Plans

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Our Agenda

• Foremothers, Suffrage 19th Amendment
• The Descendants LWV
• Why the Electoral Process Matters to YOU
• Some Hot Issues in 2012
• and ACTION!
• Q A

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• A Glimpse Back in Time
• Where are the Women?

• The Constitution and Voting, 1776-1920
• 1848 Seneca Falls, NY Convention
• Before Women Had the Vote
• Not eligible didnt stop these women
• The Woman Question

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• A Glimpse Back in Time
• Where are the Women?

• The Constitution and Voting, 1776-1920
• 1848 Seneca Falls, NY Convention
• Before Women Had the Vote
• Not eligible didnt stop these women
• The Woman Question

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• A Glimpse Back in Time
• Where are the Women?

• The Constitution and Voting, 1776-1920
• 1848 Seneca Falls, NY Convention
• Before Women Had the Vote
• Not eligible didnt stop these women
• The Woman Question

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State Presidents Officers of the National
American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA)
1892
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The women of the 1918 Women's Suffrage movement
fight for future generations right to vote and
run for office. Sacrificing their health,
marriages and the limited amount of freedom they
had, women were imprisoned and force fed after
picketing and hunger-striking against war-time
president, Woodrow Wilson. But they survived to
see the results of their efforts.

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The 19th Amendment The right of citizens of the
United States to vote shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States or by any State on
account of sex.

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• The 19th Amendment
• May 21, 1919 passed by House of
  Representatives,
• 2 wks later by Senate of 66th Congress
• Jun 4, 1919 proposed to State Legislatures
• (passage requires 3/4 (36) of 48 states to
  ratify)
• Aug 18, 1920 TN is 36th state to ratify
• Aug 26, 1920 US Secty of State certifies
  ratification

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• The League of Women Voters (LWV)
• Proud Descendants of the Suffragists
• Formed Feb 14, 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt
• 6 months prior to 19th Amendment passage
• A Mighty Political Experiment" to help
• educate women to become informed voters
• Carrie (1859-1947) served as honorary League
• president for the rest of her life

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• The League of Women Voters (LWV)
• MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK
• National 800 state local Leagues,
• in all 50 states Washington DC,
• Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Hong Kong
• gt 140,000 members supporters
• Original grassroots citizen network,
• consensus of women men members

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• LWV Our Work
• Registering Voters
• Educating Voters
• Improving Elections
• Improving Government
• Other
• Climate, Energy Natural Resources Global
  
• Democracy Health Care Defense
  International Misc

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LWV Taking A Stand

• 1920s Child Labor Laws, a Minimum Wage, Equal
• Opportunity for Women in Govt Industry
• 1930s Anti-corruption, Merit System for Civil
  Service,
• Environmental issues
• 1960s 70s Civil Human Rights Issues
• 1980s Individuals Constitutional Right to
  Make
• Reproductive Choices
• 1990s Civic Education of Women in Emerging
• Democracies, National Voter Registration
  Act
• 2000s Campaign Finance Reform, Health Care
  Reform,
• Effective Gun Control

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• LWV Taking A Stand
• Health Care Reform
• Global Climate Change
• Money in Politics
• Ethics and Lobbying Reform
• D.C. Voting Rights

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LWV Taking A Stand 1/1/12 ACTION ALERT
Fight Back Against Citizens United, urge
President to clean house at the Federal
Elections Commission 2/27/12 ACTION ALERT
It's Discrimination Against Women and We
Won't Stand for It

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• LWV in Hawaii
• strictly Non-Partisan
• wholeheartedly Political
• LWV-HI is statewide, comprised of county
• Leagues Honolulu (1948), Hawaii Island
• (1960s), Kauai (1969) Maui Members-at-Lg
• Grassroots citizen network, works by
• consensus of women men members,
• each League autonomous (State, Local)
• All-Volunteer

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• LWV in Hawaii Our Work
• Register Voters
• Educate Inform Voters put on topical
• forums, many televised speak to groups
• Improve Elections Advisory Council, observe
• Improve Government educate policymakers,
• testify at state Leg, City Councils meet
  with
• news editorial boards op-eds, ads,
  interviews
• work with other good govt orgns
• Conduct studies Drug Policy Judicial Indep

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• LWV in Hawaii
• Open, Transparent Government
• Citizen Rights, Voter Protection
• Campaign Fin Reform, Clean Elections
• Reapportionment / Redistricting
• Anti-Legalized Gambling
• Election Laws Procedures
• Womens Issues
• Ethics Lobbying

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LWV in Hawaii

• The League of Women Voters is where
• hands-on work to safeguard democracy
• leads to community improvement
• A great resource with links to other
• relevant sites is our League website
• www.lwv-hawaii.com

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So What? Why Should I Care?

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THE PLAYERS Constitutional Election Rights
15th AMENDMENT, Section 1. The right of US
citizens to vote shall not be denied or abridged
by the US or by any State on account of race,
color, or previous condition of servitude.
(Ratified in 1870) 19th AMENDMENT, Section 1.
The right of US citizens to vote shall not be
denied or abridged by the US or by any State on
account of sex. (Ratified in 1920)


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THE PLAYERS (contd) Constitutional Election
Rights
24th AMENDMENT, Section 1. The right of US
citizens to vote in any primary or other election
for President or VP, for electors for President
or VP, or for Senator or Representative in
Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the
US or any State by reason of failure to pay any
poll tax or other tax. (Ratified in 1964) 26th
AMENDMENT, Section 1. The right of US citizens,
who are 18 years of age or older, to vote shall
not be denied or abridged by the US or by any
State on account of age. (Ratified in 1971)


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An election revolves around beliefs actions
of American voters Come Election Day, no one
elses opinions matter, no one else has
control over the outcome but the
votersVoting The Great Equalizer
In American Society
WE THE PEOPLE
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You Have 1 Vote Everyone ElseWith that 1
vote, you have the power to influence decisions
that will affect your life Your job, your
taxes, your health care, your Social Security,
whether the nation goes to war, you name it
they are all at stake
WE THE PEOPLE
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Voter turnout or gt men voter turnoutCast 4-7
million more votes than menIn every
presidential election since 1980, proportion of
eligible females who voted gt proportion of males
who voted. Prior to 1980, voter turnout rate for
women lt for men In every presidential election
since 1964, number female voters gt number male
votersSource Center for American Women and
Politics, Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers
University
WOMEN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
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Among younger citizens (18-44), higher
proportion of women than men voted in 2008, 2004,
2000, 1996 pattern reversed among older
voters (75)Among Asian/Pac, Blacks, Hispanics,
Whites, number female voters gt number male
votersIn last 5 presidential elections, women
voted at higher rates than men among Blacks,
Hispanics, Whites Source Center for American
Women and Politics, Eagleton Institute of
Politics, Rutgers University
WOMEN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
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Voter Turnout in Non-Presidential
ElectionsSince 1986, proportion of eligible
females who voted gt proportion of eligible males,
reversing the historical pattern of higher
turnout rates for men than for womenVoter
Registration Women outnumber men among
registered votersSource Center for American
Women and Politics, Eagleton Institute of
Politics, Rutgers University
WOMEN RECENT ELECTIONS
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HAWAII ELECTED WOMEN

• U.S. Congress (2 Sen, 2 Reps)
• Colleen Hanabusa (D) U.S. Rep. 2011-present
• Mazie Hirono (D) U.S. Rep.
  2007-present
• Patsy T. Mink (D) U.S. Rep. 1990-2002
  1965-1977
• Patricia Saiki (R) U.S. Rep. 1987-1991
  
• Mary Farrington (R) Del. (pre-statehood)
  1954-1957

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HAWAII ELECTED WOMEN

• Statewide Elective Executives (Total 2)
• Linda Lingle (R) Governor 2003-2011
• Mazie K. Hirono (D) Lt. Governor 1994-2003
• Jean S. King (D) Lt. Governor 1979-1982

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HAWAII ELECTED WOMEN

• State Legislature
• State Tot Women/ Tot Women/ Tot
  Women/ Tot
• Year Rank   Tot Senate Tot House
  Total Legis Women
• 2012 4 9 / 25 17 / 51 26 / 76 34.2
  
• 2011 4 9 / 25 17 / 51 26 / 76
  34.2
• 2010 5 7 / 25 18 / 51 25 / 76
  32.9

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In Nov 2012, Hawaii Votes on

• U.S. President
• One of 2 U.S. Senators
• Both U.S. Representatives
• Approx half of 25 State Senators
• All 51 State Representatives
• 4 of 9 OHA Trustees
• HNL HI Mayors, some Council all counties

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Important 2012 Dates

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Important 2012 Dates

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Hot Issues in 2012

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Actions YOU Can Take

• REGISTER to vote help others register
• TALK to people about candidates issues
• why you feel its important to vote
• FIND OUT if your family, friends, neighbors have
  what they need to make informed decisions get
  to the polls maybe all they need is a ride
• DONT GO ALONE to the polling place
• take a friend or neighbor with you

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Actions YOU Can Take

• GET INVOLVED Election Day volunteer join
  orgns such as LWV-HI, CCH, ADA, Kanu-HI
• FIND OUT MORE, but use trusted, vetted sources
• Get to know your legislators, council member, ask
  ?s
• DEMOCRACY UNDER THE INFLUENCE Sunshine Workshop
  Wed, Mar 14, 530PM, Laniakea YWCA
• ADD YOUR VOICE testify, email et al, phone,
  op-ed, letters to editor, blog
• DISCUSS with friends, colleagues

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Actions YOU Can Take

• YOUR IDEAS

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Questions?