LWVLA News Update
October 22, 2026
Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy |  | Nora Garland asked if I could introduce myself since I have been designated by the board as the president-elect of our chapter.
So, I’m Ann Tyndall. Like many of you I’m retired. I spent my professional life in one sort of ministry or another. First as a Unitarian Universalist minister, then as a healthcare chaplain, and finally in bereavement education for health care staff. I first learned of the League from a mom across the street where I grew up. A couple of years ago when I wanted to get involved in support of our democracy, I naturally turned to the La Crosse League.
Looking back, I enjoyed being a hospital chaplain the most. You could say that hospital chaplains are secular spiritual workers. We seek to help patients, families, and staff members connect with their sources of meaning, value, and support in a challenging time. I see something similar at work in the League. We work on behalf of big tent democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge and the confidence to participate. We direct our programs and activities to supporting the desire and confidence and providing pathways to develop the knowledge to vote be engaged citizens.
I have been working with the DEI work group to update the DEI plan for our chapter. You will hear more as our work progresses. Today I’m thinking that the goal of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is to expand the circle of those who feel they belong in our nation. Voting is the fundamental sign of inclusion in our democratic government. Our League has been working hard to make sure everyone votes.
If this doesn’t freak you out, I’m happy to be your next prez. | ALL THINGS VOTING
November 3 General Election
Early (In-Person Absentee)Voting
10/20 through 10/30
| REASONS TO VOTE EARLY
- It takes the pressure off Election Day.
- It gives people flexibility to vote and exercise their civic duty on their own time without risking lines.
- It helps protect against emergencies or unforeseen events that might keep someone from voting on Election Day.
- It often offers more locations, times and dates than on Election Day.
- It lightens the administrative load on election workers by spreading out turnout over a period of time.
- It helps reduce the impact of a major disruption on Election Day.
- It stops the phone calls and people knocking on your door... maybe.
- The election is just too important to leave any chance that you might not be able to vote.
| City of La Crosse Voters:
You will have an additional question on your ballot. | VOTING RESOURCES @ lwvlacrosse.org | | ALL IN ONE PLACE.
**myvote.wi.gov
**VOTE411
**UWL, VIterbo, AND WTC student voting guides
**Wisconsin Voting Plan | | ALL IN ONE PLACE.
**Gubernatorial Debate
**3rd District Congressional Debate
**94th, 95th, 96th Assembly Candidate Converstaions
**Attorney General and State Treasurer Debates
**Ballot Questions on Amendments to WI Constitution
| | | LOOKING FOR A CLEAR EXPLANATION
OF THE AMENDMENT QUESTIONS
ON YOUR NOVEMBER 3 BALLOT? | | Pick up free copies of our zine, "Referendum Madness,"
at voting-friendly third places throughout the La Crosse area:
libraries, cafes, small shops, art venues and more...
Our League is excited about the debut and enthusiastic reception of oue new communication tool leading up to the November election. Zines—non-commercial publications often devoted to specialized or unconventional subject matter—are increasing in popularity among younger people as they look beyond social media for sources of information and entertainment.
Many thanks to LWVLA member, Virginia Crank, working with Roxanne Marina and Rachel MacFarland of OPE!, to create, publish, and distribute LWVLA's first zine.
Pick up a few extra copies of "Referendum Madness"
to share with friends and neighbors.
Reach out to Virginia Crank if you can't find them.
|  | | The Wisconsin Legislature has placed three constitutional amendment questions on the fall ballot:
-
limiting the governor's partial veto authority,
-
prohibiting gatherings in places of worship during an emergency,
-
rolling back government entities' power to grant "preferential treatment."
The LWV of Wisconsin is opposed to all three amendments, with special concern about the potential impacts of the so-called "government entity discrimination" amendment—in other words, the ANTI-EQUITY AMENDMENT.
During the 2020 National Convention, the League of Women Voters (LWV) elevated its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policy to the same organizational importance as its foundational Nonpartisan Policy. In principle and in practice, the LWV commits to challenging bias and fostering a culture of inclusion across national, state, and local chapters.
Based on this commitment to DEI, the La Crosse League is providing in-person and virtual resources for voters to learn more about the Wisconsin League's opposition to the "anti-equity amendment."
| LA CROSSE COUNTY VOTES!
LET'S SPREAD THE WORD...
Following the "sincerest form of flattery" theory, our League has adopted—and made our own —an idea from the Dane County League.
The idea is an 8 1/2 x 11 sign placed in your house, car, or work window declaring that you vote. Research shows that people value doing one’s civic duty. If they know you do, maybe they will too. | |
Download, print and place in your window(s) today!
And we'd love a picture of where you are displaying your sign.
If you're so inclined, please send a photo to
| IT'S TIME TO GET OUR SIGNS OUT.
Thanks to all of you who have already done so,
reminding us that
in La Crosse County Everyone Votes! | | FROM LWVUS:
Now is the time to make your voice heard.
In September, the Census Bureau announced it would make sweeping changes to how we count people on the census. The proposed rule would count only US citizens and green card holders, NOT other visa holders or undocumented immigrants.
This would severely distort population counts and give an inaccurate representation of communities when apportionment and redistricting happen.
Initially, the Census Bureau only gave the public 33 days to comment on the proposal.But your advocacy to extend the comment period was heard!
The comment period was extended until November 2.
| | MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS ARE INVITED.
| MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS ARE INVITED.
| | Why Should We Vote?
A Virtual Conversation With the LWV of the La Crosse Area
Wednesday, October 28, 12 -1 pm
Join the Greater La Crosse Area Diversity Council for a conversation with LWVLA members Chris Haskell and Ann Tyndall as they lead a virtual conversation on the role of voting in a democracy . They hope to share an understanding of how voting in a democracy undergirds the work of local government, education, business, and health care by:
- Upholding values of community organizations,
- Defending democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge, and the confidence to participate,
- Providing voters a fundamental expression of belonging.
| League Members Honored for Community Service
The La Crosse Area League offers our heartfelt congratulations to members Cindy Berg and Sue Dillenbeck. With their husbands, they were honored this fall for longtime service to our community. We are grateful to Bill and Cindy and to Jim and Sue for their generous contributions to the civic health of the La Crosse area.
| WXOW Reports on the LWVLA Voting in Jail Program |  | | The La Crosse County Jail is giving inmates a chance to exercise their 15th Amendment right no matter where they are from. Mike Kiefer, jail program coordinator for the La Crosse County Sheriff's Office, assists people wherever their residence is, even if they're from other counties or state.
Since 2021, the League of Women Voters has teamed up with the jail to educate inmates that their voices can still be heard. The first step is convincing them why they should vote. "We ask each person in the class to tell us what they value and then when you vote you can change the things in your life that matter to you or support the things in your life that matter to you," Haskell said.
"It's only once you've been convicted of a felony that you can't vote," said Chris Haskell, member of the League of Women Voters of the La Crosse Area. "However, it's really important to know that once you've finished your probation or parole in Wisconsin, you regain the right to vote."
Allowing inmates to exercise their right to vote helps them feel heard through a tough time. Haskell said people who made a mistake and did their time deserve to have their voices count.
"Eventually, we have to be able to say, yeah, you're back in the community, you're among us, we want you to have a voice," Haskell said.
| Our vision:
A democracy where every person has
the desire, the right, the knowledge,
and the confidence to participate.
Help Spread the Word...
Like, Follow, and Share our social media.
| Contact Us:
website: lwvlacrosse.org
email: lwvlawi@gmail.com
PO Box 363
La Crosse, WI 54601
| |