By League of Women Voters Benicia

Feb. 14 is not just Valentine’s Day. It’s the birthday of the national League of Women Voters! Suffragette Carrie Chapman Catt started the League on that day in 1920. She was instrumental in getting the 19th Amendment passed, which gave women in the United States the right to vote.
During those 97 years, the League of Women Voters has grown to hundreds of chapters in every state in the union. There is even one right here in Benicia! Our primary work is to protect voting rights, register people to vote, educate and enable voters to get to the polls or vote by mail. This year, the Benicia chapter registered over 650 high school seniors countywide.
Since we first started protesting for voting rights for women, we have come a long way, but there is far to go. Not only do women need the right to vote, we need to have more representation in government. It’s hard to realize that in the entire history of Congress, only 307 women have served. A woman was not elected to the U.S. Senate until 1978. Today, we have the largest number ever: 21, including both senators from California.
The LWV US and LWV California have developed positons on many issues and advocate to fight discrimination and any threats to civil and human rights. Currently, they are opposed to both the deportation of undocumented immigrants and discrimination based on religion, including orders or actions that target Muslims. The LWV US also states that the group is against the recent termination of the federal Election Assistance Commission, the only federal agency devoted exclusively to improving election administration on a bi-partisan basis. The national League is against the repeal of the Affordable Care Act without a replacement plan developed first and will be actively lobbying for that.
Our local League continues to educate voters and provides opportunities to engage with our government. LWV Benicia will be hosting its 12th Annual Meet Your Local Officials, Friday night, Feb. 17, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Commandant’s Residence. We will provide free libations and the opportunity to meet and talk with city and county officials, and staff of our state senator and assemblyman, as well as staff from U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson’s office. Come join us!
The following Wednesday, the League, AAUW and the California State Maritime Academy are cohosting Women in Leadership, an event that features a panel of successful women in government, business, and nonprofits. Come learn how’s it done!
Help wish the LWV happy birthday at one of our functions this month. You can even bring your Valentine along! For more information about the League, go to www.lwvbenicia.org.

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