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.

Latest News & Events

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.

Apply to vote from home TODAY!

Starting Aug. 21st, you can request your absentee ballot for the November 3^rd general election. 

Not sure who your clerk is, or where their office is? Find your clerk:  https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index/#yourclerk

Potential delays with the postal service mean that it may take longer for your absentee ballot to reach you. Ballots will be available beginning September 24^th. To ensure that your absentee ballot reaches you in a timely matter, apply NOW!

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”.

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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.

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