League of Women Voters Asheville - Buncombe County, NC

Opinion: League of Women Voters declares
US in state of constitutional crisis

Suzanne Fisher, Guest Opinion, Asheville Citizen Times, May 18, 2025

On April 17 the League of Women Voters took a stand unprecedented in its 105-year history — it declared that the United States was in a constitutional crisis. Chief executive officer Celina Stewart and president Dianna Wynn (a member of the Wake County league) made the following statement of Trump’s presidency:

“From the flagrant disregard for congressional authority and governmental checks and balances to defying Supreme Court orders to bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia back home, one thing is abundantly clear: our country is in a constitutional crisis.”

How does the LWV define a constitutional crisis? It is when the executive, legislative, or judiciary branches cannot or will not adequately protect the Constitution, when there are attempts to dismantle democracy by any of the branches of the government, or when any level of the federal government takes actions to destroy democratic institutions in a way that purposefully jeopardizes the Constitution.

What is the LWV doing to fight back? On May 1 the LWV launched the Unite and Rise 8.5 campaign to engage and mobilize 8.5 million voters to protect and preserve our democracy. This initiative will continue through the 2026 midterm elections.

Why 8.5 million voters? Research by the Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights has shown that nonviolent protests that engage at least 3.5% of the population have never failed to bring about change. In the 2024 general election approximately 245 million Americans were eligible to vote. If 3.5% of eligible voters — 8,575,000 people — engage in nonviolent protests, together we can bring about meaningful change and rescue our democracy.

The work will be focused in four areas. The first is legal and policy advocacy to challenge unconstitutional actions through litigation, advocate for electoral reforms at the state and federal levels, fight voter suppression, and protect due process.

The second is public mobilization and coalition building. This involves engaging millions at rallies and other events and partnering with grassroots, national and international organizations. Locally the LWV Asheville-Buncombe County (and leagues across North Carolina) will be a presence at rallies and other events with voter information and are encouraging our members to participate. We have found that people are anxious to get information about what they can do.

The third area is civic education and engagement. This includes public awareness campaigns (including this article), expanding voter registration and turn-out efforts, hosting educational events, showing how policies impact our lives, and providing tools for action. You will find the LWVAB at festivals, races and other activities in our area. Our website (https://www.lwvab.org) has a wealth of information including links to get our newsletters and to join us. Our name is historic and not a complete description of who we are. We welcome anyone who is at least 16 years old, however you identify, whatever your political leaning. We have members from multiple counties in Western North Carolina.

The final area is democracy resilience to build a lasting infrastructure to protect our democratic institutions and values for the future so we will not have to declare another constitutional crisis.

Does this violate the LWV’s non-partisan position? No, the LWV will never endorse or oppose candidates at the local, state or federal level. Through VOTE411 we provide information on the logistics of voting and encourage candidates to respond to questions posed. Our goal is to ensure that every eligible voter has access to the ballot and has the facts they need to make decisions.

Once individuals are elected, they are no longer candidates. They are public servants who have taken an oath and are responsible for representing all of their constituents. Holding elected officials accountable is not a political act but a critical function for a healthy democracy. When the LWV advocates for or against policies based on our mission and values it is because we have a commitment to issues and strengthening civil institutions. We engage with elected officials of all parties, share insights on how election administration works, and provide opportunities for civic engagement such as our observation of meetings of Boards of Elections.

The LWV is nonpartisan but that does not mean we are neutral and we will not stay silent. When our democracy is under threat, when voter access is restricted, when misinformation spreads, we will speak out. We hope others who care about democracy will join us.

Suzanne Fisher, Ph.D. is a retired cell biologist whose career was at the National Institutes of Health. She is president of the Asheville-Buncombe County League of Women Voters and Secretary for the Board of the League of Women Voters of North Carolina.

For the first time in its 105 year-old history, the League of Women Voters has declared that democracy is in a constitutional crisis. “The foundational principles that have sustained our democracy — checks and balances, the rule of law, free and fair elections — are under direct and sustained threat.” This is a sad and alarming time for our nation, but I am proud to be part of an organization that is willing to speak up and fight for our democracy.  ~Diane Wynn, President of the League of Women Voters of the US

Washington, DC — Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters, and Dianna Wynn, president of the League of Women Voters, released the following statement:

“It has now been 87 days since the start of the Trump administration. From the flagrant disregard for congressional authority and governmental checks and balances to defying Supreme Court orders to bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia back home, one thing is abundantly clear: our country is in a constitutional crisis.

“We the people must fight back. That is why the League of Women Voters is launching a powerful new initiative, Unite and Rise 8.5.

“Unite and Rise 8.5 will engage and mobilize 8.5 million voters between now and November 2026 to protect and preserve our democratic institutions.

“The foundational principles that have sustained our democracy — checks and balances, the rule of law, free and fair elections — are under direct and sustained threat. In this extraordinary moment, we cannot proceed with business as usual. All Americans — no matter who you voted for in 2024 — need to come together, stand united, and fight back to save our democracy. We cannot afford to fail the generations to come.”

About Unite and Rise 8.5: Starting May 1, the League will launch the Unite and Rise 8.5 initiative, which aims to mobilize 8.5 million voters using the power of voter engagement as a cornerstone of our democracy. Unite and Rise 8.5 will showcase the many ways voters can drive change, including through advocacy, mobilization, civic education, and engagement. The initiative is part of LWV’s Women Defend Democracy campaign.

Tell Congress not to gut Medicaid

LWVUS sent a letter to members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee urging them to minimize cuts to Medicaid. Medicaid insures 1 in 5 Americans, and cuts to the program would cause shortfalls in state budgets and eliminate essential care for millions of Americans, including children, pregnant people, seniors with limited income, and people with disabilities.

Congress is currently considering a budget package that would slash Medicaid funding, putting millions of American’s health care coverage at risk. .

Medicaid is the single largest source of health coverage in the country. Nearly 72 million Americans, including children, pregnant people, seniors, families with limited income, and people with disabilities, rely on Medicaid for essential care including doctor visits, hospitalizations, long-term care, maternity care, mental health care, and rural clinic services.

We must protect Medicaid for the millions who rely on it. Tell Congress not to endanger the health of our country.

Tell Congress not to gut Medicaid here.

The House voted to restrict access to voter registration

The House voted to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act by a margin of 220-208. This bill would require eligible Americans to provide documentary proof of citizenship in person in order to register to vote.

Ahead of the vote, League members and supporters sent nearly 80,000 emails to Congress urging them to vote “No.” Unfortunately, an unfounded fear of noncitizens voting in our elections led the House to pass this bill despite the fact that it is already illegal for non-citizens to register and vote in federal or state elections.

Use this action alert to send your Senator a letter calling on them to protect American voters by rejecting this bill.

Legislation like the SAVE Act is another in a long list of tactics, like strict voter photo ID requirements and limitations on voter assistance in languages other than English, which seek to make it more difficult for women, voters of color, and naturalized citizens to vote. Americans do not need MORE obstacles to vote.

Speak up. Your voice matters. Here are four opportunities to take quick action:

Send your Senator a message with this action alert.

Sign the Resistbot ‘Vote NO: The SAVE Act is Voter Suppression’ petition.

Find your legislators and tell them to oppose the SAVE Act with FiveCalls. 

Tell the Senate to vote NO on the SAVE Act.

A victory for North Carolina voters, fueled by North Carolina voters: Federal court rejects Griffin’s baseless attempt to overturn 2024 election

Common Cause North Carolina, May 5, 2025

RALEIGH – Six months after Election Day, the ongoing dispute around North Carolina’s Supreme Court election may finally be coming to an end.

A federal court today issued a huge win for the people of North Carolina. Trump appointee Judge Richard Myers rejected losing candidate Jefferson Griffin’s outrageous attempts to throw out thousands of lawful ballots and overturn the 2024 election. The ruling orders certification of Justice Allison Riggs’ victory in the race.

“You establish the rules before the game. You don’t change them after the game is done,” Judge Myers wrote in his 68-page decision.

The decision pauses certification for seven days pending any appeal by Griffin.

“Today’s ruling is a huge victory for North Carolina voters, fueled by North Carolina voters,” said Bob Phillips, Executive Director of Common Cause North Carolina. “After months of calls, emails, rallies, and protests against Jefferson Griffin’s assault on tens of thousands of lawful North Carolina voters, the court emphatically rejected Griffin’s baseless attacks and upheld the will of North Carolina voters.”

This historic victory comes after North Carolinians across the state, including many voters like Mecklenburg County’s Crystal Marie Daniels, unjustly targeted by Griffin’s challenges, rallied against these baseless attacks, attending dozens of events, making hundreds of calls, and sending thousands of letters as part of Common Cause NC’s coalitional The People v. Griffin campaign.

“This [was] unjust and unbecoming behavior for a candidate who seeks a seat on a court that is supposed to protect constitutional rights … my constitutional rights cannot be negated,” said Marie Daniels.

About the League

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.