Calling it the most significant challenge to democracy she’s seen in Washington in her lifetime, Advocacy Director Cynthia Stewart offered League members in Skagit County a first look at how to fight back against an initiative that would disenfranchise large numbers of legally eligible voters.

“This is the beginning of a campaign to educate voters about the grievously misleading, onerous IL26-126,” said Stewart, chair of the state Lobby Team and a longtime League member.

Speaking Monday night at the local League’s monthly membership meeting, Stewart said the initiative promotes the lie that noncitizens are voting.

The state League and other pro-democracy groups are responding to the initiative with a “Decline to Sign” campaign, she said. That’s an attempt to halt the effort before proponents can collect the 309,000 signatures needed to qualify.

Stewart’s PowerPoint presentation   explained that the impact would be burdensome to voters and costly for cash-strapped counties to institute and manage.

Organized efforts across the country are seeking to make it more difficult for individuals to register to vote, maintain their current registration and vote, she noted. Those efforts include trying to eliminate mail-in voting, although IL26-125 does not include that.

IL26-126 would require all voters to have an enhanced drivers’ license or provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person, Stewart said. Voters who fail to do so would see their registration canceled. The initiative was introduced by Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen.

As an initiative to the Legislature, lawmakers could adopt the legislation as written, refer it to a vote of the people in November 2026 or propose an alternative initiative that would be on the ballot alongside of it.

Stewart noted that League opposition to IL26-126 must be conducted separate from nonpartisan tabling activities, such as voter education and registration.

“We’re at the beginning stages of this effort, to educate our members about the problems with IL26-126,” Stewart said. “In time, the League will unveil a complete ‘Decline to Sign’ campaign.”

Supporters of the initiative have until Jan. 2, 2026, to submit signatures to qualify the measure.

“Suffs,” the Tony-award winning musical depicting the story of early 20th-century suffragists in the United States came roaring into Yakima on Monday and Tuesday, the show’s first stop of its North American tour that will take it to 26 other cities, including Seattle, starting this weekend.

“The play could not have come at a better time to remind all of us of what we take for granted when it comes to voting,” said Cindy Olivas, Yakima County League president. Olivas, along with a handful of other Yakima League members, dressed in period clothing, registered voters and distributed brochures at the Capitol Theatre, where the two performances took place.

“Not only is it our right to vote as citizens of the United States but it’s a privilege that needs to be protected. It is our responsibility to vote and to protect the vote,” Olivas said.

“That is what democracy is about.”

Monday afternoon, Olivas and fellow League members Janis Luvaas, Mary Stephenson, and Susan Martin also welcomed 60 community members for a pre-show event, “Women and the Vote Community Conversation.” That event featured award-winning Yakima Herald Republic reporter Tammy Ayer interviewing five prominent area advocates for social justice.

The conversation took place at the Women’s Century Clubhouse, a six-bedroom home built in 1908 that was considered the finest in the region and is on the National Register of Historic Places. An added highlight of that event was longtime Yakima resident and retired elementary school teacher Evelyn Malone portraying Sojourner Truth reading the essay “Ain’t I Woman?”

“Suffs” chronicles the events leading up to ratification of the 19th Amendment, illustrating the difficult path for women to get the vote, including heated battles between Carrie Chapman Catt, and Alice Paul, hunger strikes, and the dismissive attitude of President Woodrow Wilson.

Olivas had high praise for the performers in “Suffs,” which premiered on Broadway in New York City in 2024. Of the all-female troupe, she noted, “They were very professional and skilled and have amazing voices. So much talent was seen and heard!”

Olivas also complimented the staging. “The settings were simple but relevant to what the suffragists used during those times. The use of light and candles on the stage added dramatic effects to important details,” she said.

Some watchers may conclude “Suffs,” being a musical, might be light-hearted and fancy-free. But Olivas said people shouldn’t be misled. “It has a very powerful message of just how hard it is to fight for something when you are not seen as an equal by gender or race. This is a must watch.”

The League was approached by Capitol Theatre personnel in Yakima to host the performances.

League volunteers set up tables for both performances that featured two displays, one detailing the history of suffrage movement and the other the Yakima League’s 75th anniversary.

League members made buttons and distributed stickers and other memorabilia to guests.

“Suffs” opens in Seattle tomorrow night at the 5th Avenue Theatre, where it runs through Sept. 27 before moving on to San Diego.

Make sure you're registered for next week’s Democracy Power-Up! workshop titled, “Craft a Winning Letter to the Editor.”

Presented by the state League’s Local News and Democracy team, the workshop will provide guidance on why your letter is important, elements you should include in your letter, structuring and organizing your letter and writing style.

“League members, by and large, are frequent writers of letters to the editor,” said Kate Hobbie, the workshop’s lead presenter.

“We’re looking to give League members, both those who are more practiced in LTE’s and those who are just starting out, some additional points to consider.”

Hobbie trained initially as a journalist and then wrote extensively for nonprofit clients before retiring.

Register Here

Snohomish County residents and visitors are invited next week to celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution that took place 238 years ago on Sept. 17 and the signing of the Bill of Rights, which took place two years later.

“Now’s the time to get reacquainted with these important documents and the rights that they guarantee,” said Snohomish County League President Lisa Utter. The local League is hosting seven events, beginning Sunday, at four area libraries, the Edmonds School District office, Snohomish County Plaza and the Everett Girl Scouts office.

Utter said each event will feature League members and community volunteers reading excerpts from the constitution and the Bill of Rights. The events will run from 90 minutes to two hours.

“These events are timely given the major changes our country is experiencing,” Utter said. “It is a good time for people to go back to the original documents that protect our individual and collective rights.”

Wednesday, Sept. 17, marks the official day of federal observance of U.S. Constitution and Citizenship Day.

Brenda Mann Harrison, incoming Snohomish County League president, is using colorful displays at the library to show the League’s history and current efforts to empower voters and defend democracy, from local candidate forums to the state’s video contest for students to the national League’s Unite & Rise 8.5.

Harrison noted the displays also feature quotes printed on paper from a survey of Snohomish League members that asked why people had joined the League. “The responses are all so very powerful,” she added.

Tacoma League member Alison McCaffree knows her way around the Legislature—and democracy. The granddaughter of a four-time state representative, McCaffree also coordinates the state Lobby Team’s democracy team.

As the second year of the two-year legislative session nears its start in January, McCaffree is looking for volunteers to join her on the democracy team, a collective of League members who track legislation and help determine whether the League will support or oppose bills.

“We had more than 120 bills introduced earlier this year related to democracy, and only one passed,” said McCaffree. “We can use more help this coming session!”

McCaffree reassures potential volunteers that they’ll receive appropriate training. Tasks involve tracking bills through the legislative process, asking questions of lawmakers and their legislative assistants and considering whether a bill aligns with a League position.

“We are empowered to act only when we have a position on an issue,” McCaffree said.

Bills dealing with a variety of issues are among the topics the democracy team addresses. They include election methods, election law and process, election security, money in politics and campaign finance reform, government structures, initiatives and referendums, citizens’ right to know, local news and democracy and census and redistricting reform.

If you'd like to learn more or to help, email McCaffree at amccaffree@lwvwa.org .

Seven of Washington’s 39 counties operate under what’s known as home rule, an organizational structure that enables residents to weigh in more directly on how their government operates.

Earlier this week Clark County League members hosted “What Can Your Charter Do for You?”, a workshop to help voters learn more about home rule. The workshop was timed in advance of a November vote to elect 15 people to update—or review—the county’s governing document, otherwise known as the charter.

Longtime League member Judie Stanton explained that the workshop gave voters a much better understanding of the significance of their vote when they elect new members of the Clark County Charter Review Commission. Stanton has a solid grasp on the issue, having served as a Clark County commissioner (1997-2004) before Clark voters approved their first home-rule charter in 2015.

Stanton said she believes Clark County voters adopted the home-rule form of government in part because it called for county councilors to be elected by district rather than countywide. “People felt like they might have a representative on the council who would vote more as they wanted them to vote.”

Stanton, who also previously served as Clark County League president, explained that voters in Clark County first, in 2014, elected a panel of freeholders to prepare the initial charter. Voters adopted the charter the following year.

Now, every five years, in Clark County, new commissioners must review the charter.

State law makes the commission form the standard form of a county’s government unless voters adopt the home-rule charter system.

Whatcom, Clallam, King, Snohomish, Pierce and San Juan counties also have adopted the home-rule system.

The LWV of Bellingham-Whatcom’s Civics Ed group produced a video about the county home-rule charter system last year. Check it out here. 

The LWV of Snohomish County is hosting a live-streamed panel presentation "Charter Review Commission? Say What?" on Oct. 11 on YouTube. The presentation will explain the work of the commission and the election process, as well as answer questions from viewers. Learn more. 

The League of Women Voters of Washington is launching Democracy Power-Up!, a workshop series designed to sharpen members’ skills for defending democracy.

From crafting persuasive letters to the editor to mastering media and news literacy, these virtual sessions offer practical tools for speaking out and thinking critically in today’s challenging information environment.

Join us to strengthen your voice, build your knowledge, and take action. Democracy works best when we all power up.

Register Now: The Power of Critical Thinking Media Workshop

League members can now register for the Power of Critical Thinking, the first of four Media & News Literacy Workshops offered by the LWVWA as part of the Democracy Power-Up! series. This first workshop will be held virtually Sept. 9, from 6:30-8 pm. 

Register Today

This online, interactive session will teach tips and strategies you can use to be a critical thinker and an active media and news consumer. You'll learn how to build your skills through real-life examples and group challenges. 

Before Attending
To get the most out of Workshop experience, we ask you to do two things before attending: 

• Get familiar with basic definitions by watching this eight-minute video: Introduction to Media & News Literacy.
• Watch this 90-second video for tips on using your computer while staying on Zoom. 

More About the Media & News Literacy Educational Workshops
These workshops are designed to teach League members skills to help them discern what is true at a time when it is becoming increasingly harder to know the real facts. 

Attendees will be presented with news examples, group challenges, individual skill development and links to additional resources. Each workshop will be led by League members with decades of experience in teaching media and news literacy. 

Workshop Schedule and Registration Links
All of the workshops will be held virtually on Tuesday evenings, from 6:30-8 pm.

Registration for the workshops is restricted to League members only. Each session will be recorded and prepared to be shared publicly. The workshop schedule is: 

• Sept. 9, 2025: The Power of Critical Thinking;
• Oct. 28, 2025: Mis-Dis-and Mal-information;
• Jan. 20, 2026: Techniques Used to Sway Opinion;
• Febr. 24, 2026: Get to Know Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Further Information
Additional details about the workshops and the Media Literacy and News Education Project can be found HERE. The LWVWA's Local News and Democracy Advocacy and Education Committee is coordinating these projects. 

Contact
Have questions? Send an email to the Committee! Contact MediaNewsED@lwvwa.org. Please allow 48 hours for a response.

Learn to Craft an Effective Letter to the Editor

Join members of the LWVWA Local News and Democracy Team for a 90-minute hands-on, virtual workshop on writing an effective letter to the editor. 

Register Today

"A Democracy Power-Up: Crafting a Winning Letter to the Editor" will be offered free to all members on Tuesday, Sept. 16 from 6:30-8 pm. It's part of the LWVWA Resisting Threats to Democracy effort and the Democracy Power-Up! series. 

Your voice is your power—and particularly during the constitutional crisis we face—the League encourages members to speak up and out about threats to our democracy.

Whether your local news outlet is the Seattle Times, the JOLT, the Yakima Herald-Republic, the Cheney Free Press or the Columbian, take this opportunity to refine your skills. 

The workshop will offer tools and techniques on organization, clearer and more precise writing, and other topics. Register in advance.

For questions, contact Dee Anne Finken, Local News and Democracy Chair.

Join members of the LWVWA Local News and Democracy Team for a 90-minute hands-on, virtual workshop on writing an effective letter to the editor. 

"A Democracy Power-Up: Crafting a Winning Letter to the Editor" will be offered free to all members on Tuesday, Sept. 16 from 6:30-8 pm. It's part of the LWVWA Resisting Threats to Democracy effort and the Democracy Power-Up! series. 

Your voice is your power—and particularly during the constitutional crisis we face—the League encourages members to speak up and out about threats to our democracy.

Whether your local news outlet is the Seattle Times, the JOLT, the Yakima Herald-Republic, the Cheney Free Press or the Columbian, take this opportunity to refine your skills. 

The workshop will offer tools and techniques on organization, clearer and more precise writing, and other topics. Register in advance.

For questions, contact Dee Anne Finken, Local News and Democracy Chair.

The Resisting Threats to Democracy project, underway since April, is seeking member feedback: Is the information we provide in the newsletter sufficient to guide you during this crisis? What additional information would you like? Please take a moment and contact Cynthia Stewart, with questions, feedback or for more information. 

Email Your Feedback

Feedback on Newsletter Ideas
At the Resisting Threats to Democracy workshop at the LWVWA Convention in June, we heard what those present would like to read in the weekly newsletter. Below is what was suggested. We'd value your feedback:

• How to participate in rallies and other events and still be nonpartisan (especially for new members)
• Guidance on partnering, co-sponsoring and collaborating with organizations like Indivisible
• Safety training for rallies and events
• Liability coverage needed for local Leagues sponsoring an event
• Appropriate messaging for demanding change while remaining nonpartisan

Crowd-Sourced Ideas For Action
Here are ideas local Leagues shared, which you are welcome to use:

• Table at demonstrations and other events: Set up a civics/voter registration table and feature civics books, pocket-size Constitutions, voter registration forms, TRY brochures and other materials.
  
  
• Work with partners: Identify local partners to work with, especially expanding to include organizations with people of color. What can the LWVWA do to support you with this? (*Note the importance of maintaining our nonpartisan position while collaborating with other organizations.)
  
  
• Focus on ideas, not people.
  
  
• Use the Unite and Rise 8.5 advocacy materials, including the current Power Playbook.
  
  
• Adhere League labels to pocket Constitutions: We're seeking advice and permission from the ACLU to do this. If we can do this, it will be announced.
  
  
• Be nimble and able to respond quickly: The current administration issues new orders every day. We need to be able to respond with short notice to threats to democracy.
  
  
• Thank elected and other officials: The WA Attorney General's speech at Convention drew attention to the need for elected officials to speak out against threats and sue when necessary to preserve democracy. We should encourage and thank them when they do what's right for democracy.
  
  
• Double down on League policies and positions.
  
  
• Write an op-ed: As your local League, write an op-ed to re-introduce yourselves to the community. Explain what nonpartisanship means, and why what is happening is problematic. Focus on the rule of law and upholding the Constitution. (Attend the upcoming LWVWA workshop on this topic!)
  
  
• Have conversations across differences: Connect with organizations like Braver Angels, Urban Rural Action, and others to facilitate this. (*Note: To connect with Urban Rural Action, contact Kate Castenson.)
  
  
• Connect with people in your community who are moderates: Reach out to both elected officials and other who can be allies.
  
  
• Send physical letters to elected officials: These are often seen as more effective than electronic communication in persuading—handwritten letters and personal stories are also particularly effective.
  
  
• Use the guidelines and guidance from LWVUS: There are a number of resources available on the members-only League Management website, including resources on communication.
  
  
• Calculate the numbers needed in your community to make a difference: LWVUS notes that 3.5% of folks are needed to engage in nonviolent protest and civic activism to create meaningful change. What is 3.5% of your community? What does your local League represent relative to that number? Once you know, reach out to that many people to get more involved and engaged!
  
  
• Create signs: Use the signs at demonstrations or hold them up in high traffic areas. Set up a multi-day stand with quotes from the Constitution.
  
  
• Hold sign-painting parties: Get together and create effective signs/merch for events or to raise awareness of the League! Suggested messages and ideas are:
• • "My grandmother was an immigrant. How about yours?"
  • "We are the daughters of the witches they could not burn"
  • "Team human rights"
  • "Make USAID great again"
  • Create signs or t-shirts with Ruth Bader Ginsburg's photo
  • Create LWV stickers for signs to give the League more exposure
  • Bring extra signs to hand out at rallies
  • Bring LWV buttons and stickers to hand out at events
  • Include a QR code that directs folks to League info
  • Use "Be a Voter" buttons and stickers
• Appoint a local League point person for the LWVWA Resisting Threats to Democracy Team.
  
  
• Form affinity committees or other statewide collaborations.
  
  
• Build and establish partnerships with local media: This includes establishing a media liaison and setting up meetings with local media (Suggested messaging for the meetings: "We partner with you" in the fight for democracy.)
  
  
• Be more vocal in local media:
• • Write stories from the community;
  • Send news releases with League quotes and photos. Emphasize the issue is NOT partisan, it's about "right and wrong."
    
• Set up public webinars and programs and consider doing so monthly.
  
  
• Send postcards to voters in other parts of the country urging them to vote in upcoming elections.
  
  
• Use Constitution Day (Sept. 17): Celebrate our First Amendment rights! Identify potential partners; create a build-up with events and activities; note that immigrant rights are denied—they don't have freedom of speech now.
  
  
• Gather stories about how people are affected by the threats to democracy (especially from those who are immigrants). 
  
  
• Engage more actively with communities of color: Go to them, rather than asking them to join us. 
  
  
• Use high school contests: Create essay, poster, video, and other contests to engage students and the public.

"Focus is your friend" is a mantra a close colleague often shared. It was a guide star for her, and I feel it is a fitting reminder for all of us seeking to accomplish worthy work of any kinds. 

The LWVWA Board of Directors took this advice to heart at our July retreat in a facilitated work session, focusing on this question: How can we best meet the demands of the moment and build the capacity and resilience needed for a sustainable future?

We paid close attention to the resolutions passed at the LWVWA Convention, considered the myriad accomplishments over the years, and dreamed about the possible. 

Conversations were candid and thoughtful. We  came to consensus on these priorities: 

• Strengthen Operational Infrastructure: Review staffing and technology needs. Commit to adding capacity to grow the League's impact statewide. 
  
  
• Grow Financial Resources: New financial resources must be generated to support both LWVWA infrastructure and services to local Leagues. 
  
  
• Enhance Internal and External Communications: Tell a clear, powerful, ongoing story of effective civic education, engagement, and advocacy to League members and residents across Washington State.
   
• Increase Statewide Community Outreach and Engagement: Build deep, true, sustainable partnerships with democracy allies across Washington State

Now, with our focus, we take on the challenge of setting specific goals, timelines, deliverables and measurements. As board president I will convene a short-term team and invite three or four local League presidents to four meetings in September and October to craft the plan for the first two focus areas. I want to learn what's important for local leaders and learn what investments you would support. Please email me if you would like to participate.

Other board members will develop plans for the remaining focus areas, based on their portfolio responsibilities. Expect to hear more. We are committed to building appropriate capacity and delivering value for League members and the many communities we serve. The board invites your input on any of our five focus areas. We look forward to reporting on our progress over the next two years.

Karen Crowley, LWVWA President