By JEAN DEWART
LWV Los Alamos Membership Chair

The League of Women Voters (LWV) is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy. We empower voters and defend democracy through advocacy, education, and litigation, at the local, state, and national levels.  Membership is open to all citizens (not only women!).

Nationally, the LWV is actively working with the pubic, state legislatures, and in the courts, to roll back recent efforts to limit access to voting. LWV dues for single memberships ($45) and for household memberships ($70) are primarily sent to the state and national organizations to support these efforts. We use funds donated above the standard membership level (known as a sustaining membership) to provide local services.

Locally, you know the LWV Los Alamos (LWV-LA) as publishing the Los Alamos County Voters Guide and sponsoring Candidate Forums In addition, we publish a monthly newsletter to inform members about the activities of local and state government. We also sponsor the monthly Lunch with a Leader. And, the local League develops position papers to advocate for various public issues. Recently, the LWV-LA advocated for the use of an integrated pest management plan (also banning the use of glyphosate herbicide (aka roundup)) on Los Alamos County properties. The LWV-LA is also currently advocating for updating the LA County zoning maps to appropriately protect open spaces.

These efforts do not occur without volunteers. Democracy is not a spectator sport – for democracy to thrive, individuals must participate. And, it’s pretty fun to work together on these important issues.

We invite you to join the League of Women Voters Los Alamos this April/May during our annual membership drive, to participate in local democracy – https://my.lwv.org/new-mexico/los-alamos/donate.  The LWV is a 501 (C)(3) organization and membership dues are tax deductible.