The Journal of the San Juan Islands published this essay by San Juan League president Susan Martin, who explains how the League stays true to its 105-year-old commitment to nonpartisanship while working to defend democracy. 

Martin, professor emerita of International Migration at Georgetown University, most recently led the LWVWA’s immigration study, “Welcoming Immigrants in Washington State.” The article was published Aug. 21. 

The League of Women Voters, a non-partisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of public policy issues, and influence public policy through education and advocacy. At the root of the League’s actions is our love for democracy.  

Many residents in San Juan County have participated in the League’s candidate forums. As a non-partisan organization, we do not endorse candidates or political parties. In fact, the presidents and chairs of Voter Services are barred from making contributions or taking other actions that may indicate a preference for one candidate or party over another. Maintaining our non-partisanship is one way that we empower voters and defend democracy.  

Being non-partisan does not stop the League from taking positions on issues that affect our democracy. When we adopt a position, it must be based on serious research and analysis. During the past two years, the San Juan League chaired a study that led to a new position for the League of Women Voters of Washington State titled "Welcoming Immigrants in Washington State.” Our local League also participated actively in building consensus for positions on studies conducted about local news and democracy, elder care in Washington and reforms of the federal judiciary.  

When we see assaults on democracy, we do not stay quiet. In April 2025, the national League declared that the United States is facing a constitutional crisis. As Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters, and Dianna Wynn, president of the U.S. League, stated: "The foundational principles that have sustained our democracy—checks and balances, the rule of law, free and fair elections—are under direct and sustained threat. In this extraordinary moment, we cannot proceed with business as usual. All Americans—no matter who you voted for in 2024—need to come together, stand united, and fight back to save our democracy. We cannot afford to fail the generations to come.”  

Since this declaration, the League nationwide is taking steps, along with allied organizations, to educate, advocate, and, when necessary, litigate in defense of democracy.  

In May, the League launched the Unite and Rise 8.5 initiative, which aims to mobilize 8.5 million voters using the power of voter engagement as a cornerstone of our democracy. Unite and Rise 8.5 showcases the many ways voters can drive change, including through advocacy, mobilization, civic education, and engagement. For example, the League is urging members of the U.S. Senate to defeat the SAVE Act, as its passage would make it more difficult to vote in Washington state and elsewhere in the country.  

Leagues across the country also have sued to stop voter suppression, challenging those who seek to restrict Black, brown, female, disabled and other Americans from making their voices heard in our democracy. The League—including the League of the San Juans, will continue to offer voter forums, register voters, provide civics education to children and adults, and provide information based on evidence, not party alignment.  

Please join us in this important work. All residents of San Juan County are welcome to attend our voter forums and informational meetings on issues of importance to all of us. 

We encourage you to become a member of the League to get even more information about the state of our democracy from the national, state and local leagues. You can become a member online (https://portal.lwv.org/membership) or send a check to LWVSJ, PO Box 784, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. To ensure that everyone interested in protecting democracy is able to join, the League has a "pay-as-you-can" policy.  

As Carrie Chapman Catt, who first proposed the creation of the League of Women Voters, stated so eloquently, “Everybody counts in applying democracy. And there will never be a true democracy until every responsible and law-abiding adult in it, without regard to race, sex, color or creed has his or her own inalienable and (sic) unpurchasable voice in government.”  

This is still our mission and the reason that it is up to all of us to protect our democracy.  

The 2025 Election is here! 

Local Leagues across the state, have been holding candidate forums and other opportunities for voters to hear directly from the candidates on their ballots. Local Leagues are also hard at work updating Vote411.org, a comprehensive one-stop-shop for aiding voters in everything from registering to vote to providing the info they need to cast an informed, empowered ballot.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization which does not endorse candidates. Instead, it offers Vote411 as a tool to enable voters to make their own informed choices. All candidates for a race receive the same questions and voters can see their responses displayed side-by-side for comparison

The rest of this article will be a collection of candidate forums and other voter resources to help you get prepared for the 2025 Election

Check out our online voter tools!
Find registration info, ballot drop box locations, and other information to help you be an informed voter. View our voter tools.

Check in with a specific local League to see their candidate forums or other resources for voters, click on the local League below:

• Bellingham/Whatcom County
• Benton/Franklin Counties 
• Clallam County
• Clark County
  
• Jefferson County Unit-at-Large
  
• Kitsap County
  
• Kittitas County 
• Mason County 
• Pullman Area
  
• San Juans
  
• Seattle/King County 
• Skagit County
• Snohomish County
  
• Spokane Area 
• Tacoma/Pierce County
  
• Thurston County
  
• Whidbey Island 
• Yakima County 

Below is a round up of some of the ways the League has stood up and spoken out against threats to democracy in the United States in the month of June.

Standing Up For Voting Rights

• The LWV of Florida and partners seek an injunction to halt a Florida law that guts the ballot initiative process with sweeping restrictions. 
• The LWV of North Carolina and partners seek to intervene in a NC voting case brought by the DOJ which wrongly challenges the eligibility of 200,000 voters. 

Speaking Out for the Rights of Protestors, Politicians, and Public Officials

• The right to peacefully protest and express dissent against the government is enshrined in the US Constitution, and the League spoke out firmly in support of this right.
• The League publicly condemned violence against activists at a courthouse in Boulder, CO—as well as the use of federal force against protestors in Los Angeles County, CA. 
• LWVUS and the LWV of Minnesota reasserted that political violence has no place in our democracy and condemned the tragic political assassination of Minnesota Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her family and the shooting of Minnesota Senator John Hoffman and his family. 
• The League publicly expressed concern about actions taken against US lawmakers, including the indictment of Rep. Monica McIver and the violent removal of Sen. Alex Padilla.
• The LWV also spoke out about President Trump's direction to the DOJ to investigate former President Biden, a political rival. 

Democracy Issues

• The League and partners filed legal briefs urging federal courts to invalidate an illegal executive order seeking to revoke birthright citizenship.
• The LWV strongly spoke out against SCOTUS using its shadow docket to allow the Trump administration to deport migrants without due process. 
• A healthy US democracy requires ALL of its members to be able to live freely and access their fundamental rights, ongoing attacks against the LGBTQIA+ community present a threat to democracy. The League publicly, and loudly, affirms that democracy depends on transgender rights. 

League members came together at this year's LWVWA Convention in Vancouver, Washington to Stand Up For Democracy. Together, delegates took on the important work of electing incoming Directors and Nominating Committee members, passing a budget, updating our bylaws and finally, defining our Program of Work. We were presented with a rich selection of workshops and warmly welcomed and hosted by members of the LWV of Clark County. 

It was a full agenda that included powerful messaging from inspirational speakers. We heard from Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown who lifted us up with his commitment to justice and hope. Dr. Kate Starbird, Associate Professor at the University of Washington in the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering, shared her research on how public 'sense-making' can lead to misinformation during crises. It was a sobering presentation. LWVUS President Dianna Wynn delivered the final keynote that lit a fire under the entire delegation. She encouraged each of us to be actively and visibly present in our communities. She reminded us that: "Nonpartisan is not neutral. We are a political organization." When asked what activism might look like, she urged us to be safe, then added: "From Seneca Falls forward, hope has always fueled activism. Hope isn't a lottery ticket you sit on hoping to win. Hope is an axe you keep by the door in case there's a fire and you have to break it down."

As I reflect on the three days of plenary sessions, I am struck by the connection of the theme of our Convention to the work—standing up for democracy. Delegates debated, submitted amendments, wrote resolutions, voted, debated again, and voiced their directions to the incoming board of directors. A convention is democracy in action. The process was passionate. The discourse was civil. In the end, the work reflected the wisdom of the impressive group of leaders. 

Members will be able to review recordings of many of the presentations and workshops on the LWVWA website soon. 

I am honored to have been elected your president and look forward to working with the Board to move the approved Program of Work items forward. Members said yes to these projects:

• Update the LWVWA's 1980 Indian Treaty Rights Study
• Update the LWVWA's 1970 Washington State Housing Study
• Launch an education project to assess the strength of democracy in Washington State—LWVWA State of Democracy: Washington report.

What's next? The new Board of Directors is coming together for an all-day retreat in July. We will review the input from Convention and do some creative dreaming about how the LWVWA can rise to meet the challenges facing us. How do we best use resources to support both local Leagues and the bold direction set by national League leadership? How do we chart our own transformation roadmap that mirrors the LWVUS Transformation Journey? We must deliver on the new Program of Work and set strategic priorities that carry us forward in powerful ways. 

We have big work to do. I will be keeping in touch with local League leaders and inviting input on these questions. I welcome your thoughts. Please reach out to me. 

We are living in historic, challenging times. Be hopeful. Be safe. Know this: when we work together with courage, we have everything we need. Together, we are enough. 

Karen Crowley, LWVWA President

By Mary Coltrane, LWVWA President

The League of Women Voters' program year is fast coming to a close. Local Leagues are holding their annual meetings and deciding on their new  leadership, budgets, and program for the upcoming year. They are updating their bylaws to align with LWVUS' bylaws around League membership. Gone is reference to per member payments. Members will no join and renew membership on the LWVUS website.

All these changes happen at the LWVWA as well. With Convention just a short time away, the Convention Planning Committee and the many volunteers from our host, LWV Clark County, are finalizing many details to ensure delegates have the best time ever.

We are facing extraordinary assaults on the democracy Leaguers cherish. The LWVWA Board of Directors wants delegates to walk away from this experience committed and energized to do the hard work that lies ahead.

The League, at all levels, continues its work—steadfast and committed, renewing and engaging. As we look ahead to the next biennium, it's worthwhile to look back at all we've done over the last two years. Many, many volunteers made this work possible. 

Not everyone can go to Convention, so here is the letter I wrote to the delegates welcoming them to Convention 2025. I hope you will be as impressed as I was as I tallied up all that the LWVWA did at the state level in the last two years. Welcome to Convention!

By Shelley Kneip and Beth Pellicciotti (LWVWA Board of Directors)

What guides the League's Advocacy? Positions guide League advocacy.

How do we develop positions? We do objective research.

To develop a position, a study committee delves into the pros and cons of a public policy issue. These members conduct extensive research—they interview subject matter experts and document the resources for the study. The completed study is then presented to the 2400 League members across Washington State for discussion and their agreement (or not) through a consensus process. From these discussions with members, the LWVWA Board adopts new or amended positions. 

Recently, the LWVWA adopted two new position on important public policy issues involving elder caregiving and immigration. Read more about these new League positions below:

• LWVWA Elder Caregiving Study
• Welcoming Immigrants in Washington State

A committee has been formed to help guide local Leagues and League members through the massive federal attempts to destroy democracy in the US. One of the products of this group is an email “blast” that has updates on national and other actions, guidance from LWVUS on what members can or should not do, and other information from LWVUS related to the many initiatives and lawsuits they’ve activated. 

Read back issues of this communication HERE.

To join the Resisting Threats committee, contact Martin Gibbins, LWVWA Advocacy Portfolio Director,

We’re proud to announce that we will have some amazing featured speakers at this year’s state convention, including Washington’s Attorney General Nick Brown and LWVUS President Dianna Wynn.

If you are a League member and would like to attend Convention, please contact your local League leadership. It is a fascinating look at how democracy works. If you are not a League member, please consider joining!

The Basics:

• When: June 5-8, 2025
• Where: The Heathman Lodge, Vancouver, WA
• Registration: In-person and virtual options are available. Register now.
• Lodging: Reservations at the Heathman Lodge may be made by calling 360-254-3100. Please tell the reservation agent that you will be part of the League of Women Voters of Washington Group and request the Group rate when you call.
• Schedule: The fun starts Thursday afternoon, and then we really hit the ground running starting 8am Friday morning. We are still finalizing the schedule, but we encourage members to arrive Thursday or early Friday morning.

If you haven’t been to a League Convention before, join the online caucus on Tuesday, May 13 at 5:00 pm. Register for the caucus HERE. You will learn about what happens in plenary sessions and why, including what the current and new Program are, how to make motions, and more.

There are still several openings for workshops proposals. These are used as educational opportunities to inform attendees about issues. To propose a workshop, contact Cynthia Stewart, Convention Planning Chair.

Opportunities for Recognition:
Please nominate a local League or League member

Convention is a time when we get to recognize achievements by and contributions of League members and local Leagues to the success of League as a whole. There are a number of awards given each year. If you have a nomination for any of these, use this form to suggest a person or local League who should be considered for one of these. Please give the name of the nominee, the name of the proposed award, and a description of why they should receive the award.

Here are the different awards:

• The Dorothy Roberts award has been presented at conventions since 1993—except perhaps in 2023—and the description is “to a person who shares a commitment, dedication and passion for the mission of the League.”
• The Evergreen awards were first awarded at Council in 2016 and include these categories:
• The Cedar Award is given for actions that reflect generosity and providence. The cedar tree is a symbol of strength, support and connection, and prosperity.
• The Fir Award is given for actions that demonstrate pillar of strength, tower of truth. The fir is a symbol of the power of determination and perseverance.
• The Pine Award is given for actions that represent the longevity and virtue of League. The pine is a symbol of wisdom, longevity, reaching for the stars and striving to make life better.
• The Evergreen Award is the highest award, given for extraordinary actions that sustain the League and keep it vibrant and growing.

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.