National LWV Convention Adopts Resolution to Abolish Electoral College

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Cindy Heine, Publicity Co-Chair

502-875-6481

kentuckylwv@gmail.com

League of Women Voters of Kentucky Returns from National Convention;

Convention Resolutions Include Abolishing the Electoral College

LANG HOUSE, LOUISVILLE, KY: The League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) conducted its 53rd National Convention on June 28 – July 1 in Chicago, IL. The event kicked off a two-year celebration of the coming 100th anniversary in 2020 of women gaining suffrage and the establishment of the League of Women Voters. More than 1,000 League leaders from 49 states and the District of Columbia attended leadership workshops and heard from guest speakers about League priorities. The League of Women Voters of Kentucky was represented by Wanda Lynch, State President, and Glistine Jones from Hopkinsville, and Mary Jo Rodgers, State Director from Louisville. Joan Lindop, State Director, and Becki Harmon from the Louisville League also attended.

Over the four-day Convention, delegates voted on the national organization’s priorities and resolutions. There were several discussions about the Electoral College system of electing the U.S. President and Vice President. The Convention overwhelming passed a resolution reaffirming the League’s long-held position that the Electoral College should be abolished in favor of a popular vote system.

“There are many reasons why now is the time to eliminate the Electoral College system,” said Wanda Lynch, President of the LWV of Kentucky. “The Electoral College discourages people from voting because they feel their votes do not count, and it magnifies the divisiveness in our country by emphasizing a false blue state/red state divide.” No delegates spoke in opposition to the resolution.

The League of Women Voters first called for an end to the Electoral College in favor of a popular vote system in 1970. The issue received more attention after the 2000 and 2016 Presidential elections, when the winners in the Electoral College lost the popular vote. The League’s position on the Electoral College is just one part of its Campaign for Making Democracy Work®, which includes ensuring a free, fair, and accessible electoral system for all eligible voters.The League of Women Voters of Kentucky is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. To find out more contact the League of Women Voters of Kentucky at kentuckylwv@gmail.com, website: lwvky.org, Facebook: Twitter: @LWVKY.

Full text of Electoral College Resolution:

Whereas: The League of Women Voters of the United States has had a position regarding the selection of the President and Vice-President of the United States since 1970 and this position supports a popular vote system and the abolition of the electoral college system, andWhereas: The 2018-2020 recommended LWVUS program focus is The Campaign for Making Democracy Work®, which includes a free, fair, and accessible electoral system for all eligible voters by focusing on Voting Rights, Improving Elections, Campaign Finance/Money in Politics, and Redistricting, andWhereas: The existing LWVUS position on The Selection of the President is directly related to these topics included in the Campaign for Making Democracy Work®, andWhereas: The method for the selection of the President has become an issue of much public discussion and concern in recent times and has generated interest among the public and among members of the League of Women Voters, andWhereas: The LWVUS reminds us that our adopted national position on the Selection of the President calls for uniform national voting qualifications and procedures at all necessary levels to achieve a consistent nationwide electoral policy and infrastructure and that the abolition of the Electoral College is essential to achieve this standard without delay.Therefore May It Be Resolved That: The 2018 Convention of the League of Women Voters of the United States urgently reaffirms its long-held position that the Electoral College should be abolishedAdopted by the 2018 Biennial Convention of the League of Women Voters of the United States on July 1, 2018, in Chicago, Illinois.

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The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization of women and men who work to educate and involve citizens in government. The League does not support or oppose candidates for office or political parties.