By Alison McCaffree, Redistricting Issue Chair, LWV of Washington 

The League of Women Voters of Washington has been a leader in redistricting reform in our state for over 90 years. We are not stopping now. For the 2021 redistricting cycle we ran 13 Speak Up Schools to teach people how to testify, held over 30 Mapping Listening sessions, and created our own set of statewide maps. Congratulations to everyone who testified or provided input. We’ve taken a deep look at the Washington State Redistricting Commission’s 2021 process and results and found them lacking. We’ve got a lot of work to do.  

The LWVWA calls for comprehensive reform of the Washington state redistricting process before 2031. Over the last few weeks, numerous decisions and events further emphasize a great need for such reform. Our district maps should reflect the voices of all communities across the state. The 2021 maps miss the mark. The LWVWA applauds the efforts of a Yakima community group that brought a lawsuit alleging the maps violate Latino citizens’ voting rights in the area. While the Washington Supreme Court approved the maps, we are disappointed in the lack of timeliness and transparency in the commission’s negotiations. If local communities cannot see what commissioners are discussing during their process, then they do not know if their input has been heard and considered.  

Changing the process and the commission structure requires changes in the law and in the Constitution of the State of Washington. The legislature refused to make even the most obvious changes by failing to pass HB 2575 (in 2020) and SB 5560 (in 2022). The Washington Administrative Code changes that the commission made—only because of the pressure of a lawsuit settlement—do not go far enough. The LWVWA calls on local Leagues, the public, and the media to engage the legislature in advocating for more transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness in the state’s redistricting process and in calling for a new type of commission—an independent citizen-focused commission.  

We must disaggregate the commission from partisan politics and provide more staff support sooner. The trust in our election systems starts with redistricting. Without comprehensive redistricting reform, Washington’s community needs will continue to come second to other concerns.  

The LWVWA is assembling a broad coalition of individuals and organizations that support comprehensive reform of Washington’s redistricting process. We advocate for change in six major areas:

1.     Examining the structure of the commission

2.     Expanding staff support

3.     Increasing transparency and ensuring Open Public Meetings Act training

4.     Defining criteria used to evaluate district boundary placement

5.     Securing broad public Input

6. Increasing access to the process

Redistricting Reform Discussion meetings: 

Join us for deep discussions on each of these possible areas every other Tuesday, 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m., starting April 12. 

Register Today (same for all meetings). 

• April 12, 2022: Criteria and ranking 

• April 26 2022: Transparency and accountability 

• May 10, 2022: Increased staffing and technology support 

• May 24, 2022: Independent citizens commission 

• June 7, 2022: Input and access 

While redistricting relies on technology and data analysis, ultimately human judgment must balance representation among various communities of interest with overlapping or conflicting needs. Washington’s redistricting commission needs a larger group of people representing communities around the state. We must create a process that inspires trust, that holds commissioners accountable to communities, and that ultimately gives voice to the people of Washington state.  

If you have any questions, please contact Alison McCaffree. 

Nick Lovrich, co-editor of the book Outside Looking In: Lobbyists’ Views on Civil Discourse in U.S. State Legislatures, is scheduled to speak at the LWV of Washington 2022 Council in June. Lovrich, who will speak on Saturday, June 11 during the lunch break, will present results and observations from Outside Looking In, published in 2021 by Washington State University Press. Focused on state legislative politics, the book is based on a 2018-2019 national survey of state legislative lobbyists and public agency legislative officers regarding their views about how their various state legislatures operate. More than 1,100 state legislative lobbyists (from all 50 states) were questioned about the weakening of civility norms, the breakdown of bipartisan problem-solving, and the recent shrinkage of the nonpartisan space in the U.S. Congress—problems that have also affected how state legislatures operate. His talk will focus on the findings from the research done in Washington state.

A research team of over a dozen scholars from 10 U.S. universities (University of Kansas, University of Arkansas, University of Utah, Washington State University, Oregon State University, Bradley University, Boise State University, Duke University, Kent State University, and Clark University) collaborated on collecting and analyzing the survey data. The research team also worked on the systematic coding of the extended comments collected, many offered by one-time state legislators now working as lobbyists or as public agency legislative liaison officers.

A box lunch will be available to order prior to the event; information to come.

By Beth Pellicciotti, Civic Education Portfolio Director, LWV of Washington 

The LWV of the Spokane Area is partnering with its local public television station, KSPS PBS, and Spokane Public Schools to produce a televised civics contest tournament with high school students. The Civics Bowl will be broadcast Mondays, May 2 through June 6, at 7 p.m., on KSPS PBS. Online viewing of the Civics Bowl will also be available on KSPS.org on Tuesdays following each Monday broadcast.   

The Spokane League partnered with KSPS PBS and Spokane Public Schools to produce this unique project of a civics knowledge tournament for students. Students from six schools will compete in this pilot season.  

To learn more about this project, you can watch the Zoom recording and read the PowerPoint presentation of the Spokane League’s March 8 meeting about the KSPS PBS Civics Bowl. The meeting agenda provides the times for each section of the recording. The meeting showcased: 

• How to plan, organize, and produce a civics contest. 

• How League members wrote 400-plus questions from civics textbooks, including the LWVWA Education Fund textbook, The State We’re In: Washington, 8th edition. 

• How Spokane Public Schools teaches civics education. 

By Beth Pellicciotti, Civic Education Portfolio Director, LWV of Washington 

The League of Women Voters of Clallam County has received a $2,000 Civic Education Fund Grant from the LWV of Washington Education Fund to reach out to schools, libraries, clubs, and youth programs with all things civics. The Clallam League believes in asking community partners, “What do you need?”  

The LWV of Clallam County will use the grant to:  

• Support K-12 teachers by funding the yearly Kids Voting USA program. 

• Purchase The State We’re In: Washington textbooks for teachers and libraries. 

• Coordinate with local Boys and Girls Clubs to sponsor students for the Legislative Page Program. 

• Recruit interns from Peninsula College for projects according to student interest. 

Clallam League members hope to mentor high school students in a leadership class that encourages students to serve on local boards by helping students: 

• Review board packets before meetings. 

• Prepare oral comments. 

• Create high school surveys on issues. 

• Provide data to board members. 

For more information, contact Bonnie Bless-Boenish. 

Cultivating Civic Conversations: About the State of Our Democracy—Spring 2022 

By Katherine Murphy, LWV of Kittitas County 

Registration is open for the next round of Cultivating Civic Conversations (CCC),“About the State of Our Democracy,” scheduled for Sundays, April 10 through June 12, 2022, at 3 p.m. This free, 10-week seminar offers participants an opportunity to step back and use a “beginner’s mind” when discussing civic education and engagement. If we want to encourage our friends, co-workers, and family to participate in our democracy, then sometimes we need a fresh approach—one that makes fewer assumptions about what “everyone knows” about our history and government. 

The seminar uses the LWVWA’s elementary civics textbook, The State We’re In: Washington, as the anchoring framework. This book is available online for free or in paperback; ordering information is included in the registration materials. The course creator and facilitator, Katherine Murphy, adds content from diverse sources to expand each week’s discussion. 

Prior to each week’s meeting, participants read, listen to, or watch assignments from the textbook, podcasts, or videos. Each assignment includes up to 25 pages of text to read, a podcast to listen to (there is usually a transcript),and reflection questions to consider. The assignments typically take about two hours. The Zoom sessions are one hour and include additional content as well as discussion.  

We use the Sutra Spaces discussion platform to manage and keep all the group materials in one place. To view a full schedule and to register for this seminar, visit the CCC website. 

Participants in the previous CCC sessions have said: 

• "This excellent class opened my mind and my heart to new ways of learning and thinking about our country's history and acting to address injustice." 

• "I am astounded at how much I learned and the resolve I now have to make a positive difference." 

• “It’s been an eye-opening journey into our history—a history I was never fully taught long ago in school.” 

Katherine Murphy (LWV of Kittitas County) and Wende Sanderson (LWV of Skagit County) developed the Cultivating Civic Conversations (CCC) program to meet the need expressed by community and League members who want “to learn how everything works in government.” Since that is a tall order, we decided to use a seminar format and tackle one theme at a time because we believe that it is easier to learn, grow, and thrive within a community of learners. Research shows that long-term civic engagement is built on personal one-on-one connections and we focus on this approach. 

CCC programs offer a structure that helps us reflect on the question, "How do we learn how to have transformative conversations about what it means to be human and, as humans, to constructively participate in our civic affairs?" We hope that the next CCC workshop, “About the State of Our Democracy” will help you to: 

• Discover new voices, historical context, viewpoints, and resources. 

• Reflect upon and reframe your place in your community. 

• Encourage and expand your capacity for civic engagement. 

• Nurture humor, insight, joy, and perspective. 

If you have questions or want to be added to our mailing list for future sessions, email Katherine. 

Commission on the Status of Women and LWVUS Presentation 

Members of the League of Women Voters are invited to attend the 66th Meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66) at the United Nations in New York, being held virtually Monday, March 14–Friday, March 25, 2022. The CSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively devoted to promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women. 

The priority theme this year is achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change as well as environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programs. Another theme is women's economic empowerment in the changing world of work. 

The LWV of the United States has been an active participant in CSW meetings since its inception in 1946 and has attended meetings, presented and commented at commission meetings, and sponsored panels and events. 

The LWVUS will present a parallel event, “Climate Threats to Democratic Elections: Preparing for the Worst,” on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PT.  Publicity details to come. 

You can register in advance for the parallel event. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.  

Please let the League know if you have questions about this process.  It would be helpful if you could write up brief summaries of events you attend that are relevant to LWV members and send them to csensor@lwv.org. The summaries will be compiled and shared with League members after the forum and will help the League prepare for future events.  

The NGO Committee on the Status of Women, NY (NGO CSW/NY) sponsors the NGO CSW Forum of events and panels, advocacy trainings, briefings on CSW discussions and draft outcome documents, and opportunities to attend regional caucuses. The NGO CSW/NY is a group of New York–based women’s NGOs in consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council.  

To register and for more information on the NGO CSW66 Forum and on NGO parallel events, visit the NGO CSW/NY website. 

Celebrating the Nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson 

Black History Month came to a close with the nomination of the first Black woman, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, to the Supreme Court. LWV's CEO Virginia Kase Solomón wrote about the added challenges faced by Black female candidates in both this decision and across the political sphere. As we applaud the decision to promote a Black woman to the highest judicial post in our nation, we reflect on the countless contributions Black women have made to our democracy since its inception. 

LWVUS Launches Registration Campaigns 

With primary elections kicking off, the League has launched multiple voter registration campaigns to empower underserved communities across the nation. These include young people, new citizens, and those returning from incarceration. Check your voter registration and primary information at VOTE411.org! 

102 Years of Defending Democracy 

To honor over a century of work, Leagues across the country hosted more then 100 actions (more actions than years of League history) empowering voters across the country. These included registration drives, letter-writing campaigns, educational panels and workshops, and more. 

Did you miss our virtual birthday rally? Check it out and learn more about state and local League actions from our birthday. 

March is Women’s History Month and there are lots of ways to celebrate. The following are just a few of the events or resources to learn more about women’s history. 

• The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum are commemorating and encouraging the study, observance, and celebration of the vital role of women in American history at the Women’s History Month website, which includes a calendar of events throughout March. 

• Explore a guide to women’s history resources available from the Library of Congress. 

• Read President Biden’s Proclamation on Women’s History Month, 2022. 

• Learn more about women’s history through the National Women’s History Museum and access its resource toolkit. 

• The National Women’s History Alliance’s theme for Women’s History Month is “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope.” Check out the alliance’s website for resources about women’s history. 

• Celebrate Women’s History Month by learning about Agatha Christie, one of the most successful writers of all time. We all know her characters and incredible plot twists, but what do we know about the Agatha herself? On Public Television (check your local listings).  

Have you ever thought about running for office but didn’t know where to start or what it entailed? The Fix Democracy First (FDF) Education Fund is introducing a new project, Women in Office Now (WON), that will provide free training to help women successfully run for office. The goal is to help build knowledge and assist women to successfully run for office and win elections. 

The WON project will include 12 training modules, all free and all held virtually online, starting March 8. The workshops will feature special guests, including current and former legislators as well as experts in various discussion topics.  

The first training is Tuesday, March 8, from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. and will cover: 

• The need for women in leadership 

• The impact on the community 

• What office to run for 

Register for the first WON workshop now! 

All module trainings are approximately 90 minutes long and provide time for questions and interaction with presenters and guest speakers. No worries if you can’t make a training, as they will all be recorded and archived for viewing on demand by women considering or planning to run for local or state office in the future.  

The WON program will also work to build a statewide leadership support network to help women as they run for office, and FDF will partner with other organizations to help ensure success and long-term sustainability in recruiting, training, and supporting women in office. 

Trainings will be held every other Tuesday, 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. PT, from March 8, 2022, through August 9, 2022. You can register for just one or all of them. Note: Each module has a separate registration link. You are welcome attend one or all of them! The following is the schedule for the remaining WON trainings, so mark your calendars and register.  

March 22, 2022, Training Module 2: Where to Start? Questions to Ask Yourself 

• What do I need before I begin? 

• What office should I run for? Why? 

• Who will I represent? 

• What are the responsibilities and duties of that office? 

• When should I run? 

• Who is my competition? 

• What are my platform and values? 

• What do I hope to accomplish in that position? 

• Do I have the time, support, confidence, and motivation to run? 

Register for Training Module 2 

April 5, 2022, Training Module 3: The Basics of Running for Office 

• Campaign timeline 

• Resources needed to run a successful campaign 

• Filing your candidacy for office 

• Writing a campaign plan 

• Next steps 

Register for Training Module 3 

April 19, 2022, Training Module 4: Running a Campaign—What Do I Need to Know? 

• What is my campaign plan? 

• Do I have my team ready? 

• Who am I running against? 

• Funds and resources needed 

• Outreach to constituents and the public—know your community 

• Volunteer recruitment and retention 

• Debating and interviews 

• Getting endorsements and working with the media 

Register for Training Module 4 

May 3, 2022, Training Module 5: Choosing Your Campaign Team 

• Who should be a part of your team? 

• How to interview and choose the right team 

• Recruiting team members 

• Working with volunteers 

Register for Training Module 5 

May 17, 2022, Training Module 6: Campaign Communications 

• Branding—visuals, signage, online presence 

• Building contact lists 

• How best to reach constituents 

• Social media platforms 

• Email communications 

• Canvassing best practices 

• Media contacts and outreach 

Register for Training Module 6 

May 31, 2022, Training Module 7: Campaign Finance 

• State and local regulations 

• Contribution limits 

• Filing with the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) 

• Fundraising dos and don’ts 

Register for Training Module 7 

June 14, 2022, Training Module 8: Fundraising for My Campaign 

• Fundraising goals and timeline 

• Hosting events 

• Online fundraising options 

• Targeting donors in your jurisdiction 

• Outreach to bigger donors 

• Public funding (available in certain areas) 

Register for Training Module 8 

June 28, 2022: Training Module 9: Candidate Forums and Interviews 

• Public speaking 101 

• Speech writing 

• Preparing for interviews and debates 

• Research and know your positions 

• Practice sessions 

Register for Training Module 9 

July 12, 2022, Training Module 10: Preparing for the Election 

• Difference between primaries and general election 

• Candidate questionnaires and forums 

• Mobilizing your base 

• Motivating staff and volunteers 

• Endorsements 

• Canvassing 

• Media outreach 

• GOTV! Get out the vote 

• Preparing for the results, good or bad 

Register for Training Module 10 

July 26, 2022, Training Module 11: After the Campaign: What Happens Next? Evaluating Your Campaign 

• I’ve won! Now what? 

• I’ve lost. Now what? 

• What worked? What didn’t? 

• Acknowledging your team and volunteers 

• Thanking your base and donors 

• Final fundraising reporting 

• Making sure all loose ends are taken care of 

Register for Training Module 11 

August 9, 2022, Training Module 12: Preparing to Take Office 

• Choosing your team for success 

• Putting together your office schedule 

• Researching legislative procedures and timelines 

• Joining legislative committees 

• Meeting with constituents 

• What will be my legislative focus and priorities? 

• Caucusing with fellow office holders 

• Following through on commitments 

Register for Training Module 12 

By Marty Bishop, Climate Change Solutions Committee, LWV of Kitsap County 

SAFE Cities is the movement of communities working to end local fossil fuel expansion. Join the LWV of Kitsap County in a discussion of SAFE Cities with Ingrid Archibald, a SAFE Cities Organizer of Stand.earth, on Monday, March 14, at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Ingrid, who lives on Duwamish and Coast Salish land in Seattle and loves being near trees and water, will present the various options that communities have to protect themselves from fossil fuel threats. Organized by the Kitsap League’s Climate Solutions Committee, join the Kitsap County League in learning how to keep our communities safe from fossil fuels.  

Registration required. 

  

Ingrid Archibald, SAFE Cities Field Organizer 

By Mary Coltrane, Voter Services Committee Chair, LWV of Washington 

Voter Services includes many services that Leagues across the country provide to their communities. Among these is a service of critical importance: candidate forums and debates. Unlike many organizations, when Leagues organize candidate forums or debates, the audience isn’t only League members. On the contrary, we in the League work hard to make our forums and debates accessible to the community at large. Voter Services is about providing all eligible voters the tools they need to cast an informed ballot.  

The LWV of the United States notes that forums and debates are like hiring interviews. No one would hire someone without interviewing them first; as voters, we should get a chance to take the measure of candidates so we can have some assurance they will represent our views if they are elected. 

This is all fine and good. But what happens when candidates don’t show up for the interview? It’s a problem. Volunteers work hard to organize these events. When candidates don’t show, and if the event is left with only one candidate, the idea of an empty chair debate comes into play. Or, what if a candidate just won’t appear no matter how many times, and how nicely, League volunteers point out the costs and benefits? This seems to be happening more often than in the past. What should your League do? The day of a debate is not the time to make a decision. Planning and forethought will make a difference.  

The state League's Voter Services Committee is presenting two workshops to help with planning and forethought. Candidate and debate managers, all Voter Services volunteers, boards, every League member, and friends of the League are invited to attend one or both workshops.  

The first workshop, on Saturday, April 2, will feature Maggie Bush from the LWVUS, Mike Bay of TVW (Washington's public affairs network), and a representative from the Public Disclosure Commission (invited). They will talk about the various issues to consider as Leagues navigate our hyperpartisan environment. The second workshop, on Saturday, April 23, will offer ideas about how to successfully communicate the value of forums and debates with candidates, the media, and your community. Register for both workshops. 

Both workshops will allow ample time for your questions. As a matter of fact, the Voter Services Committee would love to have your questions in advance. We’ll share any questions we receive ahead of time with our speakers so they can tailor their remarks to what you want to hear. 

Mark your calendar and register! Look for reminder information in the March 18 This Month in the League, or shoot me an email if you have questions.  

Join us for the two online workshops designed to help Leagues prepare for this year’s election events.  

Saturday, April 2, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: Rules for “Empty Chair” Debates 

• Setting policy, process, criteria, and more! Board members and candidate forum managers encouraged to attend. 

• Maggie Bush, LWVUS Programs and Outreach Director 

• Mike Bay, VP of Programming, TVW (Washington’s public affairs network) 

• Public Disclosure Commission representative (invited) 

Saturday, April 23, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: Getting the Word Out 

• Working with candidates, the public, and the media 

• Streaming and recording 

• Broadcast agreements and participant ground rules