October 2024
Empowering Voters and Building Advocacy: Your Guide to the 2024 Elections While many of us are well-informed voters, we know that not everyone in our community has the same level of engagement or access to accurate information. This election presents an opportunity not only for us to cast our votes, but also to help others understand how they can make their voices heard. How you can help Reach out to your friends and family: Whether through casual conversation, a phone call, or social media, encourage those around you to check their voter registration status, learn about the candidates and [...]
September 2024
NO on I-2117 - A Call to Action for Yakima County and Beyond By Coleen Anderson Coleen Anderson, a member of the League of Women Voters of Yakima County, is a retired legal secretary, grandmother of six, and great-grandmother of five. After retirement, she relocated to Yakima to be closer to her family. In 2019, she read The End of Ice by Dahr Jamail, which opened her eyes to the drastic environmental changes affecting the planet. Around the same time, Greta Thunberg’s speeches made her realize her own complicity in the degradation of the Earth. This awakening led [...]
August 2024
The Urgency of Voter Registration As we approach another pivotal election year, the importance of voter registration cannot be overstated. Our mission has always been to empower voters and defend democracy, and this begins with ensuring that every eligible citizen is registered and ready to vote. Progress Made, But We Must Do More Over the past decade, we’ve made significant strides in Yakima County. The percentage of unregistered voters has decreased from 38.0% in 2012 to 29.4% in 2020. While this progress is encouraging, it’s important to acknowledge that Yakima County still lags behind similar counties. In 2020, counties [...]
July 2024
From Apathy to Action: Inspiring Voter Engagement Through the League Over the past few months, while registering voters at community events, I've encountered a recurring sentiment among many community members: apathy and a belief that their vote won't make a difference. This anecdote underscores a critical challenge we face - low voter turnout driven by feelings of disconnection and disillusionment. As members of the League of Women Voters of Yakima County, we are uniquely positioned to address this issue through our mission, "Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.". This mission compels us not only to empower ourselves but also to inspire [...]
May/June 2024
The Power of Volunteering with the League of Women Voters of Yakima County Volunteering is at the heart of what we do in the League, and it brings immense value not only to our community but also to each one of us as individuals. Our collective efforts in encouraging voter registration, educating the public, and advocating for informed and active participation in government are fundamental to our mission. As we prepare for our upcoming events, I want to take a moment to share some inspiring words from our dedicated members and emphasize the importance of volunteerism within our League. [...]
March-April 2024
We're honored to feature a message from Alison McCaffree, the Redistricting & Census Issue Chair and Chair of the Redistricting Reform Task Force at the League of Women Voters of Washington. Please take a moment to read her message. – Lee Murdock, LWVYC President New Legislative Map. The Changes. The Solution. By Alison McCaffree, LWVWA Redistricting Issue Chair For the 2024 election, new legislative map boundaries will switch nearly half a million people to different districts and displace 5 current legislators. On Friday, March 15th, Federal District Court Judge Lasnik handed down the final remedy for the Soto Palmer [...]
LWVYC Endorses City Manager-Council Form of Government
As the President of the League of Women Voters of Yakima County, I am compelled to address the recent discussions surrounding the potential shift to a strong mayor form of government in our city. It is crucial to consider the implications of such a transition in light of our organization's long-standing position on forms of city government. Since 1979, the League of Women Voters of Yakima County has championed the city manager-council form of city government. This position, developed through extensive study and consensus-building efforts, reflects our commitment to principles of representation, accountability, transparency, citizen participation, and efficient service [...]
October/November 2023
Clarifying Our Commitment: Nonpartisanship and Consensus Policy In light of recent publications, we feel it is essential to clarify our organization's dual commitment to nonpartisanship and our consensus policy positions. We believe that a clear understanding of this distinction is crucial. The League's nonpartisan policy is unequivocal. As per the national policy: "The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization. We encourage the informed and active participation of citizens in government. The League acts in support of, or in opposition to, selected governmental issues which its members have studied. It does not support or oppose candidates, factions, [...]
August/September 2023
Empowering Our Voices Through Voting As we find ourselves amid a vibrant and eventful season, I want to take a moment to address a topic that is at the very heart of our mission as advocates for informed and engaged communities: the importance of voting. While we dedicate ourselves to promoting civic participation on a larger scale, let's also recognize the influence we can have within our own circles of family and friends. Here are a few tips on advocating for the power of voting: 1. Lead by Example: Be an inspiration by consistently participating in elections and demonstrating [...]
June/July 2023
The Enduring Significance of NonPartianship In a world often divided by political affiliations and partisan discourse, the League of Women Voters stands as a beacon of nonpartisanship. With a rich history and an unwavering commitment to empowering voters and defending democracy, the League exemplifies the enduring value of nonpartisanship. By transcending political biases and fostering inclusivity, the League serves as a driving force in decision-making processes, promoting fairness, objectivity, and a collective pursuit of the greater good. Promoting Fairness, Objectivity, and Rigorous Processes - At the heart of nonpartisanship lies a commitment to fairness, objectivity, and the development of [...]
April/May 2023
ADVOCATING TO FRIENDS AND FAMILIES If you are a member of the League of Women Voters then you already know the importance of voting in local elections and how they are an essential part of our democracy, yet they often have the lowest turnout of any election. The following list of speaking points can be helpful in advocating for participation in local elections to friends or family. Your Vote Counts: Local elections are decided by a smaller number of voters than state or national elections. This means that each vote carries more weight, and your vote can make a [...]
March 2023
As we celebrate Women's History Month this March, we are reminded of the tremendous accomplishments of women throughout history who have fought tirelessly for equality and justice. From the suffragettes who fought for women's right to vote, to the civil rights activists who worked to end racial discrimination, to the women in politics today who continue to push for progress, we owe a debt of gratitude to these trailblazers who paved the way for us. Locally, we have a wealth of women who have shaped our community including Kara Kondo, who as a long-time league member, was a participant in [...]
February 2023
I belong to multiple communities, some based on my values and beliefs, others based on my job and interests. Lately, I have been investigating what it means to be an active community member in the place where I live. Being an active community member means being engaged in the well-being and development of your community. This can involve volunteering, participating in local initiatives, building relationships with others, advocating for change, and using your voice to make a positive impact. The benefits of being an active community member include: • Contributing to local initiatives: Volunteering, donating, or participating in local events [...]
November 2022
Public Forum Informs Voters I want to begin by thanking everyone who participated in our 2022 County Commissioner Candidate’s Forum for making it such a successful event with just under 100 people in attendance. Members of the League of Women Voters of Yakima County and audience members submitted great questions and all six candidates participated and provided valuable information for the voters of Yakima County. I wish to thank our moderator, Executive Editor of the Yakima Herald Republic – Greg Halling for moderating the event, Juven Ruiz Garcia for providing interpretation, and the City of Yakima for both providing [...]
October 2022
Candidates' Forum Set for October 20 On October 20th, the League of Women Voters of Yakima County is hosting a Candidates’ Forum for all 6 candidates running for the Yakima Board of County Commissioners – this will be the first time all 3 seats are up for election at the same time offering a unique perspective we have never seen before. The League of Women Voters has a long history of hosting nonpartisan candidate forums and educating the American people. Every election season, Leagues across the country hold hundreds of candidate debates and forums to help voters learn about [...]
August 2022
The League has a long history of women connecting. History is filled with women facing overwhelming odds and impacting change. This month we are celebrating Women’s Equality Day which marks the anniversary of the certification of the 19th amendment in 1920. This work began on the national level with the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention. There will be articles, blog posts, and more about this historic event in history and the impact of current decisions on women’s equality – this note was originally going to be about that. While reading, I kept thinking about the five women who organized [...]
July 2022
History is filled with women facing overwhelming odds and impacting change. This month we are celebrating Women’s Equality Day which marks the anniversary of the certification of the 19th amendment in 1920. This work began on the national level with the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention. There will be articles, blog posts, and more about this historic event in history and the impact of current decisions on women’s equality – this note was originally going to be about that. While reading, I kept thinking about the five women who organized the Seneca Falls Convention: Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, [...]
June 2022
Hello members and friends of the League of Women Voters of Yakima County. I want to first of all express my gratitude for the Leadership provided by Cheri Kilty this past year – her commitment to this community was infectious and made me excited to serve in this new role. This first month has been a whirlwind as we are working to structure the committees and prepare for the work ahead. I also want to offer my gratitude to Karen Pilon who has served as the Secretary of the League for multiple years. I am so lucky to [...]