News / Articles

General Election Day
Nov. 3 votewa.gov

Coffee with the League - New Location!
Nov. 4, Wednesday, 9-10:30 a.m., Simply Beautiful Cakes Bakery Coffee, 516 SE Chkalov Dr., Unit 3, Vancouver
Register to let us know you are coming.

Monthly Membership Meeting
Nov. 14, Saturday, 10 a.m.-noon, CDM Caregiving Services, 2300 NE Andresen Rd., Vancouver
Join us for Sewers, Development + Me, with special guest, Neil Kimsey.

Virtual Membership Orientation
Nov. 16, Monday, 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Zoom, Members can register here.

Happy Hour at Chez Torres
Nov. 17, Tuesday, 7-9 p.m. at Teresa's house, Members: please register so we have a head count.

LWVWA Workshop: "Protecting a Democracy Under Siege"
Nov. 30, Monday, Zoom more details coming soon

Monthly Membership Meeting
Dec. 12, Saturday, 10 a.m.-noon, CDM Caregiving Services, 2300 NE Andresen Rd., Vancouver
Join us to hear from Clark County Jail Administrator, David Shook.

LWVWA Lobby Day
Feb. 9, Tuesday, Olympia more details coming soon

By Tracy Reilly Kelly
LWVCC President

The General Election is in two days. If you haven’t already, please get your ballot into your nearest ballot box – and remind your neighbors and family to do so, too.

This fall, we offered four engaging candidate forums that are all posted on cvtv.org. Some provocative internet posts caused us to realize that legacy organizations involved in voting integrity are being challenged in this current climate.

One of the pillars of democracy is the right to dissent – and the League sees democracy under siege right now. We are unafraid to stand behind our well-formulated positions. League members showed up tabling and presenting all over the community, at CDM, No Kings, and the Southwest Washington Equity Coalition – perhaps even conversations with your own neighbors.

As president, I attend many terrific state and national workshops. I’m always impressed! Here is one for you to try: a series of monthly events that talk about steps for organizing with a focus on equity and inclusion -- Office Hours: Framing the Future of Transformation Journey.

In 2027, the League of Women Voters of Washington is going back old-style to lobby our legislators at the state Capitol! It’s time to meet up with our legislators eye to eye. Rather than a “Zoom Lobby Week,” we are going to head up to Olympia for an in-person Lobby Day on Tuesday, Feb. 9. And we want you to come with us! We are exploring possibilities for group travel. Look to your December VOTER for the details. Be sure to sign up to attend the Nov. 30 kickoff, “Protecting a Democracy under Siege.”

In-person Lobby Day to return in 2027

League members from throughout Washington will have an opportunity to lobby their senators and representatives in Olympia when the LWVWA holds an in-person Lobby Day on Tuesday, Feb. 9. 

After six years of virtual Lobby Days via the Zoom platform, members of the state League Lobby Team elected to resume the practice of inviting all League membership to the Capitol campus for a daylong event of programming and small group meetings with lawmakers. 

Both meeting options – in-person and online – feature pros and cons, said Clark County Leaguer Ann Murphy, who co-chairs the Lobby Team with state League Advocacy Chair Martin Gibbins. Gibbins also serves as the state League vice president. “But definitely, the in-person event on the Capitol campus builds greater camaraderie among our membership.”

Plus, Murphy added, “It is really exciting to all be there in person.”

The last in-person LWVWA Lobby Day was in 2020, just days before the statewide Covid 19 shutdown was ordered. More than 200 League members registered for the event, although 138 turned out.

Read more here.

Candidate forums featured nine races

In September and October, the League brought candidates and community members together in four forums covering nine Clark County races: six legislative contests, one County Council race, and contenders for County Auditor and Public Utility District commissioner. All the forums were covered by CVTV, and can be viewed here.

No Kings: Vote Early

CITIZEN 411: Catherine Diaz of the Columbia Play Project

In November, Tracy, Teresa and Rachel interview Catherine Diaz, executive director of the Columbia Play Project. The project’s mission is to create spaces both mobile and permanent where children and caregivers can freely play, instilling a lifelong love of learning. They are planning to open a Children’s Museum in Vancouver in 2028.

Tune in to Citizen 411 on KXRW independent radio - 99.9 FM
The show airs at 8:15 a.m. on the first Tuesday each month and is released as a podcast shortly thereafter.

Tracy talks voting at CDM

LWVCC President Tracy Reilly Kelly talks to clients of CDM Caregiving Services about how voting works in Washington state. Leaguer Dennis Megrditchian was there, too, with his popular voting machine. Audience members voted on their favorite ice cream flavor. Vanilla was the winner!

Goats for Votes!

Keeley Reid at Goats for Votes

Baby goats drew students to Goats for Votes, a popular Sept. 22 political event at Washington State University-Vancouver. Students had to speak with at least two groups or candidates before they could pet the goats. Participants included the League, Washington Climate Action and several candidates for state and local office.

Mary Austin-Seymour and Marci Wright represented the League at the event, which was organized by Keeley Reid, director of legislative affairs for the Associated Students group at WSUV.

Marcy Wright & Mary Austin-Seymour with WSU student
at Goats for Votes

Ballot Box!

Shari Shelton made the rounds this election season, appropriately dressed as a ballot box. Here she makes an appearance at the October member meeting. She also circulated at the No Kings rally in Vancouver.

Happy Hour with the League returns

Our Happy Hours with the League were so successful that we plan to schedule more of them! Note that all the gatherings are at venues that sell non-alcoholic beverages as well, and several offer food.

Join us on Nov. 17 at Chez Torres! Your hosts are Carol Doane and Teresa Torres. Bring a beverage and/or an appetizer to share. Members can log in to find the address and register here.

Watch for more dates and locations coming soon!

League honors election workers

A League contingent delivered some home-baked goodies to Clark County election workers on Oct. 20, national Election Hero Day. Elections Manager Rich Cooper (left) and county Auditor Greg Kimsey (right) happily accepted the snacks for their elections staff.

Website 101: Review your member profile

LWVUS Monthly Update

LWVUS President Sania Irwin shares in a recent blog her story of being an international college student in the U.S., and her thoughts on the value of welcoming such students to our country. She also reflects on the ideals of the U.S. welcoming immigrants over its history and the current policies being implemented: “When government policy treats rights and freedoms as contingent on a person’s immigration status, identity, or how others perceive them, the consequences reach beyond any one community. They test the meaning of equal protection and human dignity for everyone.” Why Immigration is Central to Our Nation | League of Women Voters

LWVUS is standing up against voter purges ahead of the midterms. League of Women Voters and Advancement Project File Amicus Brief in RNC v. Mi Familia Vota | League of Women Voters

LWVUS, along with the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), filed a lawsuit this month against the administration’s “secret and unlawful effort to collect and compile sensitive personal information about millions of American voters into a nationwide database.” The suit challenges the “sweeping effort to investigate unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud.” Voting Rights and Privacy Organizations Sue Trump-Vance Administration Over Secretive Collection of Millions of Americans’ Voter Records | League of Women Voters

Until last year, leagues across the county had a long tradition of offering newly naturalized citizens the opportunity to register to vote. LWV and other nonpartisan civic groups can once again take this role at naturalization ceremonies, since a federal court has permanently blocked the rule put in place in August 2025 by the current administration. League of Women Voters, Campaign Legal Center Secure Permanent Victory Restoring Voter Registration at Naturalization| League of Women Voters