League of Women Voters of Ventura County (LWVVC), a nonpartisan political organization, was represented by Betsy Patterson, President, Pat Butler, Membership Director, and Matty Park, Director at Large, at the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) 53rd National Convention held June 28 – July 1 in Chicago, IL. More than 1,000 League leaders from 49 states and the District of Columbia attended leadership workshops and heard from guest speakers about League priorities.
Founded in Chicago in 1920, the League of Women Voters is active in all 50 states with more than 750 chapters across the country.
“Convention was an incredible opportunity to connect with and learn from League leaders who are actively working in their communities to empower voters and defend democracy,” said Betsy Patterson.
The Convention kicked off with A Conversation on Redistricting where attendees heard from Ruth Greenwood and Nick Stephanopoulos. Greenwood served on the legal team for the plaintiffs in the United States Supreme Court case Gill v. Whitford which the Court remanded back to the lower courts.
Over the four-day Convention, delegates voted on the priorities that the national organization should focus on for the next biennium. The Campaign for Making Democracy Work® includes ensuring a free, fair, and accessible electoral system for all eligible voters by focusing on Voting Rights, Improving Elections, and advocacy for the National Popular Vote Compact, Campaign Finance/Money in Politics, and Redistricting.
The final night of Convention, attendees heard from Elaine Weiss, author of the Women’s Hour at a banquet where Leagues were recognized with awards for their work on Strengthening Democracy .
“Hearing Elaine Weiss recount the final push for women’s suffrage in this country reminded me how important the League of Women Voters is to this day,” said Pat Butler. “The number of women in elected offices does not reflect the demographic makeup of women in our communities. This is an important midterm election year and the League is committed to making sure the voters in California continue to have the resources they need to participate in November.”
About League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Membership in the League is open to men and women of all ages. With more than 93 years of experience and almost 800 local and state affiliates, the League is one of America’s most trusted grassroots organizations.
Contact: Betsy Patterson Tel: 805-798-4685
Email: [email protected]
