The Voter: October 2025 Newsletter

Posted by & filed under Voter.

Stay up-to-date on LWV happenings in Topeka and Shawnee County!

Calendar of Events

Monday | Sept 29 | 5:30-7:30 pm | Marvin 101 at Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library

Local Topeka Election Candidate Meet and Greet  – Chat with candidates on your ballot!  Meet the candidates for Topeka Mayor and City Council districts 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. Volunteers will be available to help find your district and answer questions about the Nov 4 general election. View Facebook Event to RSVP and Share.

Tuesday | Oct 7 | Noon | Marvin 101BC at Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
Tuesday Topics Speaker: Nadia Arbelo, Executive Director of the Central Topeka Grocery Oasis (CTGO), shares information and updates. 

Friday | Oct 10 | 11am | Anton Room 202, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
LWVTSC Book Club: The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare

Tuesday | Oct 21 | 11:30 am – 1 pm | Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
Climate Committee Meeting – all members welcome to join, please contact Vicki Arnett.

For dates of upcoming Voter Education, Voter Registration, Board Meetings, and more, please view the events calendar on our website.

Election Resources

You know that 2025 is a local election year, but do you know how to make your voting plan and be an informed voter? Here are some free tools to help!

  • Vote 411 is a national, free, nonpartisan tool developed by the League of Women Voters Education Fund. You can look up the races on your ballot, and even view surveys submitted directly from candidates who choose to participate. Our board of directors worked directly with Vote 411 to make sure that all of our local races are included, and reached out to candidates to invite them to participate by filling out the survey. 
  • Topeka Mayor and City Council candidates in contested races took part in live-streamed candidate forums, hosted by WIBW and the Greater Topeka Chamber earlier this month. All of those videos are available for you to view and share with others. 
  • The Shawnee County Election Office has all the information you need to make a plan for your method of voting. You can request a mail ballot, check the in person early voting schedule, and confirm your polling place for election day.
  • Don’t live in Topeka? You still have an election this year! All Shawnee County School Boards have races, and there are several special districts and city council races in surrounding communities. Here is a full list of Shawnee County races and candidates.

Take the TopCity25 Challenge!

The Topeka Voter Collaborative (TVC) is challenging the Topeka community to show up for this fall’s General Election in a big way! 

It’s 2025. Can Topeka voters top 25 percent voter turnout in the mayoral and city council elections? This would be a 5 percent increase from the last mayoral election, representing about 4,000 additional voters.

Can we meet the challenge? The Topeka Voter Collaborative believes we can. Spread the word and make your plan to vote early or on election day!
RSVP “going” to this Facebook event, and share the challenge with others using TVC’s toolkit: bit.ly/topcity25.

 

 

Local Observer Reports

LWV observers keep you informed about what is happening in local government. The Local Observer Corps volunteers attend city, county and school board meetings and take notes.
 

Each month, LWV volunteers attend city, council, and school board meetings. Their observer reports help keep us informed.

Thank you to observers Elvera Johnson, Paul Post and Vicki Arnett for attending 5 meetings since August! Topics covered include affordable housing developments, city sustainability efforts, and a public hearing on mill levies after the state passed a law regarding revenue neutral property tax rates.

New! Observer Reports will be posted on our website to help get our members this useful and actionable information in a more timely manner.  

President’s Perspective

Greetings! What a great Tuesday Topics session held in September featuring Bob Beatty, Political Analyst and Professor at Washburn. He presented facts of our Kansas political landscape and shared highlights of candidates’ campaign kickoffs. Click below to read more about recent League happenings, upcoming events, and some new initiatives you might want to be involved in.

Read the most recent President’s Message

 

 

 

Notice: Membership Renewal Process

Beginning in February 2025, joining and renewing membership with the League became a standardized nationwide process regardless of which local or state League a member is part of. Linked below is information about the renewal period, how to join/renew through the LWV Member Portal, and how to join/renew offline.

LWV Renewal Instructions

Voter Services Update

Schools are back in session and that means Voter Services School Teams hit the ground as well. Washburn had three great events that provided us opportunities to interact with young voters. We even made it to WIBW news on National Voter Registration Day (read the news story) when we worked with Loud Light and the Shawnee County Election Office to check voter registration and offer registration to others. 

High school presentations also commenced in September for Topeka High, Topeka West and Highland Park. Soon to follow in October we’ll see students at Washburn Rural, Silver Lake, Seaman and Shawnee Heights. It takes a team to make these presentations possible. Thanks to Gretchen Gleue, Connie Jacobson, Mark Galbraith, Jeanne Vawter and Robin Sweeney. We are looking for a volunteer or two to help Jeanne on either October 9 or 13th. She especially needs a person to assist with running the slide show while she presents. If this sounds like something you could do, let me know (email) and I’ll get more details for you.

Can you help? 

Whether you’re a seasoned Voter Services volunteer, or looking to get more involved in the League of Women Voters, we could use you! Volunteer to work at a Voter Services event, now! The League uses Point, an app that lets members select when and where they will work at Voter Services events. 

Thank you, Vicki Buening and everyone supporting Voter Services!

 

 

 

Tuesday Topics: Highlights from September Presentation by Dr. Bob Beatty, Chair, Washburn University Department of Political Science

75 members and visitors attended the September 2  Tuesday Topics to hear Washburn University Professor Bob Beatty speak about the current political climate in Kansas. He used current and historical data, analysis and video advertising to help us learn and understand the upcoming 2026 races, get to know primary candidates from their announcement videos, and put the candidates, messages, and possible races in context with previous Kansas elections. His website archives over a thousand Kansas political ads!

 

 

 

Join the LWVTSC Book Club

The LWVTSC book club meets at 11 am on the second Friday of every month. We’re currently in the Anton Room on the 2nd floor of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. Lunch in the Millennium Café following the discussion is optional. Anyone is welcome. Contact Carole Jordan for more information.

Upcoming titles:
October 10 – The Girl with the Louding Voice, Abi Dare
November 14 – James, Percival Everett
December 12 – Talk about books for 2026 and in general

LWV Board Updates

  • The LWVTSC will host the statewide LWV Kansas conference in the spring of 2027.
  • We recently reviewed and reaffirmed our DEI policy. We are also reviewing other policies as they align with our state and national entities.
  • The Board posted a press release with this statement on Mail In Ballots and Voting Machines.

State League Action Alerts & Newsletter

Stay informed of State League of Women Voters activity.

Statement on Mail In Ballots and Voting Machines

Posted by & filed under Board of Directors, Media.

The Board of Directors recently sent the following statement as a press release to local outlets.

The Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters of Topeka-Shawnee County aligns with the recent statement from the League of Women Voters of the US in support of mail-in ballots and voting machines..

Dr. Glenda Overstreet Vaughn, President, stated, “At a time when democracy should be valued and promoted,  the need is present to defend democracy due to ongoing initiatives that attempt to diminish citizens’ basic voting rights.”  Senate Bill 4 changes the voted mail ballot deadline date, effective March 2026, to have voted mail ballots to the county election office by 7 pm on Election Day. “This significantly reduces the flexibility of receiving voted ballots within a reasonable timeline to accommodate the mail handling process without providing residents’ fair and due process for ineffective mail handling.

“Under our Constitution and system of laws, elections are primarily a state function with little federal involvement,” said Paul Post, Vice President of the Board of Directors. “Also, as a Shawnee County election worker since 2018, I can attest to the security and safety of voting on the available machines in Shawnee County.”

“Our legislators are elected to ensure that our rights are protected, not diminished.  We must safeguard the process to move forward and not backward.  To give extended time for voted mail in ballots presumedly in an effort to accommodate mail inefficiency and then change the rule of law without addressing mail inefficiency doesn’t seem to be an efficient resolve to the issue at hand, it is simply reverting back to an old problem,” said Dr. Overstreet-Vaughn.

Membership Renewal: Changes and Instructions

Posted by & filed under Membership, Uncategorized.

Beginning in February 2025, joining and renewing membership with the League became a standardized nationwide process regardless of which local or state League a member is part of. Below is information about the renewal period, how to join/renew through the LWV Member Portal, and how to join/renew offline.

Renewal Period

Reminding a member to renew is now a collaborative process between the Membership Portal and the local League.   Members will be reminded to renew their membership several times.

  1. All members will receive a renewal reminder email 60 days before their expiration date (for most of LWVTSC’s members the expiration date is December 31). 
  2. Members who do not renew in response to that first email will receive a second renewal reminder email 30 days before their expiration date.
  3. After the second email, LWVTSC will reach out with a reminder to the members who have not renewed. That reminder may be via email or phone call as in the past. 
  4. If the member does not renew before their expiration date, they will receive another reminder email from LWVUS on their expiration date.  Those members also will be contacted by LWVTSC.
  5. Unrenewed members will receive a final reminder email 45 days after their expiration date.

During a 60-day grace period after a member’s expiration date they are still considered an active member. After 60 days, they will be considered inactive. (For most LWVTSC members, those who have not renewed by March 1, 2026, will be placed in inactive status.)  Their member data will be preserved in the Membership Portal. LWVTSC may continue to contact recently inactive members to encourage them to re-join.

Joining/Renewing Online

Members are encouraged to join and renew online. This video gives a step-by-step overview of the online join/renew form. (It’s very fast though.) The process of renewing is similar to that of joining, except that for renewing members some of the fields on the renewal form will be pre-filled with information LWV already has about a member. LWVTSC has added a link to the online join/renew portal on its website.   Note that current members can access the Membership Portal via links sent in the renewal reminder emails and also by using the link on the LWVTSC website. When loggin in to the Portal, use the email address where your renewal reminder and the Voter are delivered.  The form should be almost entirely filled out for renewing members, but one thing to be careful of–towards the bottom of the form be sure the “League” box specifies LWV of Topeka-Shawnee County.

Annual Dues Have Become More Flexible

In the past, the local leagues had the ability to set their own dues.  However, this year the US League assumed that responsibility and has adopted a “Pay what you can” model.  The recommended dues are $75, but you can choose to pay any amount, $20 or over. When you get to the “Dues” box, there is a drop down list with varying amounts (all $75 or over).  If you choose to pay less than $75, select the last one in the list “Choose your own amount (Minimum $20)” and enter the amount you’d like to pay in the “Dues Amount” box.

Adding a Second Member During Online Renewal

The new membership structure does not include ‘household’ memberships.  Each member is individual.  However, when a member joins or renews, they can also join or renew on behalf of a second member. Some important things to note about this process:

  • The member can specify if the second member lives in a household with them or not. This function can be used for gift memberships, in addition to replacing what was formerly household membership.
  • When the member chooses their dues amount, it will be the amount for each member, that is, the dues amount selected will be doubled. (Remember that while the recommended dues are $75, any amount over $20 per member may be paid.)
  • Each member is identified in the LWV member data by their unique email address, so each member’s email addresses must match the one already associated with that member. For members who share an Gmail inbox, the email address for the second individual can be appended with a + to function as a distinct username. As an example, the email address SuzySmith @ gmail.com could be used in the LWV database for Suzy’s daughter if altered to: SuzySmith+herdaughter @ gmail.com.  For instructions on how to do this, see this Gmail blog.

Joining/Renewing Offline

If you want to join or renew offline, you may send your check payable to “LWV” for the amount of dues you wish to pay along with a completed copy of the ‘Join Form’ to:

LWVTSC 

PO Box 67251

Topeka, KS  66667

 

Do not include a ‘sustainer’ donation in your dues check.  Any amount in a dues check will be split among the local, state, and national leagues.  A separate donation check or online donation from our website is always gratefully accepted.

LWVTSC 

PO Box 67251

Topeka, KS  66667

For additional information about joining and renewing see the LWVTSC website.

Observer Reports: October 2025

Posted by & filed under Observer Reports, Voter.

Each month, LWV volunteers attend city, council, and school board meetings. Their observer reports help keep us informed.

Thank you to observers Elvera Johnson, Paul Post and Vicki Arnett for attending 5 meetings since August! Topics covered include affordable housing developments, city sustainability efforts, and a public hearing on mill levies after the state passed a law regarding revenue neutral property tax rates in 2024.

Their most recent Observer Report is available to open as a pdf. 

 

League members sitting at table during monthly board meeting

Interested in joining the observer corps? Send us an email today.

Voter Services Update: October 2025 Voter Newsletter

Posted by & filed under Voter, Voter Services.

By Vicki Buening, Chair

Schools are back in session and that means Voter Services School Teams hit the ground as well. Washburn had three great events that provided us opportunities to interact with young voters. We even made it to WIBW news on National Voter Registration Day (read the new story) when we worked with Loud Light and the Shawnee County Election Office to check voter registration and offer registration to others. 
 
High school presentations also commenced in September for Topeka High, Topeka West and Highland Park. Soon to follow in October we’ll see students at Washburn Rural, Silver Lake, Seaman and Shawnee Heights. It takes a team to make these presentations possible. Thanks to Gretchen Gleue, Connie Jacobson, Mark Galbraith, Jeanne Vawter and Robin Sweeney. We are looking for a volunteer or two to help Jeanne on October 9 (Washburn Rural) and the 13th (Seaman). She needs a person to assist who would feel comfortable running the slide show while she presents. If this sounds like something you could do, let me know and I’ll get more details for you. You can send me an email here.
 
This is not the time to give up on our democracy but to keep pushing forward educating and encouraging others to become informed and let their voice be heard through their vote. Thanks so much.  
 

Dr. Glenda Overstreet Vaughn

President’s Perspective: October 2025

Posted by & filed under President's Perspective, Voter.

Greetings! What a great Tuesday Topics session held in September featuring Bob Beatty, Political Analyst and Professor at Washburn. He presented facts of our Kansas political landscape and shared highlights of candidates’ campaign kickoffs. One hour simply didn’t seem enough! There were 73 people joining us, including visitors, members and zoom attendees. As always a great time was had by all. Thanks Bob for your analysis and impartial insight and thanks again to our Tuesday Topics team and those who help provide feedback and ideas.

For the month of October, we have a unique opportunity to hear an update on the establishment of a community grocery store through the efforts of the Central Topeka Grocery Oasis by its Executive Director, Nadio Arbelo. Be sure to join us on October 7 at Noon at the Topeka Library.

Good news! We recently reviewed and reaffirmed our DEI policy. The League, its members and those who commit to the values and mission of the League stand committed to embracing diversity, equity and inclusion as we stand for the rights of all. We are also reviewing other policies as they align with our state and national entities.

As a member, your voice and presence are important to us. We have a couple of initiatives we would love to get more volunteers to work on projects. If you have an interest or have the time to commit to 1-2 hours monthly on one of the following projects, please call the League and leave your name, number, and interest:

1) Health Equity

2) Young Adult Legislative Advocacy

Our recent membership count is 216! We are growing!! You are our lifeblood. Thank you!

Welcome to our New member: Sheri! We are glad you have joined us and we look forward to working with you!

Please feel free to connect with our voter services team! They are at Washburn, in the high schools, at the Farmer’s market venues, and all over the city! Join them on POINT! They are outreaching to the community providing education on registration and voting.

Update: The Topeka League will be the host of the LWVK Convention in 2027. Great Bend will be the host of the Council meeting in 2026. This is a change from an earlier communication provided in June.

As we receive updates from our collaborators, we will share them in this format. Below are a few of the updates received.

 

It is our pleasure to share updates from our community partner network.

Please feel free to participate as time permits.

The Topeka Center for Peace and Justice, Inc. (TCPJ), is excited to announce their 40th Anniversary Celebration,”Pathways to Peace.” The event is October 30th, 2025, at the Kay McFarland Japanese Garden and Venue,from 5:30 – 9:00 pm. Please contact the TCPJ for a ticket and more details.

The ACLU is celebrating its 60 years Toward Freedom anniversary on October 23 at 5:30 pm in Olathe at the Olathe Conference Center. The Topeka league may have a couple of seats available at a reserved table until October 5. If interested , please contact Dr. Glenda Overstreet Vaughn at the League of Women Voters of Topeka and Shawnee County.

If you have a community group interested in learning about the recent proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution, which eliminates the merit selection of Supreme Court Justices, please reach out to the League and we will connect you with a resource to come make presentations to your group(s).

Teamwork makes the dream work.

 

Best regards,

Dr. Glenda Overstreet Vaughn

President

Legislative Session Resource

I encourage you to contact members of the Shawnee County legislative delegation, by phone or email, regarding proposed or passed legislation. Included below is their Statehouse contact information.

  • Sen. Brenda Dietrich  Room #223-E  785.296.7648Brenda.Dietrich@senate.ks.gov
  • Sen. Rick Kloos  Room # 418-E  785.296.7645Rick.Kloos@senate.ks.gov
  • Sen. Patrick Schmidt Room #135-E  785.296-7372 Patrick.Schmidt@senate.ks.gov
  • Sen. Kenny Titus Room #124-E  785.296.7656Kenny.Titus@senate.ks.gov
  • Rep. John Alcala Room #173-W  785.296-7371 John.Alcala@house.ks.gov
  • Rep. Jesse Borjon Room #512-N  785.296.7374Jesse.borjon@house.ks.gov
  • Rep. Ken Corbett Room #187-N  785.296-7679 ken.corbet@house.ks.gov
  • Rep. Kirk Haskins Room #43-S  785.296.7673Kirk.Haskins@house.ks.gov
  • Rep. Kyle McNorton Room #561-W  785.296.7460Kyle.McNorton@house.ks.gov
  • Rep. Tobias Schlingensiepen    785.296.7669 Room #174-W    Tobias.Schlingensiepen@house.ks.gov
  • Rep. Alexis Simmons Room #43-S  785.296.7632Alexis.Simmons@house.ks.gov
  • Rep. Virgil Weigel Room #451-S  785.296.7104virgil.weigel@house.ks.gov

Furthermore, you may access the Kansas Legislative website at http://kslegislature.gov to review bill status and content, house and senate calendars and committee schedules.  Through this website you may listen to or via video streaming follow committee hearings and General Session proceedings. 

An additional resource is the State Library.  You may access their services in the following ways:

  • Phone:800-432-3919 or 785-296-2149
  • Legislative Hotline: 800-432-3924
  • Email: infodesk@ks.gov
  • Download the Ask a Librarian app to your mobile device.

 

Climate Committee Update: Shawnee County Solar Energy Conversion Systems (SECS) Regulation

Posted by & filed under Climate Committee, Voter.

Following directive from the Board of County Commissioners (the Governing Body) the Shawnee County Planning Commission began work at its February 10, 2025 meeting to write a set of regulations relating to the development of commercial/utility scale solar energy in Shawnee County. The Planning Commission approved a set of draft regulations during its July 2025 meeting.

The following are highlights of those draft regulations:

  • Personal Solar Energy Conversion Systems (SECS) were, and remain, allowed in any zone upon approval of a building permit.
  • All other types of SECS projects are allowed upon approval of a conditional use permit within Zones RA-1, 1-1 and 1-2, except in specified areas as set out in the regulations.
  • No single SECS Project can exceed 240 acres. As a point of comparison, Douglas County has approved regulations allowing for solar projects of up to 1,000 acres and Johnson County has approved regulations allowing for projects of up to 2,000 acres.
  • The regulations also provide that no SECS project area boundary shall be nearer than two miles to any other SECS project. That distance shall be measured in a straight line from the closest project area boundary of one SECS to the boundary area of any other SECS.
  • The regulations state that battery storage systems built as an appurtenance facility to an SECS project are prohibited.
  • The regulations also state that the Governing Body may vary or waive the minimum requirements set forth in the regulations upon written request of the Applicant and a determination of the Governing Body that said waiver or modification is consistent with the purpose and intent of these regulations.
  • The regulations also provide for certain setbacks.

Written and submitted by Marc Galbraith

Dr. Glenda Overstreet Vaughn

President’s Perspective: September 2025

Posted by & filed under Board of Directors, President's Perspective.

The past few weeks have been exciting and yet concerning. There have been regular rallies across the nation as well as locally in support of Democracy. We are seeing significant unfair efforts underway to gain election control via redistricting; a national push to destroy voting rights, and an outright assault on healthcare benefits of the poor, young and elderly.

Suffice it to say that although local and state governments are eliminating DEI initiatives for the sake of federal dollars, I am super appreciative and supportive of the fact that the League of Women Voters is resilient in maintaining and strengthening its DEI policies and practices! If you didn’t get the opportunity to join us for August Tuesday Topics, I am sorry to say, you missed one of the most impactful organizations serving this community. Jonathan Sublet, Founder and Executive Director, provided a holistic approach to serving residents including the homeless, children, youth, young parents, elders and the professional sector in an effort to better our community by providing housing, daycare mentoring, careers, and networking opportunities. SENT is expected to break ground this month in building 176 apartments and 48 homes in East Topeka’s Hi-Crest neighborhood.

Our September Tuesday Topics Speaker will be the long awaited Bob Beatty, Washburn University Political Science Chair.

Our Voter Services team will continue to be at the Farmers Market at the Topeka Library on various dates. Please check them out if you are interested in registering or getting someone else to register to vote, setting up a voting plan, want to volunteer or just want to hang out to see what we do. We would love to have you!

Our Candidate Meet and Greet Forum is scheduled for September 29. We have a host of co-sponsors joining us and we hope you will join us, too. The forum will offer you an intimate opportunity to speak one on one with the candidates to ask questions and get more information to aid you in becoming an informed voter. Vote 411 is an important tool that the League uses to provide candidate and election information. 

Our leagues are actively demonstrating how important strengthening our democracy is. We need you, your friends, and your family to be actively involved and committed to our mission. Help the LWV help your families to keep democracy alive. Join us!!

Remember the legislative laws passed during the last session are effective July 1. Please access them at www.kslegislature.org.

 

Teamwork makes the dream work.

 

Best regards,

Dr. Glenda Overstreet Vaughn

President

Legislative Session Resource

I encourage you to contact members of the Shawnee County legislative delegation, by phone or email, regarding proposed or passed legislation. Included below is their Statehouse contact information.

  • Sen. Brenda Dietrich  Room #223-E  785.296.7648Brenda.Dietrich@senate.ks.gov
  • Sen. Rick Kloos  Room # 418-E  785.296.7645Rick.Kloos@senate.ks.gov
  • Sen. Patrick Schmidt Room #135-E  785.296-7372 Patrick.Schmidt@senate.ks.gov
  • Sen. Kenny Titus Room #124-E  785.296.7656Kenny.Titus@senate.ks.gov
  • Rep. John Alcala Room #173-W  785.296-7371 John.Alcala@house.ks.gov
  • Rep. Jesse Borjon Room #512-N  785.296.7374Jesse.borjon@house.ks.gov
  • Rep. Ken Corbett Room #187-N  785.296-7679 ken.corbet@house.ks.gov
  • Rep. Kirk Haskins Room #43-S  785.296.7673Kirk.Haskins@house.ks.gov
  • Rep. Kyle McNorton Room #561-W  785.296.7460Kyle.McNorton@house.ks.gov
  • Rep. Tobias Schlingensiepen    785.296.7669 Room #174-W    Tobias.Schlingensiepen@house.ks.gov
  • Rep. Alexis Simmons Room #43-S  785.296.7632Alexis.Simmons@house.ks.gov
  • Rep. Virgil Weigel Room #451-S  785.296.7104virgil.weigel@house.ks.gov

Furthermore, you may access the Kansas Legislative website at http://kslegislature.gov to review bill status and content, house and senate calendars and committee schedules.  Through this website you may listen to or via video streaming follow committee hearings and General Session proceedings. 

An additional resource is the State Library.  You may access their services in the following ways:

  • Phone:800-432-3919 or 785-296-2149
  • Legislative Hotline: 800-432-3924
  • Email: infodesk@ks.gov
  • Download the Ask a Librarian app to your mobile device.

 

Observer Reports: September 2025

Posted by & filed under Observer Reports, Voter.

Each month, LWV volunteers attend city, council, and school board meetings. Their observer reports help keep us informed.

Thank you to observers Elvera Johnson and Vicki Arnett for attending 5 meetings since July! Topics covered include city budgets, the truck stop proposal on Fairlawn, the Topeka Voter Collaborative and TopCity25, SNCO retirement funds, city sustainability practices, and plans for the Department of Corrections’ Mental Health Crisis Center. 

Their most recent Observer Report is available to open as a pdf. 

 

League members sitting at table during monthly board meeting

Interested in joining the observer corps? Send us an email today.

LWV Statement on Mail-in Ballots and Voting Machines

Posted by & filed under Action Alert, Board of Directors.

The League of Women Voters of Topeka & Shawnee County Board of Directors supports the following statement from the LWV CEO, Celina Stewart, Esq., issued in response to President Trump’s vow to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines.

WASHINGTON — The League of Women Voters CEO, Celina Stewart, Esq., issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s vow to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines: 

“Free, fair, and accessible elections are the cornerstone of a healthy democracy. President Trump’s call to eliminate vote-by-mail is a direct attack on Americans’ freedom to vote. 

“Vote-by-mail is secure, accurate, and trusted by millions of voters — including older adults, military members, rural communities, tribal communities, voters of color, and voters with disabilities. Vote-by-mail has proven to expand voter participation in recent elections. 

“President Trump has no constitutional authority to take this action. Under our US Constitution, the states have the power to run elections, and only Congress can step in to regulate those elections when needed. This move is yet another overreach by an unpopular president who seeks to silence the public to hold onto power. 

“President Trump’s attacks on voting machines are similarly misleading and dangerous. Voting systems in the US already meet strict standards for security, accuracy, transparency, and accessibility, with paper ballots or audit trails to verify results. Scrapping machines in favor of hand counting would undermine election integrity and efficiency, not strengthen it. The League of Women Voters stands firmly for secure, modern systems that protect every vote and uphold public trust in our democracy. 

“The President should get his facts straight: he does not have the authority to regulate elections, states have strong measures to ensure voting equipment is secure, and many countries successfully utilize vote-by-mail. 

“The League of Women Voters will not stand by while politicians spread lies to limit democratic participation. We will be looking at the forthcoming Executive Order very closely and will use every tool in our toolbox to push back on these threats to our free, fair, and accessible elections. 

 “We will fight to protect vote-by-mail and every method that makes casting a ballot accessible. Our democracy is strong when every eligible voter can make their voice heard, whether at a polling place or through a mail-in ballot.”

Read this press release online here.