The mission of the nonpartisan League of Women Voters has been singular and unwavering for more than 100 years: to uphold and protect our democratic system, and to ensure the right of every American to vote. Upholding our cherished democratic system means preserving our Founding Fathers’ genius invention, consisting of three co-equal branches of government regulated by a system of checks and balances. This system of government has persisted for nearly 250 years, and has resulted in the most productive society in the history of the world.
Many Americans expected change and some upheaval when Donald Trump began his second term as president. Each new president will of course attempt to shape the country into his or her vision of what it should be, and candidate Trump was very clear about his intentions to do things differently. Change is what the voters wanted and change was the reason he was voted back into the White House.
We at the League of Women Voters respect the voters’ decision in 2024. However, as an organization whose mission is the preservation of our democratic system, we believe that many of the new administration’s aggressive actions are indeed threats to the democracy we cherish. While many of the changes Mr. Trump wants could have been done through the legislative process, respecting the system of checks and balances, instead the administration has chosen to unilaterally begin dismantling our governmental institutions and norms through executive orders. This shock-and-awe approach has been quick, but ignores the rule of law. This leaves only the judicial system between our democracy and an autocracy.
This is not some far-off threat. The administration’s actions are impacting us locally. Grant applications have been frozen and funding has been cut to local nonprofit organizations. Eleven U.S. Forest Service employees from the Yuba River district have been laid off just as we head into fire season. Severe spending cuts are proposed to Medicaid, received by approximately 30,000 people in Nevada County. Food assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, received by about 12 percent of Nevada County families, are also threatened with cuts.
In response to one of the latest executive orders, “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” Celina Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of the League of Women Voters of the United States said: “Let’s keep it real: this order is not about protecting elections; it is about making it harder for voters — particularly women voters — to participate in them. … This executive order is an assault on our republic and a dangerous attempt to silence American voters. The President continues to overstep his authority and brazenly disregard settled law in this country. To be very clear — the League of Women Voters is prepared to fight back and defend our democracy.”
LWV Nevada County will do all we can right here in our community to defend our democracy, and in particular to ensure that voting rights are protected. As a show of strength and solidarity, we will join the Hands Off Protest being organized by Indivisible Nevada County on April 5 at Brunswick basin, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. We urge all citizens and other organizations to join us. Our community is strong. Let’s band together to defend and protect it.
Our sign will say “Hands Off Our Voting Rights.” What will your signs say?
Lynn Forbes and Jan Bedayn are co-presidents of the League of Women Voters of Nevada County, a nonpartisan, grassroots, non-profit organization. The League neither supports nor opposes any political party or candidate for public office and is dedicated to encouraging informed voting and active participation in government. To learn more go to www.lwvnevadacounty.org or email president@lwvnevadacounty.org.