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MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK
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.
The League of Women Voters of Marquette County affirms its belief and commitment to diversity and pluralism. We recognize that diverse perspectives are important and necessary for responsible and representative decision making, and we subscribe to the belief that diversity and pluralism are fundamental to the values it upholds. Inclusiveness enhances the organization’s ability to respond more effectively to changing conditions and needs. Read the League of Women Voters of Michigan Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy here. Definitions of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as they apply to the League’s policy can be found here.
Latest News & Events
Important Election News
General Election Nov. 2020 Results will be posted at the Marquette County Website
Not sure who your clerk is, or where their office is? Find your clerk: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index/#yourclerk
Marquette City Commission Candidate Forum Recording Available
The Marquette County League held a Candidate Forum for the Marquette City Commission on September 30th. The six candidates running for the three open seats on the Marquette City Commission participated: Margaret Brumm, Jessica Hanley, Cody Mayer, Mike Plourde, Paul Schloegel, and Fred Stonehouse. The forum included opening statements from each of the candidates, questions submitted in advance by community members, and closing statements by the candidates. The moderator for the event was our League member, Jo Foley. Due to the continuing need for safe social distancing because of COVID-19 the forum was conducted virtually and recorded for viewing by the public. The League offers this opportunity for the citizens of the city of Marquette to become acquainted with the candidates and their views in order to promote an informed vote on Election Day, November 3rd. The League of Women Voters of Marquette thanks the candidates for participating in the forum.
A Marquette County Sheriff Candidate Forum was held October 8th, by the League of Women Voters of Marquette County. The recording for the forum is now available to the public. There are two candidates running for Marquette County Sheriff: Joseph Kozub and Gregory Zyburt. Both candidates were invited to participate. Candidate Kozub did not participate in the forum. The Marquette County Sheriff’s Candidate Forum follows the format established by the League of Women Voters of Marquette County including the League’s “empty chair forum policy” which allows the League to proceed with a forum with only one candidate when one of the candidates does not respond or accept an invitation to the forum, or when a candidate accepts but does not appear at the forum. For more information on the League’s empty chair forum policy visit lwvmi.org.
2020 LWV OF MI NONPARTISAN VOTER GUIDE
Native Americans and Voting Rights Shirley Brozzo, retired Director of the NMU Multicultural Education and Resource Center and member of the Keweenaw Bay Tribe of Chippewa Indians, recently gave a presentation to the League of Women Voters of Marquette County, entitled Native American Voting Rights, History, Challenges and Potential Solutions. Ms. Brozzo gave a historical perspective of the decades-long process involved in gaining the right to vote for Native Americans. She noted that her own father was four years old when the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act was passed that finally “made Native Americans citizens in our own country”. She discussed the many obstacles, such as poll taxes, literacy tests, and intimidation that kept Native Americas from exercising their right to vote even after citizenship was granted. This topic is particularly timely in that many of the barriers for Native Americans to actually participate in voting still exist today and apply to many other underrepresented groups as well. With permission from Ms. Brozzo the Marquette County League is making the presentation available for the community to view. The LWV of Marquette County’s interest and efforts in helping to encourage voting and improve access to voting is supported by the National League of Women Voters Public Policy Position on voting rights that asserts that “voting is a fundamental citizen right that must be guaranteed”.
Read the Voter Newsletter
Jo Foley and Barb Chapman, joined with the Superior Alliance for Independent Living to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the American With Disabilities Act. They participated on a panel covering accessibility issues and voting. Watch “Your Right to Vote”
League of Women Voters of Marquette County urges voters to prepare for elections using VOTE411.org The site features information on state and federal candidates and ballot proposals and Marquette county, city and township races and proposals.
Prepare for the upcoming Nov. 3 general election by visiting VOTE411.org. The website, which the national League of Women Voters launched in 2006, serves as a “one-stop-shop” for nonpartisan election related information. Candidate information and responses to relevant questions are also included. VOTE411.org also assists voters in finding their polling places, hours and learning about candidate forums. Additional resources for how to navigate elections during the COVID-19 pandemic are included.
Darlene Allen, the local League of Women Voter’s President said, “Our VOTE411 volunteer team has been working diligently to reach out to candidates, particularly those who are in competitive races, to encourage the candidates to answer a set of questions that will provide voters with some information to make their voting choices.” The League team also works closely with Linda Talsma, the Marquette County Clerk, to get accurate information on the local ballot proposals. “We want Marquette County Voters to be informed and vote informed”, said Darlene.
VOTE411.org is also available in Spanish. VOTE411.org, like the League, is nonpartisan and offers information on candidates in races for all political parties. The site aims to safeguard democracy by driving voter engagement.
Download a calendar of our coming events
The League of Women Voters of Marquette County celebrated the centennial of the League of Women Voters at their February membership meeting. Happy 100th Birthday to us. Our local Marquette County League has a goal of reaching the 100 member mark for our centennial year (we are now at 81 and counting). Join us now!
Click the images below to learn about our League projects.
