HARRISBURG, PA — Today, Governor Shapiro’s administration announced that Pennsylvania will enact Automatic Voter Registration for all eligible commonwealth residents obtaining or renewing Driver license and identification cards. Pennsylvania is now the 24th state to implement AVR, in addition to the 23 states under bipartisan leadership who have committed to promoting election security and accessibility to voting. 

The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (LWVPA) enthusiastically welcomes this new policy, which increases voter accessibility by allowing citizens  to seamlessly register to vote. “This is a very exciting day for Pennsylvania voters,” said LWVPA President Maria Delgado-Santana. “As an organization committed to empowering voters and defending democracy, we welcome this exciting effort to increase voter turnout and election accessibility.

Susan Gobreski, Vice President of Policy for LWVPA, also expressed her excitement. “This decision exhibits much-needed trust in Pennsylvania election processes and administration, and we at LWVPA are thrilled to see the implementation of innovative voting systems in the Commonwealth.”

The League will continue to provide updates and voting information ahead of the 2023 General Election.
 
 

League Urges Bipartisan Support of American Voters 

Press Release / Last Updated:

WASHINGTON – Today the League of Women Voters of the United States CEO Virginia Kase Solomón issued the following statement in response to the House reintroduction of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

“Today our elected leaders are taking the necessary steps to preserve our democracy. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act will restore the provisions stripped from the Voting Rights Act of 1965 while modernizing legislation that guarantees all voters, specifically voters of color, can exercise their right to vote. We commend the House on reintroducing this critical piece of legislation.   

“Our freedom to vote is under attack, and this legislation is needed now more than ever. We’ve seen too many recent attempts to chip away at our democracy, with voter suppression efforts diluting the fundamental right to vote for voters of color. Our elected leaders must act now before voters go to the polls in next year’s elections. We cannot afford to wait any longer to restore access to the ballot. The Voting Rights Act has a long history of bipartisan support. It is the obligation of this new generation of lawmakers to respond to the call of the majority of Americans who support new legislation to protect the vote.  

“We thank Rep. Terri Sewell for leading this fight to protect our democracy. We urge our elected leaders to work together in a bipartisan way to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act because our democracy needs it now more than ever." 

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Press Release / Last Updated:

WASHINGTON – The League of Women Voters is set to reach over 100,000 voters this year for the civic holiday of National Voter Registration Day. National Voter Registration Day is recognized every year during the third week of September, as a nonpartisan civic holiday where organizations come together to register hundreds of thousands of voters on a single day.  Since the inception of NVRD in 2012, the League has been the largest on-the-ground partner.   

“The right to vote is the backbone of our democracy and it is our mission as the League to ensure that every American can access the ballot,” said Deborah Turner, president of the League of Women Voters of the United States. "As the nation’s largest and longest-standing volunteer-driven voter registration organization, we are determined to use the power and reach of the League to register all eligible voices to ensure their voices are heard in the upcoming elections."  

The League of Women Voters works year-round, every year to make sure all Americans, have equal access to the ballot. The League serves voters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, in over 700 communities across the country. The League hosts hundreds of voter registration events each year.   

“The goal of National Voter Registration Day is to ensure as many people can make their voices heard ahead of the upcoming elections,” said Morgan Murray, voter engagement programs manager for the League of Women Voters. “Leagues all over the country host events that highlight the importance of voting and encourage Americans to check their voter registration status so they can be prepared for Election Day.”  

In addition to voter registration, throughout the year Leagues host candidate forums and distribute education materials for state and local elections through its nonpartisan voter education tool, VOTE411.   

Learn more about National Voter Registration Day and how to get ready to vote here

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Press Release / Last Updated:

WASHINGTON – Today the League of Women Voters of the United States issued the following statement on the violence in Israel and Gaza:

“The League of Women Voters stands in solidarity with the Israeli and Palestinian people impacted by the ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza. The human rights violations committed against women and children are inhumane and must not continue.

“Today, October 11, is the International Day of the Girl Child. Like many of you, the League strives for a democracy where women and little girls everywhere in this world can live freely without the threat of violence. 

“We stand with all those working to restore peace, equality, and respect for every person’s human rights.” 

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HARRISBURG, PA — Yesterday, the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (LWVPA) filed an amicus brief in Public Interest Legal Foundation v. Schmidt, a case before the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, urging the court to reject an attempt to disclose personal information of voters to a third-party, private group. The League is represented by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.

The lawsuit was brought originally by the Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF), seeking an order from the court requiring the state of Pennsylvania to disclose the personal information of Pennsylvanians who received letters from the Commonwealth advising that non-citizens may have been inadvertently registered to vote through a PennDOT software error. The district court ruled that the names and addresses of some of these recipients could be publicly disclosed, pursuant to the National Voting Right Act of 1993 (NVRA).

“The NVRA was passed to protect eligible and registered voters and encourage participation in civic life,” said Susan Gobreski, LWVPA vice president of policy. “What PILF seeks here is a blatant attempt to intimidate potential voters, and the League will never ignore such actions.”

According to the League’s brief, PILF’s effort seeking to unnecessarily disclose personal information undermines the purpose of the NVRA, threatens to violate Pennsylvanians’ right to privacy, and could dissuade eligible voters from participating in the election process. Furthermore, public disclosure of such personal information could lead to intimidation,  harassment, or wrongful accusations of voter fraud.

"Third-party organizations like PILF seek to target vulnerable voters and deter them from making their voices heard," said Celina Stewart, chief counsel and senior director of advocacy & litigation at the League of Women Voters of the US. "The League of Women Voters was integral in the passage of the National Voter Registration Act, and its purpose was to encourage voter registration and participation, not create a pathway for voter intimidation or harassment."