by Karen Verrill, The State We're In: Washington Project Manager

The LWVWA is happy to report our popular civic education textbooks are now available in Spanish! This is one way of helping our Spanish-speaking residents feel welcome and to help them learn how government works in our state.

Our books, The State We’re In: Washington. Your guide to state, tribal and local government (TSWI) are available in two editions. One is designed for grades 6 and up and the other for use in elementary schools. These textbooks include information about Native tribes in Washington—how tribes governed themselves pre-contact, how they are governed today, and how they interact with Washington’s state and local governments. These colorful books include the ethnic and geographic diversity of our state and are designed to inspire students to become active citizens in their community.  

The Washington State Council for the Social Studies and the Washington State Indian Education Association have both endorsed these materials.   

Two years ago, the League learned the largest and fastest growing population in Washington are Latinos.  Thus, with the urging and support of LWV Snohomish County, we had our poster "What Does It Take to Be a Good Citizen?" produced in Spanish. This was followed by research on and the production of The State We're In: Latino History in Washington, which is available in both English and Spanish.

Recently the League shared these books with the Directors of the Multi-Language Learning Department at the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). They encouraged us to get the elementary edition of TSWI and Latino History in Washington translated into Spanish because these textbooks would be useful in dual language classes. More than 40,000 students in WA are in these (English/Spanish) classes.

All of the above materials are now translated into Spanish, and digital copies of most can already be found in our shop. The rest will soon be available there and at the OSPI website.

Unfortunately, we have not been able to print the Spanish edition of the elementary edition of TSWI, the teachers’ guides, or Latino History in Washington due to lack of funding. We are currently pursuing grant opportunities to fund these amazing books—if you have experience with grants, we could use your help! Please contact Karen Verrill.

Please help us spread the word about these textbooks!

The books and downloadable materials in this article, as well as our other civic education materials, can be viewed here.

By Irene Finley, LWV Clark County Redistricting Committee Lead, Member of the LWVWA Redistricting Reform Task Force  

A Washington Western District Court judge ordered on Thursday, August 10, 2023, that Washington “redraw a legislative district in the Yakima Valley region because its current boundaries undermine the ability of Latino voters to participate equally in elections.” You can learn more here.

Highlights from the decision: 

• U.S. District Court Judge Robert Lasnik invalidated the map for the 15th Legislative District drawn by the bipartisan state Redistricting Commission in 2021. 
  

• The district encompasses parts of five counties in south-central Washington and is represented by three Republicans.

• Lasnik wrote in his 32-page decision that the “line-drawing which, in combination with the social and historical conditions in the Yakima Valley region, impairs the ability of Latino voters in that area to elect their candidate of choice on an equal basis with other voters.”

• The state needs to reconvene the Redistricting Commission and draw up new boundaries, due to the state Legislature by Jan. 8, 2024, for enactment by Feb. 7.  
  

• If the commission does not meet the deadline, the federal court will decide the maps. “Regardless of whether the State or the Court adopts the new redistricting plan, it will be transmitted to the Secretary of State on or before March 25, 2024, so that it will be in effect for the 2024 elections,” Lasnik concluded.

The current redistricting process was established in 1983, when the WA Legislature created the bipartisan Redistricting Commission configured to have two commissioners from each of the major political parties and a non-voting chair. The redistricting process occurs every ten years, and is when new legislative districts are drawn nation-wide. This process was last undertaken in 2021.

The League of Women Voters of Washington has a long history with redistricting reform—with positions dating from 1955 ("Redistricting and Reapportionment," p. 17). Before the redistricting process in 2021, the League released a 2017 report, “A Review of Redistricting in Washington State” which concluded the need for redistricting reform even before the 2021 Commission failed to finish maps and settled or lost multiple lawsuits.

Before redistricting in 2021, the LWVWA also led public education and training opportunities, called Speak Up Schools, and convened listening sessions for communities across the State that resulted in a League-supported legislative map for the Yakima Valley, presented to the Commission. This map kept together most of Yakima and the Yakima Tribal Lands in southern Yakima County.  

Whether the Redistricting Commission is reconvened, or the federal courts remap the Yakima Valley, the new maps could change the 15th, 14th, 16th, and 8th legislative districts, perhaps others as well.

The Redistricting Reform Campaign Task Force is working to bring about needed change. To become involved, contact Issue Chair Alison McCaffree, amccaffree@lwvwa.org, (253) 720-6813.

Remembrance of Ruth Coffin Schroeder 2006-2023
LWVWA President 1983-1987

Ruth Coffin Schroeder, president of the League of Women Voters of Washington from 1983-1987, died on June 24 at her home in Yakima, six days after celebrating her 97th birthday.

Ruth grew up in Yakima where she developed her passion for community service and volunteer work, including the League of Women Voters, eventually becoming president of the local league. She moved to Seattle in the late 70s, enrolling at the University of Washington, and was soon invited to serve on the state board, taking on the human resources portfolio. In 1983, she was elected president of the state league.

Following her League presidency, Ruth was appointed by Governor Mike Lowry to a new citizens commission on government ethics and campaign finance reform. She also served on the Governor’s Commission for Judicial Conduct.

Ruth joined the board of Planned Parenthood of Seattle-King County after her League service, and also a book club composed mostly of League members. After her husband’s death she returned to Yakima, so was unable to attend book club. However, during the pandemic, when we all had to stay home, Ruth was able to rejoin the book group from Yakima, via Zoom.

Ruth was a wonderful and talented leader, a good friend and will be missed by all who knew her. A memorial will be held later in the year. 

Did you know that citizens can form a public hospital district (PHD) to fill unmet health care needs in their communities? Most people don’t know that—even when they live in an area that has a PHD.

What is a Public Hospital District? It is a special services district (think your library or fire department) organized to assure that a community has access to the services it deems necessary or desires.  It is formed by a vote of the people, governed by elected officials and paid for in part by property taxes like any other special service district, so the community has a vote on decisions made and on who makes those decisions. Typically the taxes required are similar to the other districts, because insurance, Medicaid and Medicare pay most of the costs.

PHDs are not just hospital providers. They can offer Emergency Management Services (EMS), hospice, palliative care, behavioral health and much more —and in fact, many do not even have a hospital. Look at this map to see if one of the 58 PHDs is in your area and links to what each PHD provides.

As hospital mergers become commonplace, especially in rural and medically underserved areas where healthcare is often paid for by Medicare and Medicaid, and fewer secular healthcare options are available, the role of PHDs in filling gaps in needed healthcare services such as end of life options and full reproductive healthcare may be seen as increasingly attractive.

There is now a webinar, PHD 101, that is available to local Leagues and the public, that explains what PHDs are and gives examples of what they do and how. It explores all aspects of PHDs to adequately inform people who are interested and to support League members feeling comfortable providing education for other League and community members.

You can view this webinar at one of the presentations scheduled this summer. At each of these, there will be a League team to answer questions.

•     Wednesday, August 16, 6:30 pm, register here

•     Saturday, September 9, Health Care Affinity Group, 1:00 pm 
  

•     Thursday, September 14, 6:30 pm, register here

For more information, see League of Women Voters of Washington—Public Hospital Districts: Making Democracy Work for Local Healthcare.

By Jen Winckler, LWVSC Communications Chair  

Among other tips and reminders for voting found in the Snohomish County Official Local Voter's Pamphlet, voters can find a QR code on page 38 that can be scanned with a phone's camera to open League of Women Voters of Snohomish County’s Candidate Forums page. From there, readers can find links to view or listen to all of the "virtual doorbelling" forums LWVSC hosted for this primary election.  

Thank you to the Snohomish County Auditor's office for helping spread the word about these nonpartisan forums! 

 

Are you ready for the August 1 primary election? Whether you are trying to choose between candidates for the races on your ballot, understand the ramifications of the state’s top-two primary system, or just register as a new voter, Vote411 can help.  

Vote411.org is a product of the League of Women Voters Education Fund. It's a prize-winning, nationwide online voters’ guide. In the state of Washington, it offers explanations of the election features peculiar to Washington as well as information on every candidate in every race in the state. 

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 League of Women Voters of Washington publishes this online guide as a service to all voters.

August 1 is an important day for Leagues of Women Voters across Washington. It's the last day of voting and the League is all about voting because this is how we participate in our representative democracy.

The League's Voter Services volunteers are working in communities at farmer's markets and other places educating voters about the "how-tos" of voting—never the how to—walking voters through the ballot; reminding them they can register right up to the day of if needed; calling VOTE411 to their attention so they can get candidates' view in their own words; holding candidate events. We do this because we believe casting an informed ballot is critical to democracy and that—for all its imperfections, it's the best system of government to date. Democracy doesn't operate on automatic. It needs attention. That's why League volunteers are out talking to voters.

The news media tells us—and we likely know from personal experience—that we are living in hyper partisan times. League's nonpartisan policy helps guide us as an organization through the sticky wickets that can arise as we carry out our service to voters. The Member Policy reminds us that respectful discourse is essential to engaging voters in the critical business of voting. Our candidate forums are a place where strong views may be particularly noticed.  

The Member Policy also calls us to create a safe space for the discourse essential to democracy. Imagine, if you will, Leagues across the country taking note and reminding themselves, attendees, and candidates that here is a safe place to practice the fundamentals of democracy. What an amazing antidote to some of the mis- and disinformation that circulates on social media and elsewhere.  

I thank all our amazing volunteers who are out there talking to voters in whatever format or space you find yourself. Democracy thanks you too! 

Mary Coltrane, LWVWA President

On Wednesday, May 24, local League representatives met with Lucy Barefoot, Voter Education and Outreach Specialist from the Secretary of State’s office. Lucy told us that the Secretary of State’s office is expanding and adding a new position on civics education, filled by Misha Lujan, who will be another resource for local leagues.

Lucy had recently sent out voter registration forms to local leagues throughout the state, but if more are needed, they can be downloaded here. Many other resources are available at the link as well.  

During the meeting, Lucy walked the audience through the online voter registration (“olvr”) portal. She noted that this website will change over the summer to reflect recent legislation on elections. One new law, effective next year (July 15, 2024), allows the use of the last four digits of a social security number to register to vote. Another new law updated the process for automatic voter registration when getting an enhanced driver’s license of identification card, making it faster and easier.

Lucy also answered many questions from attendees including validation of residency and citizenship. Although the website will change, she assured us that the URL and QR codes for those sites will not change. She explained that there are several different types of social security cards issued and that a card is not necessarily proof of citizenship. Applicants swear to the fact that they are a citizen when registering and there are penalties if it is found to be untrue.

The presentation can be viewed here.

The League of Women Voters of Washington recently held its biennial convention with several plenary sessions, workshops, and caucuses. The two civic education workshops focused on partnerships—with schools, with youth organizations, and with community groups. Here is a summary:

Schools: Seattle/King County League formed a Youth Committee late in 2022, based on the model from other local Leagues across the US—shifting more program planning and empowerment to students. The committee has gifted LWVWA civics posters (“What Does it Take to Be a Good Citizen in a Democracy”) and civics textbooks (The State We’re In: Washington) to schools in Seattle.

Youth Organizations: Clallam County League has reached out to local organizations serving youth with the questions, “What do you want? What do you need?” The Boys and Girls Club requested volunteer support for their summer food program, and the Clallam League provided this help. Based on this initial partnership, the Boys and Girls Club asked the League for more information on the Legislative Page program and presentations to club members on the basics of this program. Again, the League responded with one League member leading this communication and sharing her previous work experience in the legislature. Here are remarks from one legislative page sponsored by the Clallam Boys and Girls Club:

KSPS Civics Bowl: The Spokane League has sponsored a civics bowl for three years in partnership with the local PBS station, KSPS. Spokane League volunteers compiled 700 questions and answers to civics questions from high school texts, and nine teams of civics students competed. Test yourself on civics questions by viewing these 2023 Civics Bowl Contests. Listen to contestants share the impact of this experience video of KSPS Civics Bowl contestant interviews.

Dear Member,

The League of Women Voters of Washington held its biennial convention May 5 through May 7. This is a key event for the state League because this is where decisions are made for the upcoming biennium. This is where we end one cycle of League work and begin the next. Program and budget define our work; nominations point the way. At this Convention, delegates also adopted resolutions that affect the Board of Directors work program.

See below for your 2023-25 Board of Directors, and the Nominating Committee members elected at Convention. The state Board will appoint two of its members to the Nominating Committee, as required by the bylaws.

The Nominating Committee sets the direction of the League in a very real way, because it selects nominees, consistent with our bylaws. The delegates must adopt the slate of course, and nominations from the floor are very much in line with the League's democratic values. But in the end, the Nominating Committee has first cut on this most important task. Look for information on this process leading up to nominations at Council in the spring of 2024 and again at Convention in the spring of 2025.

When the new Board takes the helm, it does so working within a two-year timeframe. As your new President, I ask, how will we get our work done in the next two years? This is above all a practical question. How will your new board organize itself to carry out its work within the framework of our mission: Empowering Voters, Defending Democracy? Every item on our plate touches on this mission.

Your Board is committed to carrying out its work in a deliberative and attentive manner. This means we consistently employ a DEI lens and ask, who should be part of this discussion? Who is not at the table? Are we being inclusive? How can we expand the conversations we’re having about democracy to engage with those we want to welcome into the electorate, and welcome into the League. These are ideas I've been hearing when talking with League leaders at the state and local level. The national League too shines a spotlight on DEI—how do we get where we say we want to be? Your Board is committed to carrying out its work within a framework that supports diversity, equity, and inclusiveness.

Within the League's federated structure, the state League accepts the responsibility delegated to it by the national Board for the organization and development of local Leagues and state MAL (member-at-large) units. Many new to League are surprised to learn that the League’s federated structure means each local League is its own incorporated body; the League of Women Voters doesn't have chapters. That's why you may hear the term "local Leagues" when talking about who does what.

It's helpful to keep our federated structure in mind when considering the interrelationships of Leagues. The National League provides much of the guidance that keeps Leagues across the country on the same page in critical areas like DEI, nonpartisanship and—its most recent policy and guidance—Member Rights and Responsibilities. This important guidance is available to state and local Leagues, and to every member, so all can focus on the mission-related work that is so critical to our democracy.  The accompanying League Responsibilities, lays out what members have a right to expect from their local, state, and national Leagues. Please take a moment to look through these important policies. With our Nonpartisan Policy and DEI Policy, they will equip the League to meet the coming times.

Kind regards,
Mary Coltrane, LWVWA President

LWVWA Board of Directors
Name	Term Ends	Position	Home League
Mary Coltrane	2025	President	Seattle-King County
Beth Pellicciotti	2024	1st Vice President	Spokane
Martin Gibbins	2025	Secretary	Seattle-King County
Sherry Appleton	2025	Secretary	Kitsap
Dee Ann Kline	2024	C4 Treasurer	Mason
Michael Martin	2025	C3 Treasurer	San Juan Islands
Susan Baird-Joshi	2025	Director	Seattle-King County
Susan Daniel	2024	Director	Kitsap
Dee Anne Finken	2025	Director	Clark
Miriam Kerzner	2024	Director	Benton-Franklin
Shelley Kneip	2024	Director	Thurston
Cynthia Stewart	2025	Director	Pierce
Nominating Committee: Elected at Convention
Name	Term Ends	Position	Home League
Jean Alliman	2025	Chair	Spokane
Linda Benson	2025		Clallam
Julie Sarkissian	2025		Seattle-King County