About the League

RATIFIED film screening and panel

On Monday December 23rd, you are invited to join LWV for a national screening of the film RATIFIED. The film covers the impassioned century-long fight to enshrine gender equality in the US Constitution and where we are today. This event is hosted by our “Biden Publish the ERA” alliance partner, VoteEquality.

After the screening has us fired up, VoteEquality will host a panel of advocates, including LWV’s president Dianna Wynn and leaders of the three final ratifying state campaigns, to help us all find ways NOW to build pressure on President Biden to ensure publication of the ERA before he leaves office.

WHAT: RATIFIED film screening and panel
WHEN: Monday, December 23, 6:15 pm ET
WHERE: Virtual, from the comfort of your own home!

Tickets to this virtual event are $5 and require a free Kinema account to view. Find details, purchase tickets, and watch a trailer of the film here.

The Senate, House of Representatives, and legal and advocacy community have all called on President Biden to publish the ERA, and now we must come together and get so loud we can’t be ignored. Join us for this historic moment. Let’s get it done.

In League,
Jessica Jones Capparell
Director, Government Affairs
League of Women Voters of the US

Statement in response to National Archives
“Statement on the Equal Rights Amendment Ratification Process”

Tuesday, December 17, 2024 Washington, DC

We are deeply disappointed by today’s statement from the Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan and Deputy Archivist William J. Bosanko. The Archivist’s position offers nothing new and has no bearing on the Equal Rights Amendment’s status as validly ratified. The ERA belongs to the people, and its future cannot be determined by bureaucratic choices or political hesitations.

“The National Archivist has a legal and moral obligation to follow the Constitution and publish amendments as directed by the states. In hiding behind bad-faith and non-binding time limits imposed on the ERA by a long-expired Congress, the archivist does what every American institution has done to women throughout our history: serves as an instrument of our oppression. We are incredibly disappointed in this decision, but not naive enough to say that we are surprised by it.” Said Alyssa Milano, Chair – ERA Coalition Board of Directors.

The Equal Rights Amendment was passed by Congress in 1972, and by 2020, it met the constitutional requirement of ratification by 38 states. It is ready for publication as the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Yet opponents of equality continue to cling to outdated technicalities, including a time limit placed in the preamble. History proves them wrong: the 27th Amendment, governing congressional pay, was ratified after more than 200 years.

The American Bar Association (ABA) affirms this truth. In adopting Resolution 601, the ABA recognizes the ERA as the 28th Amendment and calls for its immediate publication.

A clear majority of voters stand with us. Recent polling reveals that 61% of voters—including 87% of Democrats, 64% of Independents, and 35% of Republicans—believe the ERA must be published. This public mandate strengthens our resolve.

The battle for equality is far from over. President Biden has the opportunity—and the obligation—to publish the Equal Rights Amendment. But regardless of the obstacles we face, we will not give up. We will persist because gender equality is non-negotiable, and enshrining it in our Constitution is long overdue.

This is a fight for the people’s Constitution and for a more just and equitable country. The ERA has met all constitutional requirements, and we will see it recognized as the 28th Amendment.

In the name of The People’s Constitution, we will persist until the ERA is recognized.

In the United States, women are still not guaranteed equal rights. We have seen the devastating consequences of this reality. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which will update the US Constitution to protect the equality of rights under the law regardless of sex, can be added to the Constitution with one action. With majority support for the ERA in the House and Senate – and the American public – now is the time. With just weeks left in office, we are urging President Biden to enshrine gender equality in our Constitution by instructing the US Archivist to publish the ERA.

Quick – and we do mean quick! – actions you can do right now to help get the ERA certified:

Click here, scroll down and fill out the form with your information to send President Biden a message. A message you can even personalize if you want. Urge him to tell the US Archivist to certify and publish the ERA in the Constitution!

Click here and fill out the form to tell your members of Congress to sign on to the discharge petition for HJRes 25 which would remove the deadline for ratification of the equal rights amendment.

Click here to sign the petition ‘Add the ERA now’ by texting PIKGST to RESISTBOT at 50409. The first time you use RESISTBOT, it will ask for your name, address, phone number and email to make sure it locates your elected officials correctly.

Click here to share your thoughts with the President.

Click here to tell the White House – the Archivist must publish the ERA.

League of Women Voters Statement on 2024 Election Results

WASHINGTON — The League of Women Voters of the United States president Dianna Wynn and CEO Celina Stewart released the following statement on the 2024 election results:

“The 2024 election underscores the dedication of poll workers, election officials, and volunteers nationwide, who ensured that every eligible vote was counted, and every voice was heard. This year’s election was marked by integrity, transparency, and high turnout. The American people have spoken.

“While we celebrate a fair and secure election, the outcome of this election has made the future for women unclear.

“Given the disturbing rhetoric made during this election season, we are deeply concerned about challenges we may face, particularly regarding the issues that disproportionately affect women, from health care and reproductive rights to economic security and equal representation.

“We are thankful to Leagues across the country for their tremendous work supporting the election infrastructure and supporting voters, as well as every election worker and democracy defender who guaranteed our fair and free voting process. We are thankful for the work they have done so far this cycle and the counting, curing, and certifying work that will take place in the weeks ahead.

“The League is dedicated to our mission of defending democracy. As we move forward, we remain steadfast in our commitment to advocate for policies that uplift women and ensure equitable representation in all levels of government.”

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, volunteer-based, political organization consisting of women and men passionate about our democracy. Born out of the national women’s suffrage movement in 1920, the League continues to work to serve the needs of the voting public and protect the rights of all voters.

Our efforts are two-fold:
Voters Service, Citizen Education – presenting unbiased, nonpartisan information about elections, the voting process and current issues.

Action, Advocacy – following education on the issue(s), action is taken towards enacting policies in the public interest and striking down policies harmful to society.

A just society is derived from a democracy consisting of an engaged and educated public that has faith in the political process.

The League of Women Voters is a membership organization encouraging action and advocacy as a nonprofit 501(c)(4) corporation. To conduct our voter service and citizen education activities, funds are derived from the Florence Ryan Education Fund, which is a 501(c)(3) corporation, a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to building citizen participation in democratic process, studying key community issues at all government levels in an unbiased manner, and enabling people to seek positive solutions to public policy issues through education and conflict management.

The League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County currently offers meetings and events for members as well as educational programs for the public. Quarterly member events include two meetings each year, a Holiday Social in winter and an Annual Luncheon & Meeting in May or June. League action teams and committees also hold regular meetings for the members involved in those groups.

Join us! Check us out on Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky. And check out our YouTube Channel for past meetings and voting issues we’re involved with. Our Calendar page has upcoming events.

Connect with your State League: North Carolina League of Women Voters
Connect with the National League: National League of Women Voters

Our chapter is centered around Buncombe County and includes several adjoining counties. This is the homeland of the Cherokee and other nations. We recognize the sovereignty and traditional territories of these local tribal nations, the treaties used to remove them, and the histories of dispossession. We honor and respect the many diverse indigenous people who came before us, who are still here, and who are connected to the land on which we reside.