I admire the League of Women Voters. I've known so many women who have worked with this group that it's hard to pinpoint the one who queued me into it first, though likely it was Barb Herzog. After I graduated from college and came home to start my adult life, I quickly became aware of their work in community. This last week in The Herald I was reminded again of their presence.
This one little reminder on page 5 is important. The LWV is working to lower the barriers to entry for anyone wishing to participate in local democracy. They do this in a myriad of ways from educating the electorate on how and where to vote, providing balanced coverage of candidates, and demystifying the process of becoming a candidate.
You see, it's no surprise that there are hoops to jump through for running for an election. You might even say that enough people are discouraged from running because of the technicality of paperwork required to get on the ballot, and the verbiage used therein. I'm not writing this to debate the merits of the nomination and declaration paperwork process though, so let's get back to the League.
In the article, they site their local chapter website and the tools found there for running. While the QR code is unnecessarily cumbersome (i.e. how do you scan it and access the pdf if you're viewing it on mobile like 75+% of us are) once you get through that the thought behind the information is good. The checklist that they provide, and the information that it contains, is a streamlined version of this nearly 40-page document that the Wisconsin Election Commission provides. Go ahead and take a look. Read up on all of the rules and regulations that candidates must follow for nomination papers, declaration forms, campaign finance, etc. Does it make you feel intimidated? As a candidate, I know that if I needed guidance then the LWV would be there to help me, or at least point me in the right direction.
I admire the LWV and the work that they do. One significant reason is that they are inherently a nonpartisan organization. If you've read my platform points, then you know how important nonpartisanship is to me for local elections. I welcome any correspondence from the League and their representatives. It would be an honor to be interviewed, and if the time comes then I will absolutely accept an invitation to any debate or candidate forum. I support this kind of advocacy for participation in democracy. THANK YOU to everyone who serves with the League of Women Voters.
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