On Aug. 22, 1924, several forward-thinking La Crosse women decided to form a local chapter of a new national civic organization: The League of Women Voters. Wisconsin was the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment to give women the right to vote, which was finally included in the US Constitution in 1920.
Voting rights didn’t come easily and the League of Women Voters was born from that decades-long struggle. Originally founded in 1920 to “finish the fight” to win national women’s suffrage, early League leaders – including Carrie Chapman Catt, born in Ripon – recognized that education and experience would be needed to assure the American public that democracy works best when all our voices are heard.
This August, as our La Crosse Area League marks its centennial, we celebrate how the League continues to make a difference at every level of government because of the energy and passion of members around our area and throughout the country working together to safeguard democracy.
Nonpartisanship is a fundamental principle of the League and has been since the beginning. As one of the nation’s oldest grassroots voting rights organizations, the League of Women Voters is dedicated to ensuring that all voters have a fair and equal opportunity to register and vote, especially those who experience barriers to exercising their right to vote.
As we prepare for Wisconsin’s Aug. 13 primary election and the general election Nov. 5, the League is still fighting the fight to empower voters and defend democracy. Too many people miss their chance to participate in our elections because they don’t know which deadlines apply or how to register to vote. This is where our voter services work comes in.
Maybe you’ve seen La Crosse Area League members providing information at area schools, fairs and busy places like the Department of Motor Vehicles. We’re there to answer questions, provide information and de-mystify the registration process for voters in face-to-face settings.
Being nonpartisan means we neither support nor oppose candidates or political parties at any level of government. But we are committed to ensuring voters have the information they need to successfully participate in every election. Whether it’s local, state or federal, every election is important to ensuring our laws and policies reflect the values and beliefs of our communities.
We also work to educate voters by contacting candidates ahead of elections for inclusion in VOTE411.org, an online voter guide created by the League to serve as a nonpartisan, one-stop-shop for all election-related information. With just a few clicks, you can register to vote, see what’s on your ballot, and become informed on issues that will affect you and your community. And when you see our yard signs, you know an election is near.
Hearing and seeing candidates engage in civil, healthy debates before an election is also an important part of our democracy. These forums help voters determine which candidates align with their values and which ones deserve their vote. With the League’s long history of fairness, the La Crosse area trusts us to host or co-sponsor events for candidates running at all levels of government.
The League’s founders knew our vote is our power. For 100 years, our chapter’s enduring relevance comes from engaged community members focused on the shared goal of making democracy work. We invite you to visit lwvlacrosse.org to learn more about the La Crosse Area League of Women Voters and join us.
Democracy has never been a spectator sport.