League of Women Voters of Arlington Heights-Mt. Prospect-Buffalo Grove Area including Wheeling-Prospect Heights-Elk Grove Village Returns from National Convention

The League of Women Voters of Arlington Heights-Mt.

Prospect-Buffalo Grove Area including Wheeling-Prospect Heights-Elk Grove Village was represented by several of its members at the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) 53rd National Convention held June 28 - July 1 in Chicago, IL. The event kicked off a two-year celebration of the coming 100th Anniversary in 2020 of women gaining suffrage and the establishment of the League of Women Voters. More than 1,000 League leaders from 49 states and the District of Columbia attended leadership workshops and heard from guest speakers about League priorities.

Over the four-day Convention, delegates voted on the national organization's priorities and resolutions. There were several discussions about the Electoral College system of electing the U.S. President and Vice President. The Convention overwhelming passed a resolution reaffirming the League's long-held position that the Electoral College should be abolished in favor of a popular vote system.

"There are many reasons why now is the time to eliminate the Electoral College system," said Heidi Graham, President of the Arlington Heights-Mt. Prospect-Buffalo Grove Area

including Wheeling-Prospect Heights-Elk Grove Village League. "The Electoral College discourages people from voting because they feel their votes do not count, and it magnifies the

divisiveness in our country by emphasizing a false blue state/red state divide." No delegates spoke in opposition to the resolution.

The League of Women Voters first called for an end to the Electoral College in favor of a popular vote system in 1970. The issue received more attention after the 2000 and 2016

Presidential elections, when the winners in the Electoral College lost the popular vote. The League's position on the Electoral College is just one part of its Campaign for Making

Democracy Work®, which includes ensuring a free, fair, and accessible electoral system for all eligible voters.

The League of Women Voters Arlington Heights-Mt. Prospect-Buffalo Grove Area including Wheeling-Prospect Heights-Elk Grove Village is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy.