OP-ED: LWV strengthens democracy with key priorities
I recently met with Antoinette Fitch, President of the League of Women Voters of Washington County (LWV). We each had a slightly different purpose in mind. As a writer, I wanted to tell a story. Fitch wanted to convey as much voting information as possible in the weeks leading up to the all-important midterm elections. Accordingly, I will try and weave together a commentary about the LWV and what voters need to know before mail-in ballots begin arriving in several weeks.
Fitch was born and raised in Peters Township. She attended Edinboro University before settling down on a restored 100-acre farm dating to the 1790s. Prior to becoming president of our local chapter of the LWV, with around 45 members, she dedicated herself to community service. I will now, without hesitation, add Fitch to the list of remarkable women in diverse positions and organizations, that make Washington County such a great place to live and work.
Like many renowned institutions, the LWV is a national organization. It was formed in 1920 by suffragists and designed to help 20 million women exercise their new political rights. Today, its mission is to empower voters and to defend democracy. The organization has chapters at the state and local levels, but never endorses or opposes political parties or candidates.
The core purposes of the LWV have been described as encouraging voter participation; increasing public knowledge and understanding of candidates running for office, supporting public policy that protects the right to vote. Fitch echoed these objectives at the local level. “Our goal is to make sure that every voter is educated and prepared to exercise their right to vote. We accept all voices and opinions.”
In connection with its public policy mandate, the national LWV has taken a strong position in supporting voters’ rights. The website proclaims, “The League has expanded our vision of a more inclusive democracy where all Americans, regardless of gender, sex, race, ability, or party can see themselves represented in our government. We bring an antiracist, social justice lens to the issues of expanding voter access, fighting voter suppression, money in politics, redistricting, and safe and fair elections.”
The national LWV has published the following statement on voter ID laws. “Time and time again, voter photo ID laws are proven to be ineffective tools to fight voter fraud — in the rare instances it does take place. While voter photo ID laws aim to prevent in-person voter impersonation, an almost non-existent form of voter fraud, other types of voter impersonation are similarly rare and not cause for significant concern.”
Fitch echoed this position on voter ID by reminding me that “The conservative Heritage Foundation identified only about 100 such cases over the last quarter-century.”
Fitch pointed out that LWV utilizes nonpartisan voter engagement tools, such as vote411.org, to help citizens check their registration status, review voting plans, and access sample ballot information. She also explained that Pennsylvania has an excellent voting information resource at the vote.pa.gov website. This state resource is a comprehensive hub for voter registration and election information available in multiple languages.
The PA site provides voter registration services (where a voter’s status can be verified). It explains all voting methods and logistics. Lastly, the site connects users directly to the contact portals, phone numbers, and physical addresses of specific county-level election boards.
Fitch and her LWV members will be very busy between now and November. First, they recently helped celebrate 27 people from 21 countries become U.S. citizens at the Washington courthouse and assisted them in registering to vote. Second, the organization is preparing a “Voter’s Guide” that will be published in this newspaper in mid-October. Third, they are working with the NAACP and students from the Washington School District to present a midterm candidate’s forum that is open to the public. It will be held in the gymnasium at Washington High School on Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m.
Our local LWV has prepared a comprehensive fact sheet that prepares eligible residents to vote on Nov. 3. Fitch asked me to emphasize that Oct. 19 is the last day to register to vote.
Fitch is very down to earth when it comes to potential problems in the upcoming elections. She urges residents to “keep it simple” and to avoid social media confusion. She does not want local voters discouraged from voting because of all the “noise” surrounding redistricting, mail-in ballots, and claims of “rigged elections.” She encourages those who plan to vote by mail to “apply early, return ballots promptly, and to carefully follow the instructions.” The only election issue that keeps her up at night is “voter apathy.”
The local organization is “sensitive to the unique nature of Washington County.” She is most proud of the local LWV initiative that offers outreach programs in area high schools. League volunteers work with faculty advisers in helping students to plan and host forums for school board candidates. The program is an effective tool in highlighting the importance of school boards and the impact of the members’ decisions. Moreover, it educates and involves students in local government.
Fitch gives high praise to our local and state election officials who always “see through the fog” of lawsuits and other challenges, to provide a seamless election process. She wants to remind voters that “every election is important.”