Hands Off Our Voting Rights
- deborahshefler
- Apr 2
- 2 min read
Edited by Deborah Shefler, based on letter by Lynn Forbes and Jan Bedayn, co-presidents of the Nevada County League.
The mission of the nonpartisan League of Women Voters has been unwavering for more than 100 years: to uphold and protect our democratic system, and to ensure the right of every American to vote. Upholding our cherished democratic system means preserving our Founding Fathers’ genius invention of three co-equal branches of government regulated by a system of checks and balances. Our system has persisted for nearly 250 years. It has produced the most productive society in the history of the world.
Many Americans expected change and some upheaval when Donald Trump began his second term as president. Each new president attempts to shape the country. Candidate Trump was clear about his intentions to do things differently. Change is what the voters wanted and change was the reason they voted him back into the White House.
We at the League respect the voters’ decision. However, as an organization whose mission is the preservation of our democratic system, we believe that many of the new administration’s aggressive actions are threats to the democracy we cherish. President Trump could have sought change through the legislative process, respecting the system of checks and balances and the rule of law. Instead, the administration has chosen unilaterally to dismantle many of our governmental institutions and norms through executive orders. This "shock and awe" approach to governance ignores the rule of law. It leaves only the judicial system standing between democracy and autocracy.
This is not some far-off or theoretical threat. The administration’s actions are impacting us locally. Grants have been frozen or curtailed and federal funding has been cut or threatened to local nonprofit organizations and universities. Severe spending cuts are proposed to Medicaid (MediCal), received by almost 25% of Oaklanders. Also threatened are food assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, received by about 38% of Oakland families with children. In response to one of the latest executive orders, “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” Celina Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of the national League, said:
"Let’s keep it real: This order is not about protecting elections; it is about making it harder for voters — particularly women voters — to participate in them. … This executive order is an assault on our republic and a dangerous attempt to silence American voters. The President continues to overstep his authority and brazenly disregard settled law in this country. To be very clear — the League of Women Voters is prepared to fight back and defend our democracy." See also.
LWVO will do all we can right here in our community to defend our democracy, and in particular to protect voting rights. As a show of strength and solidarity, we are joining the Hands Off Protest on April 5 at Frank Ogawa Plaza, 1-3 p.m. We urge all citizens and other organizations to join us. Our community is strong. Let's band together to defend and protect it.