League of Women Voters of Wisconsin

League of Women Voters of Wisconsin
TypeNonprofit
PurposeEmpowering Voters. Defending Democracy.
Region
Wisconsin
WebsiteOfficial

The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin is the Wisconsin state chapter of the League of Women Voters.

Voting and democracy work

Legislature's attempts to increase its power

In March 2019, the league won a lawsuit to block the passage of laws during a lame-duck session to strip incoming democratic governor Tony Evers of power before he took office, arguing that the "extraordinary session" was done in violation of the constitution.[1] The Wisconsin Supreme Court in 4-3 ruling, overturned that decision in June 2021, restoring the curbs to the governor's power made by the legislature.[2]

The chapter has also opposed proposed 2024 refendum to further weaken the power of the governor to spend federal money.[3][4]

Redistricting

See also: Gerrymandering in the United States

Pushing for redistricting reform in Wisconsin for decades, and started partnering with Common Cause in Wisconsin and the Democracy Campaign in 2012 to push for change.[5][6]

Voter ID Laws

The League also sued the state over its Voter ID laws, winning an injunction in 2012 against the requirement.[7]

Voter purges

The league has also filed legal briefs disputing the legality of some of the voter purges in Wisconsin, arguing 7% of the people should not have been on the purge list.[8] The group also increased education efforts around the purge to help make sure voters know how to check their registration status.[9]

History

Jessie Jack Hooper was the first president of the Wisconsin League of Women Voters in 1920. The chapter carried the maxim "every woman an intelligent voter," and Hooper served two terms as its first president.[10][11]

See also

References

  1. ^ Berman, Ari (March 21, 2019). "Big ruling: Wisconsin Republicans acted illegally by stripping the incoming governor of power". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  2. ^ Szekely, Peter (June 21, 2019). "Wisconsin high court upholds curb on powers of Democratic governor". Reuters.
  3. ^ Watch, Tom Kertscher / Wisconsin (2024-06-24). "Wisconsin constitutional amendments seek more Legislature power". Wisconsin Watch. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  4. ^ Bauer, Scott (2024-07-28). "Wisconsin Republicans ask voters to take away governor's power to spend federal money". AP News. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  5. ^ Lueders, Bill (2012-12-04). "Groups eye redistricting reforms". Wisconsin Watch. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  6. ^ Lueders, Bill (2013-11-18). "Public wants action on redistricting". Wisconsin Watch. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  7. ^ Devereaux, Ryan (2012-03-13). "Wisconsin voter ID law struck down as rights activists hail important victory". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  8. ^ Berman, Ari (December 17, 2019). "GOP voter purges in Wisconsin and Georgia could tip the 2020 election". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  9. ^ Levine, Sam (2019-12-18). "Rightwing group pushes Wisconsin voter purge that 'could tip' 2020 election". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  10. ^ Graves, Lawrence L. (Spring 1958). "Two Noteworthy Wisconsin Women: Mrs. Ben Hooper and Ada James". The Wisconsin Magazine of History. 41 (3). Wisconsin Historical Society: 174–80. JSTOR 4633268.
  11. ^ Thomas, Schultz, Van Assendelft (1999), p. 111