| Empowering voters. Defending democracy.
| | Get active in a Unit or Committee - or both! : ) GiveBIG! Tune in to informative webinars! Tell Congress to stand up for our democracy and more! Further your engagement and register for LWVWA Council and LWVUS Convention! | Rise to Leadership with LWVSKC!
You can rise with LWVSKC! Watch this video! We have extended the application deadline to May 10 for the following roles:
- Communications Director: This role coordinates the LWVSKC's communications, including the weekly email, The Voter monthly newsletter, our Because of You! bi-annual report, LWVSKC's website and social media. This can also be a shared role.
- Advocacy Chair or Co-Chairs: LWVSKC's advocacy work supports the "Defending Democracy" part of League's mission and is based on long held League positions.
- Unit Liaison Co-Chair: The Unit Liaison Co-Chairs coordinate communications amongst all the LWVSKC Units.
| Your Chance to GiveBIG!
GiveBIG is an annual statewide fundraising campaign where individuals and organizations come together across Washington to invest in our communities. When we give, we take a proactive step towards creating the society we want to live in. The League of Women Voters of Seattle King County (LWVSKC) is asking you to Give Big to empower voters and defend democracy now! | Spring Symposium: Pacific Northwest Immigration Enforcement Trends and Community Responses
Register and join in - featuring Univ of WA Center for Human Right’s Immigrant Rights Observatory research on Pacific Northwest immigration enforcement trends and how communities are responding to today’s heightened enforcement and changing tactics.
University of Washington Center for Human Rights Spring Symposium
Thursday, May 14, 2026
5:00 - 6:00 pm | Reception
6:00 - 7:30 pm | Main program
Kane Hall, Room 225
Free and open to the public, join us in person or online live-stream. Register here. | Candidate Filing Kicks Off This Week!
There are 100 offices up for election, everything from congressional seats to state legislative offices to county elected positions and many, many judicial races. You can find a full list of offices here. Candidates can file online as of Monday, May 4 at 8 a.m. until Friday, May 8 at 5 p.m. | Making A Plan For Voter Engagement in A Midterm Year
Midterms shape national and local decisions that affect daily life. Their outcomes determine: who controls Congress and how laws and oversight are handled; as well as state and local decisions on schools, healthcare, housing, transportation and public safety. Turnout is typically lower than in presidential elections, which means small margins can shift political power significantly. Watch this video to get ideas for your Unit to engage voters in your community. | SCOTUS Dismantles the Bedrock of Civil Rights Law
The LWVWA and the LWVSKC joins with the LWVUS and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights in condemning the Supreme Court’s action last Wednesday that effectively guts a provision of the landmark Voting Rights Act that prevents racial discrimination.
In rendering Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act ineffective, the court has removed the most important tool of the 1965 civil rights law that ensured Black voters and other voters of color had equal opportunity in redistricting and elections. This ruling has opened a path to significant changes in representation.
The League and its members reject racial discrimination and we will fight with great fervor for a multi-racial democracy in which all of us have an equal voice. Moreover, the League has long opposed redistricting for partisan gain and believes redistricting should represent the needs of communities. Finally, as it has for more than 106 years, the League remains dedicated to empowering everyone to participate fully in our democracy.
| Get caught up on the SAVE act:
Between 1985 and 2025 there have been just 0.000008% instances of voter fraud - 1,620 of 1.3 billion votes cast in presidential elections over that period (Heritage Foundation).
Understand The SAVE Act
Watch this LWVUS webinar on what you need to know about the SAVE Act and similar acts here.
| LWV Guidance For Events: Why we are joining demonstrations; safety tips for participation and being nonpartisan at events:
| Unite and Rise
Unite and Rise 8.5 aims to build a movement of 8.5 million individuals to fight back against the anti-democratic actions of the current administration. The number 8.5 million is the estimated number of voters it would take to bring about change through nonviolent protest. This is based on findings from the Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights: “Nonviolent protests are twice as likely to succeed as armed conflicts...and those engaging a threshold of 3.5% of the population have never failed to bring about change.” According to the Univ of Florida, approximately 245 million Americans were eligible to vote in the 2024 general election. According to the above research, if 3.5% of these eligible voters — 8,575,000 people — engage in nonviolent protests, we will bring about meaningful change. Unite and Rise 8.5 includes:
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Legal & Policy Advocacy: Challenge unconstitutional actions through litigation, advocate for electoral integrity reforms at state and federal levels, fight voter suppression, and protect due process.
- Public Mobilization & Coalition Building: Turn out millions for quick activations and longer-planned activist campaigns, uplift local voices, and partner with grassroots, national, and international organizations
- Civic Education & Engagement: Launch large-scale public awareness campaigns, expand voter registration and turnout efforts, host educational forums, connect policy to real-life impact, and equip people with tools to act
- Democracy Resilience: Build lasting infrastructure to protect democratic values and institutions for the long haul
Every 90 days LWVUS introduces a new power playbook that focuses on what local Leagues can do to Unite and Rise 8.5.
Starting Now! Playbook 5, May - July 2026, centers a nationwide Day of Action on August 8! More information coming soon!
Playbook 1, May - July 2025 focused on Shifting Power Narratives and invited us to reframe how we talk about democracy, moving away from fear toward possibility.
Playbook 2, Aug - Oct 2025 focused on Holding Power Accountable.
Playbook 3, Nov 2025 - Jan 2026 focused on Building Power Through Partnerships.
Playbook 4, Feb - April 2026, focused on Deepening Electoral Power.
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How do You contact your members of Congress?
| | League Events and Activity | | On May 7, the LWVSKC is partnering with El Centro de la Raza to share information on the SAVE Act to be presented by Congressman Adam Smith. Register here for the Zoom link. |  | NEW LWVSKC UNIT IN WALLINGFORD/RAVENNA
Exciting news for Wallingford and Ravenna neighbors! The LWVSKC is launching a new local unit in our area, and we'd love for you to be part of it from the very beginning. Join us for our first meeting on Monday, May 19 from 6–7:30 pm at University Heights Center (5031 University Way NE). We'll spend the evening getting to know one another and exploring the many ways to get involved — from voter education and outreach to advocacy and action on the issues that are important to you. RSVP to Deb Carstens at deb.carstens@gmail.com if you're able to attend and/or if you'd like to be added to our mailing list. Whether you're a longtime League member or brand new to the LWVSKC, all are welcome, whether you live in the neighborhood or not. Come find your community and help us empower voters and defend democracy. | This Thursday: Digital Democracy:
Media Literacy for Democratic Participation Today - Part 3
This LWVUS webinar series will help League members understand how and why online civic information spreads, recognize emerging digital actors and tools that shape public opinion and build confidence in evaluating information without needing to be technical experts. May 7, 12:30pm. Register here. | LWV DEI Foundations May 14, 11am
This introductory session builds a shared understanding of key Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) concepts used across our League, particularly those related to racial equity. Register here. | LWVUS April Democracy Integrity Report
Here you can find LWVUS's April Democracy Integrity report. May's briefing will be on Tuesday, May 12 at 12:30 pm. | LWV's Collective Impact!
Check out this LWV factsheet featuring aggregate data from Leagues across the county. And view LWVSKC's factsheet too! You are making an impact! | |
Recap of the WA State Legislative Session - focus on environmental issues
LWVWA Advocacy Team Chair Martin Gibbins, hosted a very informative meeting. Unfortunately, it wasn't video taped but you can read his slide presentation here. | June 14 - Defend Democracy Events
Mark your calendar to participate in a June 14 event near year to defend democracy. Look for updates coming soon on links to events you can register for or possibly table at a local event. | LWVWA Council June 6 - 7
Register here for LWVWA's Council to be held at South Puget Sound Community College’s Lacey Campus, located at 4220 6th Ave SE, Lacey, WA from 10 am June 6 - noon on June 7. Please let Barb Tengtio at president@lwvskc.org know if you plan to attend. | LWVSKC Annual Meeting!
Mark your calendar for Thursday, June 18 at 6pm to join the LWVSKC annual meeting. You will get an update on the past year, vote on the 2026-27 Board, 2026-27 Budget and a small update to the LWVSKC Bylaws, and hear about this year's LWVSKC award winners! Zoom link to follow. Also, in preparation for the meeting, please review the two changes to the bylaws (highlighted in yellow) found here. | Register Now For LWVUS Convention
| Unit Meetings
West Seattle Unit - 5/12/2026
Committee Meetings
LWVSKC Board Meeting, Saturday, May 16, 10 - 12:00 p.m.
All League members are welcome and encouraged to zoom in!
Join on Zoom
Meeting ID: 837 0399 7986
Passcode: 271130
| Thank you to Cathy Dormaier, Sande Nelson, Ann Anderson, Dianne Benigno and Linda Stevens of the Enumclaw Unit for registering future voters at the Enumclaw High School on April 29.
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Thank you to LWVSKC members Maris Olsen, Evelyn Strawn, Keela Williams, Allison Feher and Connie Foster, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority members Victoria Romero, Nebea, and Jasmine, current president of the local chapter, for their voter outreach at the Washington Women in Trades Fair.
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Thank you to Victoria Kutasz, Kim Dines, Molly Zaccardi, Catherine Kernan, Denise Breyley, Wendy Livesley, Judy Deiro, Michael Knapp, Sue Renhard, and Phillippa Kassover for organizing this past weekend's reading of the Constitution and a big shout out to all the LWVSKC readers!
| League of Women Voters of Seattle King County
1511 3rd Avenue, Suite 801
Seattle, WA 98101
Email: info@lwvskc.org
Phone: (206) 329-4848
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