Celebrate the League's Birthday on Feb. 28th 

Voter Registration Initiatives Need You

Help Young People Register to Vote

Join the Higher Education Voting Program

The Milwaukee League is renewing its campus voting program. Programs are already in the works for Mount Mary University and MSOE. Next up are Alverno and UW Milwaukee.   

Volunteers are needed to be the point persons for area colleges and universities. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or a lead at one or more of the campuses, please contact  Candice Owley: c.owley@lwvmilwaukee.org

**DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS IS FEBRUARY 28**

Seeking Nominations for 2026/27 LWVMC Board Positions

Are you interested in applying for a LWVMC leadership position or nominating someone else with their permission? With democracy in our country under assault, the League needs dedicated members in leadership positions who are committed to defending our democracy. Are you prepared to contribute to the League’s fundamental mission?

The open Board positions for 2026/27 are the following:

1. Second VP Advocacy
2. Treasurer
3. Board Director (4)

Descriptions of the positions: 

VP Advocacy Job Description; Treasurer Job Description; Board Director Job Description; 

The application form can be found at the following link: Application Form

Dedicated LWVMC leaders are essential in these tumultuous times. For further information regarding the open Board positions, please contact Mike Kloehn, Nominating Committee Chair at m.kloehn@lwvmilwaukee.org or (904) 200-7815.

Nov. 22nd LWVMC program, Addressing Climate Change in Milwaukee County - Learn about City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County efforts to address climate change and equity.  Find Video and Slides of this informative event HERE.  Spread word of this still-relevant information with others.  

CLIMATE NEWS 

LWVWI Action on Bill to Regulate Data Centers (AB-840, SB-843) -

Medicaid/Food Share Task Force Call to Action

House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-PA) released legislative text in advance of a tentatively-scheduled Farm Bill markup for Feb. 23. Advocates should contact all House Agriculture Committee members and urge them to reject the Chairman’s mark, which does not reverse any of the budget reconciliation law's (H.R. 1) harmful impacts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Instead, the mark doubles down on harmful SNAP provisions. No Farm Bill, farm relief package, or other legislation should advance without reversing the SNAP cuts in H.R. 1.

South Side Community Meeting

Safety in Numbers: Protecting Our Historically Immigrant South Side - Milwaukee ICE Awareness

Wednesday, February 25, 5:30-9PM
Sr. Joel Read Conference Center @ Alverno, 3400 S 43rd St

As residents continue to show concern about the possibility of enhanced ICE operations in Milwaukee, local leaders are hosting a conversation about relevant updates, resources that are available, how residents can be prepared, and more. Join to learn more about what you can do to be proactive and ready. Spanish translation and Spanish language materials will be available. 

Hosted by Alderman Peter Burgelis, County Supervisor Sky Capriolo, Alderperson JoCasta Zamarripa, Common Council President José G. Pérez, County Supervisor Caroline Gómez-Tom, and County Supervisor Juan Miguel Martinez.

This word from INDIVISIBLE on the purpose of protests:

Protests are a tactic. Think of organizing like this: goal, strategy, tactics.

Our goal: Stop the fascist regime from consolidating its grip on power.

Our strategy: Organize overwhelming, nonviolent people power and foster a culture of mass defiance.

Our tactics: No Kings is one tactic that fits into our strategy, and aims to achieve our goal. Specifically, No Kings is designed to do three things: 

Model defiance on a national scale. Optimism in the face of fascism is one of the most accessible forms of defiance. The regime’s plan is to scare everyone into submission. But millions of people taking to the streets calls the regime's bluff, and is a powerful display of optimistic noncompliance.

Create social proof that opposition is widespread. Humans are social animals. We follow each other. A massive demonstration of popular opposition helps reinforce that wherever you are, you’re not alone. Courage is contagious, but it only spreads if people see it.

Yes!  Protest Rallies are Happening During the Winter

Why do protests matter?

Visible resistance is essential so the government and its supporters  see the number of citizens who don’t agree with their actions.  Nonviolent visible protest activity encourages those sitting on the sidelines to join in.  

Here is the link to the listing of ongoing weekly protests:  Protest Rallies

A Call To Action To Preserve Voting Access

The House voted to pass the SAVE America Act this week. This new bill is an expanded version of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act that passed the House last year. It adds a requirement that individuals present documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC) to vote in federal elections, on top of the existing requirements in last year’s SAVE Act that require DPOC in person when registering to vote.

This updated SAVE America Act would add a second occasion upon which voters would have to demonstrate their citizenship to vote: at the polls. That compounds the voter suppression effect of the SAVE Act, because even voters who are properly registered and showed documentary proof of citizenship ahead of the registration deadline could be unable to vote if they show up to the polls on election day without their passport.

Any requirement to present DPOC creates one more barrier to the voting process, as many eligible voters do not have easy access to the necessary documents. Compared to white US citizens, citizens of color are three times more likely to lack documents such as birth certificates, passports, naturalization certificates, or certificates of citizenship, or face difficulties accessing them. For example, while approximately half of all American adults possess a passport, two-thirds of Black Americans do not. The bills would also have a disparate impact on overseas and military voters, people who may have lost documentation due to natural disasters, and married women who’ve changed their names.

The Observer Corps is still in need of volunteers:

The Observer Corps:

·      Is a structured way for citizens to become involved in their community by observing and reporting on local government meetings

·      Promotes open, transparent, and accountable government

·      Educates the public about issues impacting their communities and their lives

If you are:

·      Interested in local government and/or the issues being discussed,

·      Able to report and summarize proceedings in an objective, nonpartisan manner,

·      A good listener, discreet and courteous

JOIN US!  

Observer Responsibilities:

·      Commit to attending a Milwaukee City or County Committee meeting 1-2 times a month, in-person or virtually. (Most meetings are recorded.)

·      Take notes and report back to the Observer Corps Chair. 

Want to join? Email: ObserverCorps@lwvmilwaukee.or

 Shadow A Presentation As Training To Be A Speaker

The Speakers Bureau is doing a presentation on Thursday, February 26 at 7:00 PM in the evening at an independent living center. The content of the presentation is all about voting. It will cover the voter registration process, the voting process, elections, VOTE411, the League’s online voting guide. It will also offer suggestions for monitoring legislation and contacting elected officials. We will provide materials on the League, about voting, and VOTE411.

You are invited to come and shadow the speaker as training for making this presentation yourself as a member of the LWVMC’s Speakers Bureau. If you are interested, please contact Heather Godley at SpeakersBureau@lwvmilwaukee.org. 

We will also have League members at the event to help register voters. If you are trained to help citizens register to vote, please see the Volunteer Opportunity on the League’s website and sign up.  Then you can do both!!

Judge Rejects Madison’s Stance on Uncounted Ballots

Judge Conway agreed with the LWVWI position that citizens that vote absentee have the same constitutional rights as those that vote in person at the polls. He rejected an argument put forward by the city of Madison that absentee voting is a privilege and not a right. The city said they will not contest Conway's ruling.

This information is from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Avoid Another Pitfall!

When you make your next gift to the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from your IRA, remember that execution is important. The QCD is not automatically deducted from your 1099-R form.  The custodian checks the box “Taxable Amount Not Determined.” You need to provide information, including the gift letter from LWVMC,  to your tax preparer so you receive credit for the donation. As always, please contact your financial advisor.

Interfaith March Lecture/Lunch Series: Raising Our Moral Voice

LWVMC will have a Unite & Rise table at the Interfaith March Lecture/Lunch Series at First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee, 1342 N Astor St. The luncheons are held on five Tuesdays in March.  The public is invited. The cost is $20 for a vegetarian lunch for any of the five days or $90 for all five sessions. More information and registration here.