Defending democracy: a nonpartisan call to action

The current imbalance of power among the three branches of our federal government is a clear and present threat to our democracy. Thus, we, the people, are obliged to speak out against it.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization and does not support or oppose any political party or candidate running for public office. The League’s advocacy work is based on issues, not on individuals. However, when elected officials, regardless of their party affiliation, fail to fulfill their responsibilities under the Constitution or the laws of their state or municipality, we are committed to holding them accountable.

It is impossible to address all the violations we have observed in the past several months, including illegal funding cuts, mass firings, unlawful detentions and deportations without due process, conflicts of interest, corruption, and efforts to restrict voting rights.  All these issues deserve to be reported and analyzed, particularly with respect to how the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court have facilitated or turned a blind eye to these violations.

It is easy to feel overwhelmed by so many critical issues, but a good place to start is with voting rights – ensuring all citizens have an equal opportunity to make their voices heard.  The LWV is at the forefront of efforts to protect those rights using advocacy, litigation, and resources like VOTE411.org to provide election information to everyone.

What can you do right now?  Urge your Senators to vote no on the SAVE Act and encourage your family and friends in other states to do the same. Why? Because the so-called SAVE (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility) Act is really a bill to suppress voting.  It requires documentary proof of citizenship at the time of registration.  But isn’t that needed?  No, it is not:  Citizenship is already a legal requirement for voting and repeated investigations have found attempts to vote illegally are incredibly rare and are prosecuted at the state level.

What will the SAVE Act actually do?  The documentation required (a passport, birth certificate, or military records) will create obstacles for many citizens who have a legal right to vote.  Not everyone has a military record, can afford a passport, or has access to their birth certificate.  Citizens who changed their last names, as many women do upon marriage, will face added burdens when registering to vote. Citizens in rural areas could be disenfranchised by the proposed elimination of mail-in and online voter registration.  Although the SAVE Act passed the House in April, it has not yet been passed by the Senate, so there is still time to stop this voter suppression bill from becoming law – if we act now.

We believe democracy is worth defending. We urge all citizens to participate in the political process at multiple levels.  Contact your federal legislators and demand that they act now to uphold the U.S. Constitution and to protect the freedoms enshrined in our founding documents. Contact your state legislators and encourage them to stand up against federal overreach. Contact your local government officials and let them know your thoughts on important issues in your community.  

Most importantly, register and vote in future elections to ensure our 250 years of democracy do not die.

Lynda St. Clair, Member of the League of Women Voters of Southern New Mexico. 

Lynda earned a PhD from the University of Michigan and taught management and

leadership courses for 15 years at Bryant University in Rhode Island before retiring to

Las Cruces. She loves libraries, learning, and liberty.