Annual Meeting Registration Open 'Til May 28

Join us as we celebrate the past year and look forward to the future with a fabulous lunch, keynote speaker TR Edwards, staff council for Law Forward, who will talk about "Current Issues in Election Administration: Threats and Strategies", updates from local League leaders, and member voting, along with a chance to go home with fun prizes from our silent auction!

Like to greet people? Like to tidy up?

The Third Annual Silent Auction will take place during the Annual Meeting on the afternoon of Saturday, June 6, 2026. We are grateful for the many generous donations already received. If you are still planning to contribute, now is the time! 

To donate, please complete the Donor Form 2026 to provide the details of your donation and to select a drop-off location. All donations must be delivered to your preferred drop-off location no later than Saturday, May 30, and please call ahead.

And most importantly, be sure to register for the Annual Meeting and allow time to browse and bid on the many wonderful auction offerings.

If you have any questions, please email Lorna Grade at l.grade@lwvmilwaukee.org.  

FBI Visited the Home of Milwaukee County’s Elections Director 

Source: Wisconsin Public Radio

Unite and Rise Topic: Mis- and Disinformation 

Key Points:

• The FBI visited the home of Milwaukee County Elections Director Michelle Hawley and left a business card, according to Milwaukee County Clerk George Christenson who criticized the agency for contacting her at her private residence instead of the Elections Commission office.
• County officials, including Christenson and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, called the visit inappropriate and intimidating, while defending the integrity of Wisconsin’s 2020 election results as fair, transparent, and repeatedly verified through recounts, audits, and court challenges.
• The FBI declined to comment on the reason for the visit, while local officials pushed back against continued scrutiny of the 2020 election and urged leaders to move forward rather than revisit disproven election claims.

What Can You Do?

• Continue to share information supporting that elections are safe, fair, and secure
  • Talking point example: "The 2020 Election was free, fair, and secure. Conspiracy theories about the 2020 election have already been heard by the courts and dismissed. People are ready to move on. This country needs leaders who look to the future."
• Uplift/share press release from Milwaukee County Clerk George Christenson emphasizing fair and transparent elections - Press Release

Major Elections Right Around the Corner 

Get trained so you can be part of the team and empower voters

Wednesday, May 27, 2026, Noon-1:30pm, Virtual

Believe it or not--by late July, absentee voting will begin for the August primary election which will include a very packed gubernatorial primary. Over the next few weeks, we will be recruiting many more volunteers to help register and inform members of our community about these critical elections. From the DMV to high schools to colleges and universities and from summer until November 2026, your help will be needed!  

On Wednesday May 27 from noon --1:30pm, LWVMC is sponsoring a virtual training event presented by Liz Aelion. If you want to help register voters this year, you must be trained and here is your chance. Please register here.

Municipal Clerks and Election Officials Appreciation

We thank the municipal clerks and election officials who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure our elections are secure, accessible, and fair. Their dedication to accuracy, transparency, and service is foundational to our democracy — and to the work we do as League members.

Whether they’re processing voter registrations, managing polling places, or answering late-night questions, clerks are trusted stewards of the democratic process in every Wisconsin community.

Let’s show our gratitude! Reach out to your local clerk with a thank-you note, social media shout-out or kind word. Together we can lift up the public servants who make our elections possible.

You can find your clerk’s contact information here.

To make recognizing your clerk easy, here's a sample message you can send.

Celebrate Pride Month with the League of Women Voters!

June is Pride Month — a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, honor the history of the movement for equality, and recommit ourselves to protecting civil rights, inclusion, and democracy for all.

VOLUNTEER AT PRIDEFEST — JUNE 4–6

The League of Women Voters Milwaukee County will host a booth at PrideFest at the Summerfest Grounds, and we need volunteers to help:

• Welcome and engage festival attendees
• Share voter education resources
• Promote civic participation
• Highlight the League’s mission and work 

Volunteer Sign Up

MARCH WITH THE LEAGUE IN THE MILWAUKEE PRIDE PARADE!

Join us as we march together in celebration of inclusion, equality, and democracy for all.

Everyone is welcome to walk with the League of Women Voters Milwaukee County!

PARADE DETAILS

Sunday, June 7, Parade Begins: 2:00 PM, Meet-Up Time: 1:00 PM

Meet-Up Location: 2nd Street & Scott Street
Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point Neighborhood

Bring your energy, your pride, and your commitment to civic participation as we celebrate together!

Parade Sign Up

Pride is a celebration — but it is also a reminder that democracy works best when every voice is heard, every person is respected, and every community is empowered to participate.

To stay informed about legislation affecting the LGBTQ+ community and track advocacy efforts, visit Fair Wisconsin’s Bills to Watch page:
fairwisconsin.com/bills-to-watch

To identify and contact your state legislators and relevant committee members, use MyVote Wisconsin: myvote.wi.gov

Speaking up matters.

LGBTQ+ ... All Letters Matter!

Mifepristone Safe for Now, But the Future is Uncertain 

By Charlie Gaebler-Uhing, co-chair, Reproductive Rights Committee

On May 14 the Supreme Court blocked the 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals May 1 ruling to block tele-health prescribing and mail order delivery of mifepristone in the Louisiana vs FDA case.  The Supreme Court’s decision is good news for now.  It allows women throughout the country to continue abortion care via telehealth and mail order mifepristone treatment as this case makes its way through the lower courts. This case will now progress at a much slower rate and any final decision by the Supreme Court, as this case is expected to be heard by them, will now occur after the midterm elections.  Instead of a front burner issue for voters, it moves to a back burner.  

This case highlights two additional concerns with the Trump FDA support for this treatment.  First during the stay, the FDA, one of the case’s defendants, didn’t provide a brief in support of the well-documented safety of telehealth and mail order mifepristone.  The second concern is the Trump FDA current review of the procedural process the FDA followed in 2023 to authorize the use of telehealth and mail order mifepristone.  The review was initiated in September 2025 after the Trump FDA received pressure by anti-abortion groups to investigate if procedural short cuts were taken in the authorization process. 

A future Supreme Court hearing and the current FDA’s apparent lack of support make for a precarious future for mail order mifepristone.  Learn more at the Kaiser Foundation Review.

Who needs to hear why voting is important, who can vote, getting registered to vote, different options for how to vote? It is our mission to empower voters and defend democracy. Talk with groups you belong to – community organizations, clubs, neighborhood organizations – about scheduling a presentation about voting in Wisconsin.   

Reach out to Theresa Bellone at speakersbureau@lwvmilwaukee.org for more information about the Speakers Bureau or to schedule a presentation.

The New York Times

Are We Losing our Democracy?

The New York Times Editorial Board published the index in the link below, initially in October and subsequently on May 13, of how democracy has eroded since the current administration took office. The index includes 12 different markers such as stifling dissent and speech, persecuting political opponents, bypassing the legislature. Here is the article from May 13:  Democracy Index

Don’t Speak Spanish?  You Can Still Help Immigrants

Court Accompaniment Training

Saturday, May 30, 10am-Noon

Voces de la Frontera Office, 733 W. Mitchell St.

Court Accompaniment means that a trained volunteer accompanies an immigrant to court. It’s an opportunity to witness and stand in solidarity with immigrants in a cruel and racist system that is more broadly attacking our civil rights and democracy.

Court accompaniment does not require Spanish. When you sign up, you will be notified of an appointment. You respond if you want to do that date in court. You meet at the Voces de la Frontera office, where you are given detailed instructions. You are only accompanying, you are not defending, speaking out, etc.  Different courts or judges decide if you are allowed to enter with the client.  

To register for training, call Deisy Espana at 414.324.2449.

History Shows Us that Protests Matter

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

Tell Congress to Reject More Money for ICE and CBP

Last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill allocated more than $170 billion to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its subagencies, ICE and CBP, as well as to the Department of Defense to expand immigration and border enforcement activities. We have seen the impact as armed, masked agents have been deployed into American cities, surveilling, detaining, disappearing, injuring, and killing civilians. Now Congress is considering a more than $70 billion package to scale up these ICE and CBP activities for the next three years.

We need your help to demand that Congress reject new funding for ICE and CBP.

Contact Congress Now

Mark Your Calendar for Summer Walk & Talk Events

June 7th 2:00pm Walk & Talk with Dr. Karen Lemke: Meet at the Racine Heritage Museum to learn about Racine's history of community members supporting the abolition of slavery in the 1800s. June 7th Walk & Talk with Dr. Karen Lemke - 6/7/2026

June 10th 1:00pm Walk & Roll at the Vision Zero Summit with Dr. Karen Lemke: This Walk & Roll is part of the all-day Vision Zero Summit to promote safe streets for pedestrians, bikes and buses. Learn about “Native Milwaukee Lands”. June 10th Walk & Roll at Vision Zero Summit with Dr. Karen Lemke - 6/10/2026

June 22th 1:00pm Walk & Talk with Jen Lemke: Meet at Firefly Grove Park in Wauwatosa, home of “Mama Rosa” for a free outdoor opportunity to meet neighbors and League members, to decompress, breathe deeply, practice self-care, and get to know each other while honoring the summer solstice. June 22nd Walk & Talk with Jen Lemke - 6/22/2026

August 16th 4:30pm Walk & Talk with Dr. Karen Lemke: Meet at the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center to learn about their programming and the history of the marina.  Finish the walk at the "We Are Water" community art festival at McKinley Beach. August 16th Walk & Talk with Dr. Karen Lemke - 8/16/2026

Is Your Member Profile Up-to-Date?

The Member Portal of our website has resources (including a member directory) just for members. Please login to the website, click Member Resources in the top menu, go to your Member Profile and complete/update your Additional Member Data and Interests (found under Website Functions). Contact roster@lwvmilwaukee.org with questions. Thank you!