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Our Nation As we confront the implications of the Callais decision, the League must meet this moment with clarity, coordination, and sustained action. This framework reflects our collective path forward, outlining how we will respond as an organization, strengthen coalition partnerships, advocate at the federal level, and engage communities across the country in the ongoing work of protecting our democracy. Across the South and throughout the nation, Leagues are already rising to this challenge. Last week, the Louisiana State Legislature held hearings on proposed congressional maps that would eliminate one of Louisiana’s two majority-Black districts. The League of Women Voters of Louisiana submitted testimony opposing the maps and reaffirming the League’s commitment to fair representation and equal access to political power. Additionally, Leagues in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and South Carolina are also mobilizing, organizing, educating, and standing alongside their communities. I am inspired by this leadership and resolve. The fight is not over, and neither is our commitment to defending a democracy that represents all people fairly and equally. Our League As we prepare to gather for the 2026 National Convention, I want to thank you for your continued leadership and commitment to the League and its mission. I am pleased to share that the Convention agenda and delegate resources are now available on the Convention website, including the proposed LWVUS Board & Nominating Committee slate, bylaws amendments, program, and budget materials for 2026-2028. Additional information—including proposed 2026 Convention rules, order of business, and the resolutions process—will be shared in the coming weeks. Convention trainings will begin on June 1 to help delegates and attendees prepare for participation. The first session, 2026 Convention Rules and Parliamentary Procedure, will be hosted virtually by Convention Parliamentarian Margaret-Ann Howie on June 1 from 5:00-6:00 pm ET. I encourage you to review these materials in advance of Convention and begin conversations with your fellow League members and delegates. Thank you for all you do to strengthen the League and our democracy. In League,
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Dianna WynnPresident League of Women Voters
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WEBINARS AND VIRTUAL MEETINGS
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May 15, 1:00pm ET
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August 8 Day of Action Workshops: Cross-Movement Advocacy DayIn this workshop, we will discuss joint events co-hosted with civil rights or civic organizations. For these events, each partner brings their own audience. LEARN MORE
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May 15, 3:00pm ET
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August 8 Day of Action Workshops: People’s Hearing/Community Testimony In this workshop, we will discuss community-led public hearings with personal testimony on voting barriers that close with a conversion moment. LEARN MORE
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May 18, 3:00pm ET
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August 8 Day of Action Workshops: Deep Canvassing In this workshop, we will discuss deep and canvassing its extended relational conversations with low-propensity voters at their doors. LEARN MORE
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May 19, 4:00pm ET
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Local League Presidents Webinar In this webinar, local League presidents will hear from LWV President Dianna Wynn and LWV CEO Celina Stewart. LEARN MORE
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May 20, 4:00pm ET
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Framing the Future Office Hours Opportunity for League members to ask questions about the LWV Member Portal. LEARN MORE
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May 26, 3:30pm ET
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Research in Conversation: Making Sense of Our Digital Democracy ft. Raelyn Roberson This webinar will demystify AI in a way that reduces fear, increases discernment, and helps League members feel empowered to educate others about AI basics. The conversation will feature Raelyn Roberson, a Digital Empowerment strategist. LEARN MORE
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May 27, 4:00pm ET
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Sustaining Your League: Staff, Funding, and Long-Term StabilityFocus on staff retention, development, and long-term fundraising strategies that support stability and growth. LEARN MORE
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May 28, 3:00pm ET
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Legislative Office Hours Opportunity for Leagues and League members to address advocacy, legislative, or policy issues with LWVUS staff. LEARN MORE
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May 28, 4:00pm ET
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LWV Member Portal Support Training for Roster Managers & Membership Chairs This Membership Chair/Roster Manager training will cover joining and renewing, as well as navigating the LWV portal and updating the roster. LEARN MORE
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May 29, 1:00pm ET
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August 8 Day of Action Workshops: Faith & Community Coalition Roundtable In this workshop, we will discuss voting access, co-hosted with faith/community organizations that bring their own audience. LEARN MORE
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May 29, 3:00pm ET
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August 8 Day of Action Workshops: Voter Registration Drive Workshops covering the High-Lift and Medium-Lift Activation opportunities for the August 8 Day of Action. In this workshop, we will discuss voter registration drives in low-turnout neighborhoods where volunteers actively engage. LEARN MORE
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June 1, 3:00pm ET
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Development Office HoursOpportunity for members to raise questions about fundraising directly with LWVUS development staff. LEARN MORE
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All Roads Lead to the South Event
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Join All Roads Lead to the South on Saturday, May 16, at 1pm in Montgomery, Alabama. This is a moment to organize, mobilize, and show the strength of our collective voice. Sign up today at allroadsleadtothesouth.com. If you’re unable to travel to Montgomery, we encourage you to organize a satellite action in your city. You can also help spread the word by sharing the campaign graphics available at the bottom of the activation homepage on social media platforms.
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Sign Up to be an Election Hero Day 2026 Partner
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Election Hero Day (EHD) has a new date! The seventh annual celebration will take place on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. EHD honors the incredible election officials, clerks, directors, office staff, poll workers, and volunteers across the nation who work tirelessly so Americans have the freedom and ability to elect our leaders and representatives. This is the second year that LWV is the managing partner. Spread the word to your network with our toolkit and sign up to partner to help us reach our goal of 500 partners! |
LWV Virginia: After years of advocacy by the League of Women Voters of Virginia, Governor Abigail Spanberger signed the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact bill last month, making Virginia the 19th jurisdiction to join the effort. The compact now totals 222 Electoral College votes, leaving just 48 more needed to reach the One Person/One Vote campaign’s goal of enacting NPV by 2028. We encourage all states to continue working toward the passage of this legislation in states where it has not yet been enacted! LWV Maryland: The League of Women Voters of Maryland was instrumental in securing passage of the Maryland Voting Rights Act. After four years of refining the bill’s provisions to meet the state’s needs and working closely with legislators through advocacy and education, the leadership and members of LWV Maryland helped achieve a historic voting rights victory for the state. LWV South Carolina: Following sustained advocacy from the League of Women Voters of South Carolina and other pro-democracy groups, five Republican legislators joined Democrats in opposing a measure that would have allowed the state to reopen redistricting after the legislative session ended. LWV Alabama: In Alabama, although bills advancing a redistricting proposal ultimately passed, widespread protests and disruptions — fueled in part by a large mobilization effort involving the League of Women Voters of Alabama — forced the legislative session into recess. LWV Mississippi: After mounting public pressure from the League of Women Voters of Mississippi and coalition partners, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves called off the special session that had been scheduled for next week.
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NEW: Post-Callais Guidance for League Action
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Following the Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais, this page offers Leagues clear, grounded guidance about how we are moving forward as an organization.
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LWV Member Portal Trainings
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LWV is offering a three-part training series on May 28, June 4, and June 11 from 4–5 pm ET for new League leaders on how to navigate the LWV Member Portal and its important features. This series will be a refreshed version of the trainings on the LWV Member Portal that were presented last year in the summer. Member registration is required! The Membership Chair/Roster Manager training will cover joining and renewing, as well as navigating the LWV portal and updating the roster. This webinar is helpful for roster managers, membership chairs, and any leader who wants more guidance on using the portal. Click here to register. The Treasurer training will cover Stripe, offline payments, League-paid dues, the finances screen, the process of making Leagues whole, and the remainder of the PMP cycle. This training is open to any League leader, particularly those who deal with finances. Click here to register. The Optional Portal Tools training will focus on using the email tool and the website editor within the portal. This tutorial is for Leagues that are using or considering using the portal emailer or website editor. Click here to register.
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Building Staff Capacity: From Learning Series to Resources
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Looking to strengthen your League’s capacity and sustainability? Our Building Staff Capacity event series—now paired with a comprehensive roadmap and resource hub—offers guidance for Leagues exploring a transition from volunteer-led to staffed models. As part of the League’s broader Transformation efforts, this resource supports thoughtful, sustainable change. Explore the full series and roadmap here.
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Get Ready for Primary Season with VOTE411
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Primary season has officially begun, and we created a new resource on VOTE411! We have a page listing the 2026 state primaries by date in both English and Spanish. Share VOTE411 with your community to ensure they are ready to vote. Visit our VOTE411 Resources Toolkit for the promotional materials you need, including social media graphics, a poster template, a Zoom background, and more.
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Bylaws Presentation and Guidance Available
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Bylaws are more than a required document—they define your League’s purpose, outline how you operate, and create a clear framework for decision-making and accountability. Whether you’re updating outdated language or building your understanding from the ground up, this new LWVUS resource, Understanding Bylaws: Structure, Purpose, and Best Practices, walks through how bylaws are structured, how they align across League levels, and practical best practices to keep your bylaws clear, compliant, and mission-focused.
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REGISTER TODAY: Unite & Rise for Voting Rights – A National Day of Action
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Saturday, August 8, marks a powerful moment for voting rights advocates across the country — the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Through our Unite & Rise initiative, the League of Women Voters is calling on Leagues nationwide to participate in a National Day of Action, mobilizing communities in collective action and highlighting the ongoing fight for a stronger, more inclusive democracy. League officers must register their events by Friday May 22, 2026 at 8pm EST. To do so: Log in to ChapterSpot and click the new Events icon Click Submit Event and select the Type of Activation your League plans to hold (such as a rally, tabling event, phonebank, voter registration drive, or community forum) Enter your Event Contact name and email, set the stage to Proposed, and submit
Full event details, including time, date, and location, can be filled in over the coming weeks, so don't wait to get your event on the books! Please note that limited funding is available for high-lift activations, so register early to be considered. Visit the LMS page to learn more and register.
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Convention 2026 Updates
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NEW CONVENTION MATERIALS Important materials for Convention are now available on the Convention website under Delegate Resources. Available resources include: 2026–2028 LWVUS Board & Nominating Committee Slate 2026–2028 Proposed Bylaws Amendments 2026–2028 Proposed Program 2026–2028 Proposed Budget & PMP
Should you have any questions, please feel to reach out to [email protected]. SEND US YOUR PHOTOS! As we prepare for Convention this June, we’re celebrating the generations of leadership that power the League. If your family includes intergenerational League members—grandmothers, mothers, daughters, or beyond—we’d love to feature you. Please send one photo that includes all family members to [email protected] for inclusion in a slideshow in the plenary space. REGISTRATION Registration for Convention is still open. Visit the event website to register to book your hotel accommodations, sign up for the wares market, access pre-Convention webinar recordings, and more! Leagues are also encouraged to fundraise to support Convention expenses for their delegates. RESOLUTIONS SUBMISSION FORM Leagues wishing to submit resolutions to the 2026 Convention may do so through the online form. Please visit the Convention website to review the criteria, view committee members, access the submission form, and find additional information. All resolutions must be submitted by the June 17 deadline. Questions about resolutions can be directed to [email protected]. |
Partnership Launch
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LWVUS launched its 2026 midterms partnership with AIGA, Design for Democracy. AIGA members will be designing GOTV posters for public distribution and printing—stay tuned for the poster gallery!
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UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties
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League Members: Now is the time to consider attending the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP31) taking place in Antalya, Turkey, from Monday, Nov. 8, to Friday, Nov. 20, 2026. If interested, please contact Robin Tokmakian ([email protected]) to request an application form or more information. This is a self-funded opportunity. Deadline is June 30, 2026. |
Governance and League Issues Support
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As of 2026, LWV has adopted a new process to track, streamline, and support Governance and other League issues. If you are seeking support or guidance on matters such as board operations and procedures, bylaws, or other decisions requiring LWVUS Board approval, please complete the following Governance Inquiry Form to help us determine which policies may have been violated and what kind of action/resolution you are seeking. If you are seeking guidance on Local League formation, League withdrawal of recognition, League boundary or name changes, or MAL unit recognition, please fill out this Organization Changes Form. |
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League LeadersSpecial Notifications: To help keep members informed, LWVUS sends this bi-weekly, internal email newsletter to state and local League presidents, as well as other highly engaged League members. The League Update includes important announcements about upcoming trainings and webinars, grant opportunities, messaging resources, stories from Leagues nationwide, and surveys to help LWVUS serve Leagues better. This newsletter is curated for League members specifically and is not intended for public consumption or distribution. Do you know a League member who wants to receive this email? Members can subscribe to receive the League Update here. Please do not reply to this message.
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