A Perspective for WNIJ, Northern Public Radio by Carol Davies, Chair, LWVGR Voter Services
https://www.northernpublicradio.org/wnij-news/2022-01-17/perspective-empower-voters-defend-democracy
This year the League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford (LWVGR) is celebrating our 100th Anniversary. For 100 years we have been committed to our mission statement: Empowering voters. Defending Democracy. In the spirit of our mission, we cannot be silent about the very real threats to our democracy. Now, more than ever, the threats are homegrown rather than foreign. Now, more than ever, we must use our voices and our actions to defend our democratic process.
The LWVGR condemns the violent actions of January 6,2021 which attempted to subvert democracy by stopping the election certification process. We call out those who would have us believe our voting system is rigged, and we remind voters that, despite repeated challenges, our election system has proven fair and objective. We challenge voter suppression laws because those who seek to suppress the vote attack the very pillar of democracy. We accept that protest and dissent are part of the fabric of our country’s history, but we are appalled by the viciousness and incivility of entrenched partisanship. Democracy does not belong to one party or another; we are one nation.
As a League, we envision a country where elections are free, fair, and accessible to all eligible voters. We will continue to encourage informed and active civic engagement. We will work to increase understanding of major public policy issues.
By what we challenge and by what we promote, the League will continue to empower voters and to defend democracy.