Why 100-year-old group more relevant than ever

From health care to immigration, there is much at stake for the average Illinois voter. Enter the League of Women Voters, one of the nation's oldest and most respected civic engagement organizations. The League believes that informed and active participation of citizens in government is the hallmark of democracy. And it has been dogged in remaining nonpartisan, a remarkable feat in this age of hyper-partisanship.

In 2018, the League launched the Illinois Voter Guide, a comprehensive tool that empowers voters across the state to access candidate information up and down the ballot in every precinct.

State League chapters, including Arlington Heights/Mt. Prospect/Buffalo Grove, have conducted numerous candidates' forums for contested races, giving community members the chance to directly engage incumbents and contenders seeking office at the local, state and federal levels.

From teaching local high school students how to research candidates and complete a ballot, to hosting policy briefings on preserving natural resources or combating gun violence, no other statewide organization has so capably motivated voter participation at all levels of government.

In recent years, the League has seen the proliferation of voting and political advocacy groups that have attracted younger, more diverse and more outspoken members. But it is wholly committed to broadening its membership and seeks to exchange best practices with other civic organizations on attracting and maintaining a diverse roster.

So long as there are barriers to exercising the right to vote, the League and its tireless members will continue to fight, even if for another 100 years.

Audra Wilson, Executive Director

League of Women Voters of Illinois