July 2026

We’re still enjoying the afterglow of the LWVUS Convention, where important business was accomplished, meaningful connections were made with League members from across the country, and we witnessed firsthand the passion and commitment that define our organization. We also gained a deeper appreciation for Robert’s Rules of Order and parliamentary procedure. And the cherry on top: our fellow Illinoisan, Sania Irwin, was elected president of LWVUS!

As we enthusiastically prepare for the fall legislative session and the upcoming election cycle, we wanted to share some convention updates with you because they will have an impact on League positions and our priorities in the months ahead.

In League,

Your LWVIL Issues & Advocacy Committee

issues@lwvil.org

LWVUS President Dianna Wynn Opens Convention with a Call to Action

By Donna Limper (LWV Roselle-Bloomington Area)

League of Women Voters of the United States President Dianna Wynn opened the convention with a powerful address, stating that the nation is facing what the League has declared to be a constitutional crisis, with all three branches of government failing to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities.

Despite these challenges, Wynn emphasized the League's growing strength, influence, and impact. She highlighted several significant accomplishments, including filing a lawsuit against the President of the United States; issuing 129 joint statements and 239 press releases; hosting more than 3,000 candidate forums; generating nearly 400,000 letters to the editor; participating in 136 state and federal lawsuits; and earning more than 118,000 media mentions.

Wynn reminded attendees that the League's greatest strength lies in its grassroots network of members and local Leagues across the country. She closed with a call to action, describing this as "a defining moment" and reaffirming the League's unwavering commitment to protecting democratic institutions: "We are not bending to authoritarianism. We are defending our democracy."

ISSUES

Delegates Consider and Pass Resolutions on Democracy and Civil Rights

By Donna Limper (LWV Roselle-Bloomington Area)

Convention delegates reviewed and voted on a series of resolutions addressing many of the nation's most pressing civic issues. The proposals reflected the League's ongoing commitment to protecting democracy, advancing civil rights, and responding to emerging public policy challenges.

Among the resolutions considered were support for a nonpartisan civil service, submitted by the Louisiana League; statehood for Washington, D.C., proposed by the D.C. League; an Illinois League resolution declaring that the nation is facing a constitutional crisis and calling on Congress to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities; and a second Illinois resolution supporting the National Popular Vote initiative. Delegates also considered resolutions addressing the growing use of warrantless surveillance technology and strengthening efforts to combat human trafficking.

Together, these resolutions underscored the League's member-driven approach to addressing critical issues and reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding democratic institutions, protecting individual rights, and promoting good governance.

League Actions on Immigration

By Kim Reed (LWV Glen Ellyn)

Convention delegates overwhelmingly approved the League of Women Voters of Washington's concurrence on the Rights of Immigrants, a recommended item at the convention. As a result, state and local Leagues may now use this national position to strengthen their advocacy on behalf of immigrants in their communities. Check out the LWVUS immigration advocacy toolkit for more.

Just days after the convention, on June 30, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Trump v. Barbara., a case challenging birthright citizenship.The Court did not overturn the Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee of birthright citizenship, affirming that children born on U.S. soil to undocumented or temporary-visiting parents are citizens at birth. Further, in a 6–3 decision, it limited the ability of lower federal courts to issue nationwide injunctions while allowing existing protections for those covered by the current injunctions to remain in place as the litigation continues.

In response to the ruling, LWVUS issued a press release: Birthright Citizenship Ruling Is a Critical Win — And a Warning We Cannot Ignore.

Also on June 30, LWVIL President Becky Simon joined four other LWVIL members in a press conference organized by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). As a coalition member of ICIRR, LWVIL stood alongside community partners to reaffirm its commitment to protecting the rights of immigrants and defending birthright citizenship.

Human Trafficking Is a Democracy Issue

By Jane Ruby (LWV Chicago) & Sarah Warner (LWV Berrien and Cass Counties), LWVUS Representatives to the United Nations

One of the resolutions adopted at the convention reaffirmed that human trafficking is a violation of human dignity.

When people hear the term human trafficking, they often think of something distant, hidden, or too overwhelming for a civic organization to address. Yet human trafficking exists in every state—in cities and rural communities, in workplaces, homes, supply chains, and online spaces. It is not a distant problem; it is a local one.

That is why the League of Women Voters of the Bay Colony's (LWVBCC) resolution on human trafficking was so important. Since 2014, LWVUS has maintained a national position opposing all forms of human trafficking—including sex and labor trafficking involving adults and children, both domestically and internationally. Rather than establishing a new position or initiating another study, the resolution reaffirmed the League's longstanding commitment and called on members to incorporate that commitment into the work the League already does so well: educating the public, engaging voters, defending individual rights, and protecting democratic participation.

For League advocacy, this resolution offers both a practical and powerful framework. It recognizes that combating human trafficking is inseparable from protecting human dignity and strengthening democracy. Those most vulnerable to exploitation are often the same individuals whose voices are least likely to be heard and whom democracy most often fails to protect.

The resolution also highlights an important but often overlooked resource: Address Confidentiality Programs (ACPs). These state programs allow survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking to use a substitute address for public records—including voter registration—helping protect their identity and location while preserving their right to vote. The resolution encourages Leagues to learn about these programs and incorporate training about them into voter education and outreach efforts, ensuring that survivors can safely participate in our democracy.

ADVOCACY

Supreme Court Ruling on Mail-In Ballots

In a 5-4 decision on June 29, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Mississippi’s law allowing mail ballots postmarked by Election Day and received up to five days later to be counted. This ruling protects the Illinois Vote by Mail process of counting ballots if received within two weeks of Election Day. 

ABC7 News in Chicago and WCIA3 in Champaign both interviewed Barbara Kwiatkowsky, LWVIL Vice President of Issues & Advocacy, for the League’s reaction to this ruling.

Letters & Endorsements

LWVIL has signed on to letters endorsing the following initiatives: 

• Opposition to HUD recession of Equal Access Rule (EAR)
• Opposition to EPA coal ash rule rollback
• Calling on Congress to strengthen pipeline safety protection