Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Witte.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The League of Women Voters of Minnesota (LWVMN) is one of 50 State Leagues across our country that began after the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which, after a 72-year struggle, finally expanded voting rights for women. The suffragists understood that winning the right to vote was not the end, but rather the beginning of creating a more inclusive democracy where all voices – and all votes – matter. They began with citizenship schools, helping women to learn about government and how to carry out their new responsibilities as voters. They also studied important issues, and through consensus, adopted policy positions to help advocate for expanded rights and services, especially for women and children.
Today, the League of Women Voters remains active in all 50 states, with more than 750 local Leagues and 500,000 members and supporters working together to encourage informed and active participation in government, to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and to influence public policy through education and advocacy. In Minnesota, we have 35 local Leagues working within their communities to uphold our mission as a nonpartisan, grassroots nonprofit dedicated to empowering everyone to participate fully in our democracy. And we are open to membership from all genders.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The League of Women Voters of Minnesota faces many new challenges to our democracy that are calling on us to do more. – Lack of civility among election officials and our society, in general, is making our work within communities more difficult and more divided along party lines.
– Misinformation and lies about the accuracy of our elections are shaking voter confidence, and endangering local election officials.
– Lack of transparency at the state legislature is reducing the power of the people’s voice, with little getting done and only a few legislative leaders making all the decisions.
“More than ever, the League of Women Voters is needed to address these new and pressing concerns within our democracy. We need women and men, of all ages, cultures, and points of view, to join with us to help empower voters and defend democracy in the 2nd Century.” Michelle Witte, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of Minnesota
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
There are many opportunities to make a difference as a member of the 103-year-old League of Women Voters. Here’s what our members can experience as they support the 4 pillars of building an inclusive democracy:
1. NONPARTISANSHIP: LWVMN is proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government, but always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public. We value civic – and civil – engagement, and productive debate between candidates and constituents.
2. EQUITY: LWVMN is fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in practice, which is central to our current and future success in engaging all individuals, households, communities, and policymakers in creating a more perfect democracy.
3. EMPOWERING VOTERS: League members volunteer to support a range of activities within their local communities and at the State level to register, engage and inspire voters, including:
– Attending voter registration & outreach events
– Assisting with candidate forums & debates
– Registering new citizens to vote at Naturalization Ceremonies
– Encouraging participation by candicates and voters in our Vote411 Voter Guide
– Mentoring high school students through our Youth Civic Engagement Fellows Program
4. DEFENDING DEMOCRACY: Our members also participate in education and advocacy to help engage people in our local and state governments and to ensure our democracy works for all people:
– Presenting public education forums
– Engaging in legislative & legal advocacy
– Being at the table for important democratic initiatives such as the census, redistricting, and voting rights
– Working on important issues such as racial justice, and climate change and ensuring free and fair elections
What does success mean to you?
LWVMN envisions a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge and the confidence to participate. And the success of our work was recently recognized by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, where we won the MN Nonprofit Award for Advocacy. The award honored our 2020 Vote from Home initiative, including our voter education campaign and the success of our litigation to waive the witness signature for absentee ballots during the pandemic, which together, truly empowered voters and defended democracy.
“You don’t make progress by sitting on the sidelines and whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.” Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman elected to the US Congress and to seek the nomination of President of the United States.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lwvmn.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lwvminnesota/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LWVMinnesota
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LWVMinnesota
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LWVMinnesota
Image Credits
League of Women Voters of Minnesota
