News

From LWVB/N

Watch: Fighting for Our Vote

In February 2021, the League of Women Voters of Buffalo/Niagara together with several partner organizations hosted a virtual roundtable discussion on facilitating and protecting the right to vote for all (02/23/2021).

A Buffalo Bills Honor for LWVBN!

We are most appreciative to have been honored by the Social Justice Committee of the Buffalo Bills See the one minute video that was shared on the Virtual Half-time Show at buffalobills.org (01/2021).

OUR Outer Harbor Letter

Comments on the “General Project Plan” for the Outer Harbor from the OUR Outer Harbor Coalition, of which LWVB/N is a member (01/08/2021).

League GOTV 2020

Our DEI and GOTV Steering Committees, and their many volunteers, launched exceptional initiatives to promote participation in the 2020 general election. Among their efforts were a postcard mailed to residents of the Lovejoy District, signs for buses that traveled throughout the city, and a card noting important registration and voting dates. Click here for a complete recap of their extraordinary campaign (2020 Roundup).

League Letter

Read the comments we sent to the ECHDC regarding its General Project Plan (12/09/2020).

Action: Petition

The League of Women Voters of Buffalo/Niagara is a member of the Our Outer Harbor Coalition. We support the petition to designate the Outer Harbor as parkland and encourage you to sign and share it widely. Please note that although there is a donation button on the page, donations are not required. (09/2020)

League Letter

LWVB/N objects to the Holtec proposal to establish the consolidated interim storage of nuclear wastes in New Mexico, in Word format or PDF format. Special thanks to League Member Pat Townsend for researching and preparing these comments. (09/21/2020)

Action: Petition

LWVB/N Annual Meeting

The 2020 Annual Meeting was held virtually on Saturday, June 20, 2020. Read the 2020 Annual Report, see the updates to the Local Program. (06/20/2020).

Filing your 2020 Census forms electronically is so easy

Still haven't turned in your Census information? No problem! Respond over the internet, or even by phone at (844) 330-2020. The deadline to complete the census is August 15.

Census 2020: High Stakes for Our State and Region

Amy Brombos, Supervisory Partnership Specialist, U.S. Census Bureau was our guest for our March 12, 2020 meeting, Learn more (PDF format; also available in MS format).
See the current response rates.

Buchheit kills Queen City Landing project

Did not say what would happen with the property (Buffalo News, 3/20/2020)

League Program: New York State's Whopping $6.1 Billion Budget Deficit

Our guests were E.J. McMahon, Ron Deutsch and Fred Floss, Jr.; see news coverage of the event (Spectrum News, 1/30/2020)

League Testimony: Outer Harbor

Before the Common Council Committee on Legislation in PDF format (1/14/2020)
See also statements from the Partnership for the Public Good and the Our Outer Harbor Coalition (both from 1/9/2020)

Call for Nominations — Making Democracy Work Award

Please consider nominating a comm$ efforts to make democracy work. (LWVB/N Voter, 12/27/2019)

We Need Your Ideas!

Each year, the state League requests Word format or in PDF format (Buffalo News, 12/15/2019)

League Testimony

Before the New York State Public Campaign Financing Commission in Word formatPDF format (10/29/2019)

League Letter: Another Voice

League provides guidance on early voting (Buffalo News, Another Voice, 9/30/2019)

Press Conference

Members of LWVBN’s Waterfront Committee took part in a press conference at Buffalo’s Outer Harbor. LWVBN is part of the Our Outer Harbor Coalition, which is advocating for the Outer Harbor to be turned into a state park.
(9/23/2019)

League Event

Education Forum Recap: Perspectives on What Works in Public Education (5/23/2018)

League Letter

Letter to the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) regarding "preferred plan” for the Buffalo Outer Harbor (5/2019)

League Event

Local Government Program Recap: Gentrification: Exploring Solutions (4/25/2019)

League Letter

Letter to the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) regarding November 2018 open house (12/23/2018)

League Letter

Letter to the DOE opposing proposal to deregulate high-level radioactive waste at West Valley (12/10/2018)

League Letter

Letter to the Editor of the Buffalo News about "water-dependent" uses for the Buffalo Harbor (7/2018)

League Statement

Recommendations regarding the Independent Commission on Reapportionment: Statement on Local Law Intro No 12-2 (8/22/2016)

From LWVNY

LWVNY Recommends:

The state League is pleased to partner with the statewide Democracy Ready NY coalition to promote a four-part civic learning webinar series in March:
Mar 4, 2021 04:00 PM Developing Media Literacy
Mar 11, 2021 04:00 PM Discussing Controversial Issues
Mar 18, 2021 04:00 PM Igniting Youth Civic Action
Mar 25, 2021 04:00 PM Call to Action
This series to open to all people who are interested in learning more about civics education and youth engagement.

Calling All Youth

If you know of young people who want to participate directly on closing the education equity gap in NY State, please encourage them to join the Fund(ED)NY Campaign.

Voter Service: Watch This Space

The LWVNY Voter Service Committee is pleased to announce it has replaced its Road to the Voting Booth series with three new Toolkits: simpler and easier to use; they are full of new ideas and best practices -- coming soon (around the middle of March)!

Listen: What is DEI?

Hear NY State League's DEI Chair describe DEI on WVOX's program, The Ballot Box, a regular radio program produced by the LWV of New Rochelle. (02/17/2021)

People Powered Fair Maps

State League has launched a new landing page for all of our redistricting materials: NYRedistricting.org. April 29, 2021 is a LWVUS Fair Maps Day of Action! (02/24/2021)

Legislative Action: LWVNY Testimony

LWVNY submitted testimony to the Legislative Budget Committees regarding the Independent Redistricting Commission and elections in the New York State budget (02/08/2021)

LWVNY Voter

The State Senate passed a package of absentee voting reforms. Read some of the highlights of these new facets to NYS election law, about the State League's Legislative Update, Redistricting Plans, State Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee efforts and much more in the most recent LWVNY State Voter (01/2021)

Redistricting

The State League has put out a PowerPoint (1/15/2021) to kick off this year's Redistricting campaign, as well as a Statement of Opposition Redistricting Amendment League of Women Voters of NYS (1/13/2021)

League Letter

Letter Urging Passage of Restoration of Voting Rights for New Yorkers on Parole (1/5/2021)

League Letter

NYS League Letter Regarding Legislative Rules Reform and Legislative Activity in Remote Conditions (1/5/2021)

Legislative Agenda

The State League has posted the 2021 Legislative Agenda

Early Voting Survey

Anyone in New York State who voted by absentee ballot is invited to take the LWVNY Absentee Voting Survey (06/2020)

Legislation

LWVNYS supports S3695/A2513, an act to repeal section 50-a of the civil rights law, relating to personnel records of police officers, firefighters and correction officers. Read more (New York State of Politics, 06/05/2020).

Webinar

View the LWVNY Get Out the Vote (Zoom meeting, 06/02/2020)

Webinar

Supporting Voters with Disabilities (05/21/2020)

Legislative Agenda

The State League has posted the 2020 Legislative Agenda and the 2020 Legislative Packet.

Campaign Finance Reform

The State League released a statement criticizing the Public Campaign Financing Commission. (LWVNYS Voter, 12/2019)

Redistricting

The State League has called on NYS legislators to fund and populate New York's first ever independent redistricting commission by February 1, 2020 (LWVNYS Voter, 12/2019)

Early Voting Survey

LWVNYS report on early voting. Key issues and recommendations for an improved process in 2020 were shared with the Joint Committee on Elections (Senate and Assembly) and Boards of Elections. (11/20/2019)

LWVNYS position on Con-Con

At the State Convention in June 2019, delegates approved an update to the State League's position on a Constitutional Convention (9/2019).

Voter Education/Early Voting

LWVNY page on New York State Early Voting lists all early voting times and locations across the state

Issues

The State League wants you! Help with the updates to Impact on Issues

Youth Outreach

7 lesson plans for teachers of the New York Grade 12 Participation in Government course.

Voter Education

Facts for Voters voters guide (pdf)

Testimony

League Testimony before NYS Public Campaign Financing Commission Watch the video (9/10/2019)

League Letter: A 3276 / S 1819

League Urges Governor to Sign Maternal Mortality Review Board Bill (8/1/2019)

League Resources

Workshop presentations and handouts from the State Convention have great information on court simplification, moderating candidate forums, fundraisers, Vote411, and more! (7/2019)

From LWVUS

April 29 is Fair Map Day

Learn more about our People Powered Day of Action

Looking back on 2020

The 2020 General election saw the greatest voter participation in the US in a century. Find out 20 Ways LWV Empowered Voters and Protected Democracy in 2020 (01/2021)

2021 Legislative Priorities Guidance

The League’s anticipated priorities for 2021 state and local legislative sessions across the country are here.

2021 Redistricting

Every 10 years, after the collection of census data, states redraw their state and congressional district lines. Here are 10 Things You Should Know About Redistricting and And here's a discussion on How Unfair Maps Impact Communities of Color (October, 2020)

Resources: Black Lives Matter

LWVUS statement: on Police Killing of George Floyd (05/29/2020)
LWVUS with over 400 civil rights organizations signs letter calling for congressional action on police violence (06/02/2020)

Statement

League Joins Statement Reaffirming Founding Principles of the United Nations

People Powered Fair Maps™

As we prepare for redistricting in 2021, our work to fight for and protect People Powered Fair Maps is more important than ever. Read about the national redistricting campaign of the League of Women Voters. Read the latest update.

Statement: Supreme Court LGBTQ+ Ruling

LWVUS joined an amicus brief in this case with more than 50 other organizations. Read the LWVUS Statement on the ruling (06/15/2020)

Resources: Black Lives Matter

LWVUS statement: on Police Killing of George Floyd (05/29/2020)
LWVUS with over 400 civil rights organizations signs letter calling for congressional action on police violence (06/02/2020)
LWVUS Blog: Virginia Kase on Standing in Solidarity with the Black Community (06/03/2020)
Protests and Rallies: Here's How to be Good Allies in This Moment.

Talking points on how to counter attacks on vote-by-mail go hand in hand with talking points on Curbing Public Expectations for Immediate Election Results (06/08/2020)
See also Why We Need Postal Democracy (New York Review of Books, 05/28/2020)

Census and Redistricting

Read the blog post on Covid-19's huge impact on the 2020 Census. (05/27/2020) In December 2019, the LWVUS joined the Census Project and other organizations in calling for full funding of the 2020 Census. (LWVUS, 12/6/2019)

Video: Vote411

VOTE411: Election Information You Need in English and in Spanish (06/01/2020)

Statement

LWVUS joins coalition of groups supporting the Coronavirus Oversight and Recovery Ethics Act (CORE Act). (06/02/2020)

Statement

LWV joins the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and 112 organizations urging DOJ to Investigate Killing of Ahmaud Arbery (05/14/2020)

Statement

League Joins Statement Reaffirming Founding Principles of the United Nations

Task Force

Learn about the LWVUS National Popular Vote Taskforce

People Powered Fair Maps™

DEI guide

LWVUS has released a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Guide that includes resources that are most relevant around this topic LWVUS, 12/19/2019

Census

The LWVUS has joined the Census Project and other organizations in calling for full funding of the 2020 Census. (LWVUS, 12/6/2019)

League Letter

LWVUS Urges Congress to Vote Yes for H.R. 4, Voting Rights Advancement Act (12/04/2019)

League Letter

LWVUS opposes IRS "Dark Money" Rule regarding the reporting requirements of exempt organizations Word format. (12/02/2019)

Action: Secure Elections

Contact your Senators to demand election security (11/13/2019).

Suffrage Centennial

LWVUS Chief Exec Virginia Kase spoke at a Harvard event to celebrate the upcoming 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Watch Fighting for Political Power: Women’s Inclusion from the 19th Amendment to 2020 (10/28/2019)

League Testimnony

LWVUS Chief Exec Virginia Kase testified before the Congressional the Subcommittee on Elections. Watch her opening statement (10/17/2019)

Redistricting

If you have experience implementing redistricting reform in your state, LWVUS NEEDS YOU

Action: Gun Violence

Read the LWVUS position on gun control, then tell Congress to act.

People Powered Fair Maps™

National redistricting campaign of the League of Women Voters

2020 Legislative Priorities

Updated guidance to state and local Leagues

Get out the Vote

GotV best practices toolkit

Testimony

League of Women Voters of the U.S. took part in the United Nations event on violence against women politicians (Facebook Live, 9/19/2019).

Board

The LWVUS board nominating committee is looking for applicants for the 2020-2022 national board (Deadline: October 28, 2019)

Action: DC Statehood

Take action by signing our petition to support DC statehood today! Here's why

Action: For the People Act

Call your US Senator about the For the People Act

Action: Voting Rights

Contact your Representative to support the Voting Rights Advancement Act

Census

The Census counts. NOW is the time to get involved. Sign the pledge, then explore the toolkit and map out a plan.

In the News

Watch: Lilly Ledbetter on gender wage gaps

It’s an ‘American right to be paid equally for equal work’ (Yahoo! Finance, 03/02/2021)

Senate Passes Bill to Restore Voting Rights for Individuals on Parole

The state Senate has passed the decade-old bill for the first time since its introduction (City & State New York, 02/26/2021)

General Election 2020

Despite Record Turnout, 80 Million Americans Didn't Vote. Here's Why (NPR, 12/15/2020). Hear their reasons in their own words (Medill News Service, 12/15/2020).

Governor Signs Bill Extending Party Enrollment Deadline to Feb. 14 (Albany Times Union, 9/25/2019)

League hosts more than 500 voter registration events across the country for National Voter Registration Day (League Press Release, 9/23/2019).

Harmful Voter Registration Law Blocked in LWV of Tennessee Case (League Press Release, 9/12/2019)

League launches People Powered Fair Maps to end gerrymandering create fair and transparent district maps nationwide (ABC News, 9/5/2019)

LWVUS Statement on Rucho v. League of Women Voters of North Carolina Supreme Court Declines to Set a Standard to Rein in Partisan Gerrymandering (League Press Release, 6/27/2019)