Introduced on Sept. 13, the Freedom to Vote Act (S2747) improves access to the ballot for Americans, advances commonsense election integrity reforms, and protects our democracy from emerging threats. , This bill includes many provisions of the For the People Act (HR1/S1) but reflects feedback from state and local election officials to ensure that the people responsible for implementing these reforms are able to do so effectively.

This federal legislation also elevates the voices of all Americans by curbing partisan gerrymandering and rooting out the undue influence of special interest money in our politics. Click here for an LWVMO Fact Sheet.

LWVMO will host our annual Fall Conference on Saturday, Nov. 13, at State Fair Community College in Sedalia. The conference will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Our theme for 2021 is Hot Topics! Plans are underway to include the following topics:

Hot Topics in the Past:

• Examine the timeline of voter ID legislation
• Celebrating Missouri’s 200^th Anniversary with a speaker on Women in Missouri History

Hot Topics in the Present:

• Legislative and Congressional Redistricting in MO
• Paid Leave – State Study presentation by LWV KC/Jackson/Clay/Platte Counties
• Intersectionality, Race and the American Story
• Intersection of Rural and Urban Voter Issues
• Local League update on activities

Hot Topics for the Future:

• Report on the MO House Elections Committee legislation for 2022
• How to effectively communicate with legislators

This is a great time to meet League members from all 10 local Leagues. Lunch will be provided for those attending in person. Registration is $25 for in person attendance and $15 for virtual attendance. Click here for the registration form.

For those attending in person, LWV merchandise will be available for purchase!

In-Person Registration ($25)

Zoom Registration ($15)

9/14/2021

WASHINGTON — Today the League of Women Voters of the United States CEO Virginia Kase Solomón issued the following statement in response the US Senate’s introduction of the transformative voting rights bill, the Freedom to Vote Act:   

“The League of Women Voters supports the Freedom to Vote Act, a bill that protects and expands the right to vote, decreases the influence of money in politics, and curbs partisan gerrymandering. 

“The Freedom to Vote Act protects and expands ballot access for millions of Americans, especially those who are often targeted by anti-voter laws — voters of color, voters with disabilities, formerly incarcerated voters, women voters, young voters, and elderly voters. 

“The greatest impediment to voting is not being registered, which is why the League of Women Voters has been a leading advocate for including Same Day Voter Registration in federal voting rights legislation. We are proud to see Same Day Registration in the Freedom to Vote Act, because it protects Americans who fall through the registration cracks and offers an important avenue for more voters to participate. Same Day Registration ensures that the largest number of Americans can exercise their constitutional right to vote. 

“As a nationwide organization leading fair redistricting through our program People Powered Fair Maps™, the League is pleased that the Freedom to Vote Act includes proactive measures to curb gerrymandering. States across the country are already drawing district maps that will impact representation for the next ten years, which is why it is crucial that Congress address the anti-democratic practice of partisan gerrymandering now. Ensuring that communities of interest are not diluted best positions voters to choose their representatives — not the other way around. 

“Automatic voter registration, online voter registration, and early voting provisions in this bill work together to provide Americans with more options to participate in our democracy. 

“The Freedom to Vote Act is the bill the American people want and need to make the promise of democracy real for us all. The League of Women Voters strongly urges every Senator to support this bill.” 

The U.S. Senate is expected to debate voting rights legislation the week of September 13. President Lyndon Johnson signed the original Voting Rights Act in 1965. Republican Presidents Ronald Reagan signed the Voting Rights Act in 1982 and George W. Bush signed its 2006 reauthorization. Click here for a fact sheet on the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act that passed the House in August.

The League is watching for proposed changes to the For the People Act (HR 1/S1) that could attract bipartisan support. The House approved this pro-voter legislation in March.

“The League of Women Voters of Missouri believes every citizen should have a voice in our government,” LWVMO President Marilyn McLeod said in an August 24 House Elections Committee hearing. “We do not see any need for legislation to limit the petition process in Missouri or increase election security. This committee should look for ways to increase voter participation, not limit it.”

Stressing the League’s support for increasing voter turn-out and the security of mail-in ballots used in the 2020 elections, McLeod called on the committee to move to no-excuse absentee ballots. Chair Don Shaul said the state won’t go back to mail-in voting. He asked if the League would support a photo ID requirement for no-excuse absentee ballots. McLeod said the League supports the current voter identification options.

In her testimony, McLeod encouraged the state to use federal money to help county clerks and other election authorities update voting equipment and make it easier for all eligible voters to cast their ballots securely.

“I hope the redistricting commissioners can step back from their party and try to focus on a fair, civil and transparent process that serves the people of Missouri,” LWVMO President Marilyn McLeod said after attending the House Redistricting Commission meeting on Aug. 10. “We are pleased that both commissions agreed to hold six public hearings this fall.”

The House Commission scheduled public hearings Oct. 18 in Springfield, Oct. 19 in Kansas City, and Oct. 21 in St. Louis, Nov. 4 in Jefferson City, Nov. 9 in Cape Girardeau, and Nov. 10 in Kirksville. The Senate Commission plans just three public hearings: Oct. 16 in St. Louis, Oct. 18 in Springfield, and Oct. 19 in Kansas City.

The League is asking for transparency in the process of drawing new House and Senate district maps. Click here or on the People Powered Maps image at right to see the list of commissioners.

The commissions have until Dec. 23 to submit a tentative plan for both chambers with the Secretary of State’s Office and will then have until Jan. 23 to finalize their work. If the bipartisan panels cannot reach an agreement, it goes to a judicial panel.

McLeod explained the redistricting process recently on the “Radio Friends with Paul Pepper” program. Watch the video at https://youtu.be/z0958wB6NNA. Click here for LWVMO’s position or here for an explanation of the difference between redistricting and gerrymandering from the ACLU.

The Missouri Supreme Court just unanimously agreed that Medicaid Expansion is the law of the land, upholding the constitutional amendment voters approved in August 2020 against budget challenges.

“It has been almost a decade since Missouri Health Care for All started fighting to make Medicaid expansion a reality. Today, we are excited to see Missouri cross the finish line and bring health care to 275,000 people,” Drew Noblot and Sarah Willey, Missouri Health Care for All interim co-executive directors said in a statement.

Click here for the full opinion.

Women Power Democracy is the League’s four-pronged approach to building trust in our elections, growing our electorate, creating fair voter access, and ensuring community districting reflects our population. Its components are: 

• Democracy Truth Project: Countering mis- and disinformation in our government and advancing public understanding of the democratic process;
• Expand the Franchise: Increasing voter participation, with a focus on underrepresented populations and low-propensity voters;
• Democracy Defense Fund: Protecting voting rights and advancing a more equitable democracy through advocacy and voter protection efforts; and 
• People Powered Fair Maps™: Leading with advocacy, public education, and organizing to create transparent, people-powered electoral maps and eliminate gerrymandering during 2021 redistricting.