LWVUS: Over the past year, anti-voter laws, gerrymandering, misinformation, and other threats to our democracy have out in droves. We are at a critical moment in our nation, where the very principles of fairness and equality are on the line.

And we’re ready to defend them.

The League is officially launching its new programmatic focus, Women Power Democracy, to advance a stronger, more representative system.

Its focuses include restoring trust in our electoral system, increasing voter registration, countering mis- and disinformation, protecting voting rights, and creating powered-powered electoral maps.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3xs20FS

We’re close to passing once-in-a-generation legislation to protect the freedom to vote. The For the People Act (S.1) would: modernize our voter registration system; restore voting rights to formerly-incarcerated individuals; curb partisan gerrymandering; make campaign contributions more transparent.

President Biden was elected to office to improve our democracy — and that’s why LWVUS is calling on him to continue speaking out in favor of S.1 and to urge the Senate to pass it by any means necessary!

Sign the petition today to let him know you feel the same way! Together, we can strengthen our democracy.

Book collection sites: Forbes Library, Coopers Corner, Smith Voc, July 12 – 30.
Book collection and sorting: July 12 – 30 from 9 – 12 weekdays, Smith Vocational High School.

Help us celebrate our upcoming 100^th anniversary by donating books, passing this notice on to friends and neighbors, and/or helping sort books or working at the sale. While the Book Sale is a fund-raiser, it is also a community service. It offers residents a way to recycle their books ensuring they will be preserved and enjoyed by others. For more information, contact Margie Riddle mriddle47@gmail.com

A committee has been formed to plan for candidate forums for the municipal elections in Holyoke and Northampton, particularly the mayoral and city council races . The Daily Hampshire Gazette has agreed to be co-sponsor, and Northampton Open Media will broadcast and record the events. Final candidate slates will be set in mid August. Preliminary elections are September 21 in Holyoke and September 28 in Northampton to select the top two candidates. The general election date is November 6. VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED NOW AND on the day the forums are held, as timers, question collators, etc. Please indicate READINESS TO HELP make these forums happen or in setting up forums for elections in other towns. Please contact bkglackinmd@gmail.com

The Special Joint Committee on Redistricting has started holding hearings to collect public input for drawing maps for Congressional, state legislator, and Governor Council districts. The hearings are being organized by Congressional districts. The upcoming virtual hearings:

Congressional District 8: Tuesday, June 8, 12-5 p.m.
Congressional District 1: Monday, June 21, 6 p.m.
Congressional District 3: Thursday, July 8, 6 p.m.

The livestream of these hearings can be accessed under the Hearings & Events section of the legislative website. While the hearings are being held by Congressional District, the Committee wants to hear from the public regarding redistricting for the state level districts in addition to the Congressional districts. In particular, the Committee wants to hear about specific insights about your community such as racial, ethnic, or language groups, school districts, transportation hubs, commercial districts, watersheds, and other communities of interest that should be considered in redistricting.

Oral testimony is limited to 3 minutes. We encourage you to publicize hearings in your community, listen to the hearings, or provide either written or oral testimony. Hearings will be posted here.

To provide live testimony during the hearing please complete the sign up form on the hearing page.
To submit written testimony, please use the Contact the Committee form on the Special Joint Committee on Redistricting website.
LWVMA will send emails to local Leagues as their district hearings are scheduled. Please email Judy Zaunbrecher if you plan to testify.

We need equitable health care coverage for all persons in the Commonwealth. H.1267/S.766 An Act Establishing Medicare for All in Massachusetts, is now before the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing.

If your state representative and/or state senator is on this committee, contact her/him with a personal note of your support for the bill.
All LWVMA members please contact all the members of the Health Care Financing Committee here via email or a phone call (617-722-1432 and 617-722-2430). Ask that this bill be voted favorably out of committee in a timely manner so we can have an equitable health care bill discussed and passed in the 192nd session.
Senate committee chair: Email Sen Cindy F. Friedman here
House committee chair: Email Rep. John J. Lawn, Jr. here

If you have not yet done so, please email your state Senator and Representative and ask them to contact the Joint Committee on Election Laws and leadership to report the VOTES Act out of committee in its entirety and soon. The bill will make permanent the election reforms, including expanded voting by mail and expanded in-person early voting, that were enacted on a temporary basis for last fall’s elections. Please emphasize that you want same day voter registration included in the legislation the committee reports out. Click here for more details on the bill.

League of Woman Voters of Northampton Area

FOREST PROTECTION RALLY, GREENFIELD Save the date!

Help pass For the People Act (S.1) SIGN THE PETITION

Complexities of the Filibuster: The Accidental Rule That Is Interrupting the Democracy We All Deserve

Sizzle Real: LWVMA Celebrating 100 Years of Accomplishments

100th Anniversary Ad in Hampshire Gazette, May 23, 2020

70th ANNUAL BOOK SALE! September 25, 2021

Help plan CANDIDATE FORUMS for the fall municipal elections

MINUTES JUNE 8TH ANNUAL MEETING

Hearings on Redistricting in MA. YOU CAN TESTIFY!

Medicare For All: Contact the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing

Pass the VOTES ACT. Contact your Senator and Representative

Contact Senators Warren & Markey: Pass S.1/HR1, For the People Act

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