About:

 

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan-nonprofit, membership-organization encouraging people to take an informed and active part in government.

 

“We encourage participation in government at all levels,” said Tracy Nash, the Co-President of The League of Women Voters. “We try to bring education to our public.”

 

The group began in the 1920s, during the women’s suffrage movement and the introduction of the 19th amendment. Specifically, The League of Women Voters in Guilford County began in the 1980s and then added the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County chapter to their league in 1999. Since then, the group became known as The League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Triad.

 

The League has roundtables that tackle specific political issues, including the environment, fair elections, immigration, public education and social justice. Each group educates themselves on the specific political issue and comes to a consensus.

 

In 2016, the League of Women Voters registered 4,000 new voters in the Triad. Many of those registered were high school or college students, while the rest were made up of underrepresented communities.

 

Another successful event hosted by the League took place in January 2017, when a roundtable held an event at UNCG on redistricting reform. Over 400 people came to the event, with Tom Ross as the speaker and facilitator, while two retired supreme court justices were in attendance. A simulation was created in which 10 people played justices and acted out how simple it would be to work in a nonpartisan manner.

 

There is a monthly meeting with the League hosted by a roundtable, “to educate people so they understand their legislature and speak out,” Nash said.

 

The League is always looking for new members and volunteers.

 

New members must be 16 or older and are not required to be a citizen. As a reminder, men can join the League as well.

 

Volunteers are always needed to register voters and to plan and execute educational events.

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For more information, go to the League of Women Voters' website listed above.