League of Woman Voters of Northampton Area

LWV endorses Ballot Question 9

LWVMA is participating in the Vote Yes for a Safe Massachusetts campaign to defeat the Massachusetts Firearm Regulations Referendum. This is a veto referendum to repeal An Act Modernizing Firearms Laws. LWVMA supported the passage of this law during the previous legislative session. A YES vote upholds the law as is. A NO vote repeals the law. Learn more and take action via the Yes campaign website.

BE PREPARED TO VOTE NOVEMBER 3rd: Learn about the 9 Ballot Questions; decide your position on the Questions; take a checklist to the polls

Understand your ballot BEFORE you go to the polls on Nov. 3rd. In addition to the candidates, there will be 9 ballot questions. Read the questions and take a position BEFORE going to the polls. FIND INFO: 1. Read the RED BOOKLET from Sec. State, Galvin’s office that will be mailed to you, 2. go to mass.gov: 9 ballot questions (initiatives) on Nov.3 statewide election, 3. LWVMA Statement on 2026 Ballot Questions. The LWVMA Board votes to support, oppose, or take no position on specific ballot questions based on positions or goals previously researched and adopted by the League. LWVMA does not endorse political parties or candidates, but does advocate for issues that the organization has studied and taken a position on after consensus from members. Take your checklist (in the Red booklet from Sec. of State) to the polls to help you remember your choices. Because of the extra-long ballots, voter lines will be longer and slower than usual.  BEAT THE RUSH, VOTE EARLY!

LWV STRONGLY DENOUNCES PRESIDENT’S FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT ELECTION SECURITY IN NATIONAL ADDRESS

READ LWVUS STATEMENT HERE.

LWV CEO Celina Stewart discussed the timing of the recent firing of Election Assistance Commission leaders on FOX news

LWV CEO Celina Stewart joined The Final 5 with Jim Lokay Fox 5 DC to discuss how the timing of the recent firing of Election Assistance Commission leaders — just months before the midterms — is concerning and urged Congress and Americans to push back. WATCH THE FULL TV INTERVIEW HERE   Turn on volume bottom left of video.

“Freedom of the Press: A Cornerstone of Democracy”

Available to watch any time after June 5th. What Democracy Means in Everyday Life series: “Freedom of the Press: A cornerstone of Democracy” presented by LWVMA. The program will premiere on Friday, June 5, at 6:30 PM and remain live on YouTube. Here is the Link to the program.

What is the true state of the First Amendment today?  Our latest panel explores the vital link between a free press and a healthy democracy. Featured Speakers: Dan Kennedy, Northeastern University School of Journalism; Steph Solis, Co-author, Axios Boston; Sarah Stone National Field Director, Free Press. Facilitated by Marlene O’Brien | Director, LWVMA

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion League Policy

The Northampton Area League is fully committed to ensure compliance – in principle and in practice – with LWVUS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy.

1/21/2024 LWV DEI Policy: Discrimination or harassment of any kind will not be accepted within the League, including but not limited to race, socio-economic status, age, ability status, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, or marital status. The League is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging for all people. The League is an organization that respects and values the richness of our community and our members. The collective sum of our individual differences and life experiences represents not only our culture, but our reputation and the organization’s mission and achievements as well.

Historical Posters and Photos are now in the 100th Anniversary Folder

View historical photos, events, and resources here.

 

 

 

 

 

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Community Reading of ‘What to a slave is the 4th of July?’ by Frederick Douglass

LWVNA once again participated as a partner in the community reading of the Frederick Douglass ‘  ‘What to a slave is the 4th of July?’ speech at Historic Northampton on 7/5/26. Several LWVNA members read passages, including former long-time board member Margie Riddle, seen  in the photo below, and others were in the audience, which numbered over 200.

Many passages of Douglass’ powerful speech regarding our obligation to help our nation work toward its ideals ring as true today as when he delivered it in 1852. Historic Northampton’s related exhibit, “Slavery and Freedom in Northampton,  1654-1783” continues through the end of December. Many thanks to Museum Educator Elizabeth Sacktor for her engaging guided tour for LWVNA members on 6/19/26.”

Randi Klein and Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa

July 4th Naturalization Ceremony in Northampton

Thanks to Lou Bouley, Cynthia DiGeronimo, Ginny Hayssen and Randi Klein for volunteering to provide voter registration and information to new (fifty-one individuals from 25 countries) and established citizens in attendance at the annual July 4th Naturalization ceremony on the Hampshire County Courthouse lawn. The enthusiasm for their newly established right to vote was palpable as new citizens came to our table eager to become registered voters as soon as possible!
We gave out many of our new book marks with voter information on one side and voter motivation on the other, along with MA voter rights and responsibilities handouts, and LWV “make a plan to vote” cards.
Other LWV members were also in attendance as community supporters (including a couple from Cleveland who made a point to stop by and tell us that they are LWV members there!), and several local legislators and spectators offered their gratitude for our work.

If you’ve never attended this inspiring event, we hope that you join us next year–as a volunteer or simply as a community supporter–LWVNA will be there!

Lou Bouley registers voters

Supreme Court protects Mail-in voting

SUPREME COURT ALLOWS STATES TO COUNT BALLOTS THAT ARRIVE LATE, BUT ARE MAILED BEFORE ELECTION DAY. LWVUS released this statement after the ruling, “Today’s ruling preserves critical protections for voters with disabilities, rural communities, older voters, working families, and countless Americans who depend on absentee voting to participate in our democracy.”

Read more HERE. Supreme Court Protects Mail Voting and Preserves States’ Authority Over Ballot Receipt Rules, LWV,6/29

Visit Exhibit, “Slavery and Freedom in Northampton – 1654 – 1783” through 12/11

Northampton Area League members were treated to a tour by Elizabeth Sacktor of the exhibit, “Slavery and Freedom in Northampton – 1654 – 1783” at Historic Northampton. If you missed the tour, you may see the exhibit now through December 11, 2026. Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 11 – 4 PM

Learn more at this beautiful, artistic web page.

VOTER REGISTRATION TABLE, JUNETEENTH, FEATURING OUR NEW BANNER

Laura Brooks, Cynthia DeGeronimo, Lou Bouley, and Ann Wedaman worked at the Voter Registration Table in front of the First Churches during the Juneteenth festival. This marked the first time use of our new vote banner!

Use this form to send a comment to the USPS: MAIL VOTING SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL AMERICANS

The USPS comment period is open until July 2, 2026, at 5PM Eastern. Use this LWVUS form to file your comment today. Oppose proposed Mail-in and Absentee Ballot regulations.

At the direction of President Trump, the United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a proposed rule earlier this month that would erect barriers to mail voting. Under the amendments, USPS would need to verify that mailed ballots are only being sent to approved voters on a list supplied by states. This gives USPS a role in election administration that rightfully belongs to state and local election officials.

More Springfield voter registration photos in the Springfield section

More Springfield voter registration photos in the Springfield section

The Link Between Democracy & Access to Healthcare

The new video series by LWVMA, ‘Democracy in Everyday Life’  is now live! Watch “The Link Between Democracy and Access to Healthcare”  HERE 

VOTE EARLY DAY OCTOBER 27

DON’T LEAVE YOUR VOTE TO CHANCE OR THE LAST MINUTE. MAKE YOUR PLAN EARLY: WHERE YOU’LL VOTE, WHEN, AND HOW YOU’LL GET THERE?

Congress: Uphold the Constitution and protect our elections

LWV Condemns President Trump’s Call to “Nationalize” elections 2/4/26

“Calls to ‘nationalize’ elections, effectively shifting control from local to federal authorities, are deeply concerning, especially when paired with proposals to ‘take over’ voting in at least 15 jurisdictions…This is about exerting control where election results are politically unfavorable to the President. This is a dangerous precedent: manipulating who runs elections based on outcomes should alarm every American.   

“We call on our leaders to reject this rhetoric and ensure that our elections remain free, fair, and secure from political interference.

LWVUS BLASTS THE EPA IN OPPOSITION TO REMOVING GHG CONTROLS AND EMISSIONS REPORTS

LWVUS sent two urgent letters to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Lee Zeldin. The letters (Sept. & Nov. 2025) were in strong opposition to rule changes that would: 1. rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding, which is the legal foundation used to control all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and 2. eliminate reporting GHG emissions by fossil fuel industries. Simply abandoning their mandate from Congress to control GHG emissions and to measure them won’t make climate change go away!  EPA’s proposed rules are not supported by robust scientific evidence and EPA’s economic rationale for the proposed rules is specious. 

“Eliminating the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) will not save Americans money as EPA claims, but rather, will result in the loss of billions of dollars in economic investment, tens of thousands of jobs, and America’s place as a leader in innovation, leaving Americans wholly unprepared to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.”

Click to watch Northampton LWV member, Chris Flory, discuss Medicare for All in MA.