League of Women Voters Minnesota (LWVMN) is the Minnesota affiliate of the national League of Women Voters. It advocates for left-of-center positions on abortion, racial issues, criminal justice, and voting, among others.
History and Political Activism
League of Women Voters Minnesota came into existence when the Minnesota Suffrage Association dissolved in 1919 and reconstituted itself as LWVMN. [1] The group was active in what it calls the “second wave” of the women’s movement to promote feminism, passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, and legalized abortion. [2] The organization states that there is a third wave of feminism seeking to avoid “mainstream feminism” that is “dominated by straight, white, middle-class women.” [3] LWVMN states that today’s feminists should “check” their privilege and recognize how unconscious bias creates unjust policies. [4]
LWVMN identifies its top three priorities as “democracy,” climate change, and racial justice. [5] It calls for automatic voter registration during any interaction with a government agency. [6] LWVMN advocates for restoration of voting rights for formerly incarcerated persons and has joined other organizations such as Common Cause in a lawsuit seeking voting rights for persons on parole or probation. [7] The organization opposes laws requiring photo identification to vote and provisional ballots and supports same-day voter registration. [8] In 2021, LWVMN pre-emptively filed a lawsuit asking the Minnesota Supreme Court to appoint a redistricting panel to redraw state legislative districts, even though the state’s constitution directs the legislature to redraw districts in the first instance. [9]
LWVMN supports increased air pollution controls. [10] It created a climate change task force to advocate for climate legislation, coordinate messaging, and work with other environmentalist groups, [11] with a strong diversity, equity, and inclusion lens. [12] The task force lobbies state and local officials and sponsors a website providing information on topics such as eliminating individuals’ carbon footprint, composting, and recycling. [13] LWVMN has hosted events on global warming, Minnesota’s climate action efforts, and other left-leaning environmental issues. [14]
LWVMN has taken other left-leaning positions such as opposing an amendment to the Minnesota constitution guaranteeing a right to bear arms, supporting additional state restrictions on gun ownership, advocating abolishing the death penalty, supporting allowing illegal immigrants to qualify for in-state tuition rates at public universities, opposing K-12 educational vouchers for private or religious schools, and advocating a higher priority to environmental protection over funding parks and recreation. [15]
Finances
The League of Women Voters Minnesota has total assets of $1,593,108. [16] According to the organization’s tax returns from 2020, LWVMN recorded $539,933 in revenue and $728,228 in expenses. [17] In 2019, LWVMN had $558,785 in revenue and $657,065 in expenses. [18]
Leadership
Michelle Witte has been executive director of the League of Women Voters Minnesota since 2017. [19] Witte, along with board president Laura Helmer, wrote a letter to Minnesota state leaders after the 2020 election calling on them to condemn “election lies” and alleging that “certain Republican legislators” have engaged in violent political rhetoric. [20] They added, “failure to disavow these lies is to ally oneself with domestic terrorism.” [21] Witte gave more than $1,800 in reportable contributions to Democratic candidates between 2004 and 2010. [22]