What You Need to Know: Damaging Consequences of the Anti-Equity Constitutional Amendment

Date & Time: Sep 8, 2026 06:30 PM  (Central Time)

Join LWVWI and a panel of guest speakers to learn more about the anti-equity constitutional amendment appearing on the ballot in November. Wisconsin voters will see a constitutional amendment on the November 3, 2026 ballot that could have significant impacts on public education, employment, contracting, and government programs across the state. While the ballot language references discrimination and preferential treatment, the proposed amendment would also limit the use of certain equity-focused policies and programs. 

Before you vote, take time to understand what's on your ballot and how this amendment could affect Wisconsin communities.

Current speakers include:

Rachel Snyder - Law Forward, Policy Counsel

Suzanne Eckes - UW Madison

Susan S. Engeleiter Professor of Education Law, Policy, and Practice

Kadijha Marquardt-Davis - Strategic Health Policy Leader

Find more information and resources:

my.lwv.org/wisconsin/constitutional-corner

Register here.

Energy for Citizens Committee Hosts 1st of 3 Webinars on September 3rd

With AI data centers threatening to upend current energy needs, the LWVMC will host the first of a 3-part webinar series on What Citizens Should Know about Wisconsin’s Electricity Generation Options. Experts will discuss the pros and cons of options, including: agricultural, biomass, coal, hydro, natural gas, nuclear, oil/petroleum, refuse, solar, wind and wood. Can goals for low-carbon sources be met as demands soar?  We are offering a webinar on Thursday, September 3, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, CDT (the first of three in a series.)

Three speakers from the January 30, 2025 LWVWI - American Society of Civil Engineers, WI Section webinar have agreed to give an update. Dr. Lucy Harvey is a bonus.

Register, Mark Your Calendar, Spread the Word – Important 9/26 LWVMC-Sponsored Community Forum

People in our community are losing healthcare insurance coverage and access to food assistance due to developments such as Medicaid and SNAP work/paperwork rules, restrictions on non-citizen access, and grocery store pullouts/food apartheid in Black-majority neighborhoods. These developments are not just somebody else’s problems but affect ALL of us. Attend the Saturday, September 26 Community Forum, “Healthcare and Food Equity Issues in Milwaukee County” to learn about developments, impact, and potential solutions from a panel of three prestigious local experts, moderated by Judge Derek Mosley, Director of the Lubar Center. Thanks to the AAUW-Milwaukee Branch for being a contributing sponsor for this event. Register here.

Summary of Milwaukee City Fire & Police Commission Meetings 

May 2026

Discussion on Flock cameras:

• A letter from the Common Council will help to limit access to only MPD employees, decrease the number of those with access from 300 to ~100, employee retraining, implementation of a User Agreement signed by the user, disciplinary actions for misuse, and more.
• A strong point was made that ONLY MPD employees have access to the system and that since MPD officers do not assist with any immigration issues or officers, no data is used in immigration enforcement.  Additionally, the system is only to be used in work related to crime.

July 2026

Many citizens commented about the possible relationship between MPD and Lockheed Martin.  Most were made by members of a local group who protest what they view as the purposeful destruction of Gaza by Derco.  These members fear they are being targeted by the MPD. Among them was a journalist who has learned via a FOIR that there are emails between MPD & Derco/Lockheed.

Do you think these topics are interesting?  Join the Observer Corps and be a watchdog of your local government!  This helps keep your neighbors informed and educated on issues that impact them.  Join us: r.furger@lwvmilwaukee.org 

Quarterly Speakers Bureau Meeting

Quarterly meetings support speakers:  

•      Review expectations of speakers 
•      Learn about new presentations 

For September meeting:

§  The Office of Governor of Wisconsin 

§  Referendums on the ballot in November

§  Answering questions from speakers

§  Q & A on responding to questions about the League  

§  Tips for moving on when participants want to linger on a topic

All League members are invited to the quarterly Speakers Bureau meetings. You do not need to be a member of the Speakers Bureau.

Future Voter Fest/Festival de Futuros Votantes a Great Success

The Comité por voto Latino (CVL) team of our League, along with Muskego Way Forward, held the 4th annual Future Voters Fest on August 19th. This event, reaching the South side’s multi-racial community of young people and their parents, is designed to educate students on how to vote and to encourage their parents to vote. It was a beautiful day with 123 attendees including 77 youth. Twelve partner organizations and over 50 volunteers helped make the day a great success. The following is an article that appeared in this Sunday’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel showing the great work of our Comité team and is filled with inspirational quotes and stories from parents and students including an interview with Comité member, Maria Avila.

Thanks to the entire Comité team of Diane Steigerwald, Maria Avila, Esperanza Gutierrez, Barbara Medina, Joey Walsh and Eloisa Gómez. Special thanks to the many volunteers and to Shari Wszalek for videotaping the event; she is producing a video of the event. Here’s a link to the wonderful coverage of the MJS article.

Now, More Than Ever, Milwaukee City Needs More Poll Workers

With the primary election over it is again clear that the city of Milwaukee needs more poll workers for the November midterm elections. Poll workers are given training and paid $220 for a full shift (6 am - 9/10 pm) and $117.33 for a half shift. To be a poll worker you must live in Milwaukee County. 

Learn more from the Milwaukee Election Commission.

Your Ideas are Needed for the 2027 Spring Election!

We are reaching out this year in a new way to get ideas for creating questions to ask local candidates running for office during the 2027 Spring Election. We invite everyone to provide feedback about important issues in your community.  Please complete this survey.

In the survey, we also ask you to identify your voting district information.  As members of the League of Women Voters, we contact our elected officials about current issues and current legislation. As you complete the survey, please answer the optional questions about your voting districts, which we can find on www.myvote.wi.gov.

Feel free to contact Mary Voelker or Mary Sue Kristiansen at voterguidequestions@lwvmilwaukee.org with any questions.   

One Important way to Protect our November Election

Become an Election Observer!

Help the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin monitor Wisconsin's elections. We are seeking hundreds of volunteers to be trained as Election Observers and placed in polling places in specific areas around the state. The state League provides training, assigns volunteers their polling place(s) to observe, and provides volunteers with a reporting form to record their observations. Every effort will be made to assign you to a location near your home. You don't need to be a League member to volunteer for this -- although we'd love to have you join us! Sign up here.

Myth: Bathrooms must be binary

What if we could reduce the controversy over who uses which restroom simply by building better bathrooms?

Instead of traditional men’s and women’s rooms, new construction and major remodeling could increasingly use all-gender restrooms with truly private, floor-to-ceiling toilet compartments and shared handwashing areas. Urinals could be eliminated or placed within private compartments.

This isn’t simply an LGBTQI+ issue. Greater privacy benefits everyone: transgender and nonbinary people, parents accompanying children, people who need assistance from a caregiver—and anyone wanting more privacy.

What about schools? Some districts are combining fully private toilet compartments with open, visible handwashing areas, providing personal privacy while making common areas easier to supervise. Close-by, St Paul Public Schools is an example. In schools undergoing major renovations, the district is installing private stalls with floor to ceiling door and walls, fan and lights that automatically go on and open, visible and monitored, shared handwashing areas — and no urinals. 

Modern plumbing codes already permit such designs, and some communities are adopting them. As we build and remodel, perhaps the question shouldn’t be who belongs in which bathroom—but how can we design bathrooms that work better for everyone?

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.

LGBTQI+ ... All Letters Matter!

Photo of a suspected ICE raid in late June in Milwaukee. 

Interested in supporting the Wisconsin immigrant community in an impactful way from home?

Please consider joining the LWVWI Legislative Committee under the Immigration portfolio. The LWVWI Legislative Committee meets every other week when the legislature is in session and once a month when it's on recess. There are portfolios in many other areas too (education, reproductive rights and more.) The portfolio groups work together to review items in the legislature and bring to a vote whether the LWVWI will render any public support or opposition to a bill. The portfolios can also recommend a call to action. There is training and it's a very well-organized committee. If you'd like to join the Immigration Portfolio (currently only one member) we could set up some time to talk over what's needed and how we can contribute to this important work together.  Interested?  Let’s arrange to talk. Rachel Haos, rachel.cocos@gmail.com

Aug 28, 10am, East Library (2320 Cramer St.)  Lunch & Learn Book Discussion of 2021 title, “Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World” by Katharine Hayhoe. Parking behind the library.

Sept 1, Public Hearings on proposed We Energies rate increases

Register for the 1 PM Hearing;  Register for the 6 PM Hearing

Sept 18, Comment Deadline on We Energies Rate hikes Submit Here >>

Please see link for League positions related to energy and related impacts. 

Please see link for League positions related to the environment, including air pollution.

Please see link and scroll down for LWVWI Toolkit on Data Centers.

Healthy Climate Wisconsin calculates the proposed July 27 & July 28 increases along with those approved in 2022 & 2024 would result in a jump in energy costs of about 50% from 2022 to 2028 with recent requests significantly due to energy demands of hyperscale data centers. 

The New York Times editorial board tracks 12 markers of democratic erosion 

In an August 20th article, The New York Times editorial board has updated their tracking of 12 “categories of democratic erosion in the United States, based on historical patterns and interviews with experts. Our index places the United States on a scale of 0 to 10 for each category. Zero represents the United States before (the administration) began its second term — not perfect, surely, but still a strong democracy. Ten represents the condition in a true autocracy, such as China, Iran and Russia. Based on the President’s statements and actions about the 2026 midterms, we are moving our assessment of one of the categories — manipulating the law to stay in power— up one notch, to Level 3”. The other 11 markers of democratic erosion can be found HERE.

The following event has a new date, time and location.  We hope you’ll be able to attend this enlightening presentation.

Lessons From Hungary: What Can We Learn from the Erosion of their Democracy and Recent Hopeful Election?

Randolph Miller, Ph.D.

Modern European History

Sunday, October 18, 1:00-3:00

Summit Place, 6737 W Washington St., 1st floor large meeting room, follow signs

1:00-1:30 sign-in, mingle, refreshments

1:30-2:30 presentation

2:30-3:00 action opportunities 

During his terms as Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orban moved his once liberal party to the far right and finally to an authoritarian regime. This transition is considered the contemporary model for such transformations around the world including in the United States. The parallels will be familiar to the audience. However, Orban’s popularity peaked in 2022 and ended in electoral defeat by Peter Magyar in 2026. Sweeping reforms have followed.

· How did Viktor Orban seize and retain control of Hungary?

· What are the parallels to our recent history?

· How did Peter Magyar defeat Viktor Orban?

· What lessons can we learn from Hungary to prevent authoritarianism in our country?

Registration link coming

Congressional Recess -- Time For Action!

Members of Congress are in their home districts and need to hear from their constituents. LWVUS has a Congressional Recess Guide For Action here. The League is encouraging members and supporters to visit their members of Congress's district office, call their offices, or email them using one of our action alerts. You can find the next House in-district work period here (unhighlighted dates) and Senate here.

Voting is our superpower!

Join our next bridge demonstration on August 29. No experience (or protest sign) is necessary. Sign up HERE for one or more 1-hour shifts. If enough people sign up to support 4 shifts, we can reach over 14,000 cars.

Upcoming Peaceful Protests 

Vote for Decency Demonstration

Saturday, September 12 from 1:30 - 3:00

321 Wisconsin Ave. (sidewalk in front of Cutler Park / Library) Waukesha

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

Donor-Advised Funds

A donor-advised fund, or DAF, allows donors to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax benefit, grow the fund, and then recommend charitable gifts from the fund over time. You contribute to the fund as frequently as you like and then recommend gifts to your favorite charity (like the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County!) when you are ready. If this sounds like it might be right for you, talk with your financial advisor about how it fits with your giving goals. Many community and financial organizations can help you set up a donor-advised fund (DAF). These include the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and the Waukesha Community Foundation. 

Know Your Rights (Civics, Constitution, fundamental rights) University

For all ages

The school year is starting up again – and the ACLU has the perfect series to help the whole family get up to speed on civics, the Constitution, and our fundamental rights. 

Know Your Rights University is our animated show for big kids, little kids, and kids at heart, designed to teach the next generation about the importance of civic participation and the ongoing fight for our rights.

Our main characters at Eastman Baldwin Junior High, Aaron, Mr. Charles, Lisa, and yoU, go on a new adventure in every episode to learn how our government works and how rights like freedom of expression apply in day-to-day life – from protest rights to the right to wear a hat at school!

KYR-U is all about making learning fun, empowering, and accessible for the whole family. At a time when our rights and freedoms are increasingly under attack, civic participation and public understanding have never been more important.

This fall, WISDOM is offering its Power of Community Organizing (POCO) training — a FREE, five-week virtual training series designed to give community members, leaders, and organizers practical tools to strengthen their organizing skills. More info and registration here. 

ART OF JUSTICE

In support of Milwaukee's long-standing fight for justice, Indivisible MKE will showcase resistance art and celebrate the transformative power of creativity. The show will be held on Saturday, December 5 from 2-5 pm at the Milwaukee County Historical Society on the first floor, while Immigrants in Milwaukee will be displayed on the second floor.

Call for artists: 

Submissions accepted October 10-November 10, via email: indivisiblemilwaukee@gmail.com. 

Please put “art submission” in the subject line. Include 3 examples of your work. All media welcome, if it demonstrates your passion for justice. Include a brief description of the media you work in and a short biography. Additionally, please indicate approximately how many pieces you would like to show along with your name, address and phone number.  Acceptance notification on November 15. More info here. There is no entry fee, but artists are asked to share 20% of sales proceeds with Indivisible MKE.

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!