We began our beginning with the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It was a declaration of separation from the denial of rights to ones individual liberty. It was a declaration of ideals and a dream for the future. But there was a long way to go between the dream and reality. We won our fight for...Continue Reading
The First Amendment protects freedom of speech. Anyone can say whatever they wish, without government interference. A basic truth not stated in the amendment is you are free to say what you wish, but you are responsible for what you say. The popular example is shouting fire in a crowded theater when there is no...Continue Reading
In 2008, 6 million Americans didn’t vote because they missed a registration deadline or didn’t know how to register. In 2013, we want to make sure no one is left out. On September 24, 2013, volunteers, celebrities, and organizations from all over the country will “hit the streets” for National Voter Registration Day. This single...Continue Reading
Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May. This federal holiday was formally known as “Decoration Day” and commemorates all men and women, who have died in military service for the United States. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on Memorial Day and it is traditionally seen as the start of the summer...Continue Reading
All this fuss about the Second Amendment and do we really know the genesis of this contentious amendment? The Second Amendment was ratified on December 15, 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights which, in itself, became part of a much debated part of the Constitution. This one particular amendment’s language was altered several times...Continue Reading
Well there you have it. Ninety percent of the people in this country have told Congress that it is time to do something about background checks on buyers of guns. So what difference did that make to the people we send to represent us? Obviously not very much. The Senate has decided that what the...Continue Reading
Recently the League of Women Voters has seen some discussions about our nonpartisan status, so we wanted to take the opportunity to explain exactly what that means. We NEVER endorse or support political parties or candidates, but we DO take positions on key policy issues. Our membership carefully weighs and deliberates a number of stances...Continue Reading
WHO CAN VOTE? To register you must: be a U.S. citizen, be 18 years old by December 31 of the year in which you file the voter registration form, be 18 years old by the date of the general, primary or other election in which you want to vote, not be in jail or on...Continue Reading
On October 10th, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the case of Fisher v. Austin on whether prior Supreme Court decisions on racial equality, including the latest college admissions decision in 2003, permit the University of Texas to use race in the selection of its freshman classes.Continue Reading
The fate of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) now lies with the Supreme Court. For the second time in as many months, the justices are hearing arguments on vital legislation that has encouraged active participation in our democracy for nearly two decades. The League of Women Voters of Arizona is a plaintiff in the...Continue Reading
