody of a children’s song that delivers a message about how to mark a ballot. 

Celebrating its fourth year, the contest presents the League with an opportunity to reach out to younger people “right there on the brink of becoming voters,” said Jane McClure, co-chair of the contest committee with longtime League member Linnea Hirst. 

Considering the many studies that show young people are disillusioned about voting, that outreach is particularly important, McClure added. She described the statewide contest as “a great way for the League to find out what’s going on in the minds of young people.” 

This year’s submissions featured entries that deal with compelling topics, such as the return of voting rights to persons who have been incarcerated. 

Student teams at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, under the guidance of faculty member Anna Weimer, produced the top two videos. 

Students Keirsten Valencia, Adilene Vasquez-Verduzco, and Carolina Bonillia-Zamora won first place for “Future Voter Program.” The brightly colored, 72-second video introduces the state program that allows students younger than 18 to preregister to vote. 

“Not only will you be prepared to vote, but if you turn 18 before November, you’ll be eligible to vote during the primary election,” the narration tells viewers. 

The second-place video was prepared by student Sarah Neilson, who created a parody of "The Duck Song,” which gained popularity among young people nearly 20 years ago. Neilson sang and used stop-motion photography adapted to video format. 

Winners earned cash prizes for their work. Details about the contest are featured on a dynamic website that provides how-to information for teachers, students and local Leagues.  Local League members work hand-in-hand with schools to promote the event. 

These videos are the voices of students, McClure said, “And their voices matter.” 

Watch the winning videos from this year: Future Voter Program (1st place) and The Duck Song, Election Edition (2nd place).

Members of the LWVWA’s Media Literacy and News Education team are, from left to right, Brenda Mann Harrison, Lyn Whitley, Joanne Lisosky, and Lisa Stettler.

Recognizing the vital link between local news and empowered voters, the League of Women Voters of Washington advocates for a robust local news ecosystem and encourages media literacy and news education.

“Empowering voters to defend democracy requires adults of all ages to learn skills that help them discern what is true — and to increase their understanding of the role local news plays in healthy communities and democracy,” noted Brenda Mann Harrison, of the LWVWA Media Literacy and News Education program.

Harrison explained that having completed an extensive training program for League members, the Media Literacy and News Education team is now moving into the second stage of its work: The development of a toolkit to take that training into the wider community.

The training to be offered to community members will build on the instruction featured in four workshops and an introductory video the team provided League members beginning in September 2025.  That material centered on what is media and news literacy and why we need it, the power of critical thinking, making sense of information, recognizing techniques that are used to sway opinion, and an introduction to artificial intelligence.

This summer the team, which includes Harrison, Joanne Lisosky, Lyn Whitley and Lisa Stettler, is surveying League members throughout the state to determine what kind of media and news education toolkits would work best with the adults in their community.

“The feedback we receive will help us develop resources for League members to promote skills that enable individuals to be savvy consumers of media and information,” Harrison added. “We will also draw on material from the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public, which has encouraged our team to share its current research and teaching tools.”

The goal is for local League volunteers across the state to be prepared to offer training in their communities sometime after the new year.

The League began sharing some of its training with the public in a small way several months ago. Every month, the newsletter of the Project for Civic Health publishes a media literacy and news education tip for readers prepared by the League’s Media Literacy and News Education team.

The project is a collaboration of the office of Lt. Gov. Denny Heck, the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, the University of Washington’s Evans School, and the William D. Ruckelshaus Center.  Among a number of goals, the project seeks to find “common ground for the common ground,” which includes a greater understanding of government and civics education, a goal shared by the League as well.

Readers who peruse their newspaper’s letters-to-the-editor section are more likely to see more 200-word reminders about the vital role local news plays in our democracy.  

The League of Women Voters of Washington and the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association have launched a campaign of letters to the editor and opinion piece submissions to drive home that message as the nation commemorates its 250^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. 

Ellen Hiatt, executive director of the 70-member WNPA, said the League and local news outlets share a number of goals. Like the press itself, “The League has informed voters, scrutinized government, hosted candidate forums and refused to let the public lose track of what its representatives are doing,” she said. 

That shared purpose boosts the credibility of League members, making them the perfect writers to submit letters that emphasize the value of local news and the importance of supporting a free press.   

The League, like local newspapers, Hiatt explained, “are not just nice-to-have. They are how self-government actually happens at the county and city scale.” 

 In April, the LWVWA approved the letter-writing project as part of the state organization’s declaration that support for local news is vital.

“As the state League’s study, ‘The Decline of Local News and Its Impact on Democracy,’ showed us, robust local news coverage is critical to having healthy communities and a true democracy,” state President Karen Crowley said.   

Crowley said she and local League presidents also will submit op-ed essays detailing why the League supports local news and encouraging others to do so.  The League has been a strong advocate for Sen. Marko Liias’ legislation seeking a surcharge on search engines and social media giants, which have profited from local news content while depleting local advertising revenue. The money would be allocated to local news organizations in the form of grants to be spent on reporters’ salaries.