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Leagues at all levels take action. Our advocacy can include writing letters to legislators, holding press conferences, speaking at hearings and public meetings, giving testimony before government bodies, gathering signatures for a needed ballot measure, or sending action alerts to our members. Taking action is always based on current program positions and/or on League Principles. Positions are developed based on member study and consensus. We have many positions and opportunities to act. Take action on League priorities today on local, state and national issues. 
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LWV Palo Alto

Get ready for 2026! Volunteer with and join the League! Interested in helping to register people, get out the vote and educate voters on issues and candidates? We've got a spot for you! LET'S GET READY FOR THE 2026 MID-TERMS! Our Voter Services Team needs a few people who would like to organize 2026 GOTV activities to reach out to community organizations. For the 2026 elections (coming up sooner than you think) we will need people who would like to help organize candidate and issue forums. Let us know you are interested in helping by emailing us at contact@lwvpaloalto.org with the subject line: "GOTV"
Read LWV Housing Policy Goals.  

Link here to read all LWV Palo Alto positions in brief and a sample Natural Resources position in full.  Learn more about our past advocacy by reading our Advocacy Archive .
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 Sign Up for LWVC Action Alerts

State & National Positions

LWVC Legislative Work

 

Data Privacy.
The LWV of California intervened in a Department of Justice lawsuit in late 2025 to prevent the federal government from obtaining confidential voter data from local registrars. In a major win, the federal court dismissed a DOJ lawsuit seeking sensitive personal data of 23 million registered voters. Federal Court Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Seeking California Voter Data - LWVC
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New LWVC Youth Circle! Attention folks aged 16-25:
Join us in the state-wide LWVC Youth Circle, with a vision to provide an opportunity for young League members to come together to share ideas and programs that work in their communities or at their schools to engage young people in democracy through voting, activism, advocacy, etc. - and to develop the Circle in a way that is most meaningful for them. We invite all members of current LWV clubs, youth councils, etc. and others who may have interest. This group is for young folks, by young folks.  Learn more.

BTW: student membership in the League is only $20 a year, and some chapters have scholarships available.
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 Action Alerts

Impact on Issues

These actions are s amll sample and reflect an ongoing, proactive legal strategy by the LWV to combat efforts to limit voter access to the ballot and to maintain the privacy of voter information at both federal and state levels. Sign up for alerts and stay informed.

From the LWV blog, 1.6.26:

Five years after the January 6 insurrection, we face a constitutional crisis. Our mission and history demand we do everything in our power to make 2026 the year we save our democracy. We can do this through our Unite and Rise program, which includes:

  • Empowering voters online: by providing information on tens of thousands of elections and candidates via election information site, VOTE411.org.
  • Empowering voters on the ground: through thousands of voter registration events, outreach to young, new, and returning citizens, debates between local candidates, and partnerships to ensure civic information reaches all of us.
  • Fighting anti-voter laws: federally and statewide. That means fighting in legal cases, providing testimony in nationwide courts and using action alerts to make it easier for people to advocate for or against the laws which impact them.
  • Showing up in partnership: in rallies, across petitions, and so much more. We’re stronger when we stand together. We must continue to ally ourselves with pro-democracy groups and people from all walks of life to ensure a truly representative movement.
  • Speaking out against anti-democratic action: be it voter suppression, election interference, misinformation, hateful rhetoric, or anything else that threatens every person’s right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 

Read the complete article here: Five Years After the Insurrection: A Constitutional Crisis, Then v. Now

LWVC Condemns the Use of Force Against Peaceful Protestors and Calls for Accountability Posted 1.20.26

The League of Women Voters of California (LWVC) strongly condemns the recent and escalating use of force by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal authorities against protestors in Minnesota, California, Oregon, and across the country. These actions represent a disturbing abuse of federal power and a direct threat to the constitutional rights of free speech, peaceful assembly, and due process.

Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. The use of intimidation, militarized tactics, and physical force against individuals exercising these rights is unacceptable and incompatible with democratic values. As the League of Women Voters of the United States has made clear, federal law enforcement must not be weaponized to silence dissent or suppress civic engagement. We echo the national League’s call for Congress to launch an immediate and independent investigation into a series of recent use-of-force incidents involving federal immigration enforcement personnel.

Make Your Voice Heard. We are deeply grateful to the many LWVC members and partners who showed up last weekend—peacefully, courageously, and in solidarity—as part of the “ICE Out for Good” protests. These demonstrations honor the life of Renee Good, demand accountability, and expose the real and devastating human cost of intimidation, detention, and terror inflicted on immigrant communities. Your presence matters. Your voices matter. The League stands with you.

Looking to get further involved in the fight for democracy? Join the League’s Unite & Rise campaign! The Unite & Rise 8.5 initiative aims to mobilize 8.5 million voters using the power of voter engagement as a cornerstone of our democracy. We need you to be a part of this movement and help us grow this network of 8.5 million people who commit to defend our democracy.

Call on Congress to Investigate ICE’s Use of Force. The League of Women Voters of California urges Congress to immediately investigate ICE’s use of force, deployment tactics, and potential violations of civil and constitutional rights. Oversight is not optional—it is a fundamental responsibility. We encourage all members and supporters to contact their members of Congress and demand:

  • A full and transparent congressional investigation into ICE’s conduct;
  • Accountability for any violations of civil rights or misuse of federal authority; and
  • Immediate steps to ensure federal agencies respect constitutional protections and democratic norms.

The League of Women Voters has joined with leading civil rights organizations, including LULAC and Common Cause, in calling on Congress to act decisively. You can read more about that call to action. We also reiterate and encourage you to review the League of Women Voters’ 2025 statement condemning the use of federal force against peaceful protestors.

Accountability and Protection Efforts in California. Here in California, LWVC is actively reviewing new legislation introduced this week that proposes multiple strategies to hold ICE accountable for its actions within our state. These proposals reflect growing recognition that state-level action is essential to protect residents, uphold civil liberties, and establish meaningful guardrails on federal enforcement practices. We will continue to analyze these bills closely, engage with lawmakers, and keep our members informed about opportunities to advocate for policies that protect communities and strengthen democratic oversight.

We also applaud the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for its unanimous motion this week directing county attorneys to draft an ordinance that would create “ICE-free zones” on county-owned property, thereby preventing federal immigration enforcement agencies from staging or operating on that property. These efforts are a meaningful step toward protecting public spaces and upholding community safety in the face of escalating ICE activity.

Know Your Rights and Community Resources. Unfortunately, the need for accurate information and rapid response support remains urgent. We encourage all members and community allies to revisit our previously published resources on Know Your Rights information and California-based rapid response networks, which continue to be highly relevant as ICE activity escalates. Sharing this information widely can help keep individuals and families safer and better prepared during encounters with immigration enforcement.

Protesting Safely: A Few Important Reminders

  • If you choose to participate in protests or demonstrations, we encourage everyone to prioritize safety and preparation:
  • Attend protests peacefully and follow guidance from trusted organizers.
  • Know your rights, including your right to remain silent and your right to legal counsel.
  • Bring essential items only; avoid carrying unnecessary personal information.
  • Stay aware of your surroundings and have a plan to leave safely if conditions escalate.
  • Look out for one another—community care is a powerful form of resistance.

We See You, and We Are Here With You. We recognize that this is a hard, frightening, and in many ways unprecedented moment in our country. Many people are experiencing fear, grief, anger, and exhaustion all at once. The League of Women Voters of California sees you and stands with you. Please take care of yourselves and one another. If there is any way we can help, support, or uplift advocacy efforts happening in your local community, we encourage you to reach out to us at lwvc@lwvc.org.

Together, we will continue to defend democracy, protect civil liberties, and work toward a future rooted in dignity, accountability, and justice for all.

LWV Minnesota posted on Facebook on 1/8/26: 

"We are outraged by the killing of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agents in our community. Our hearts are with her loved ones. We stand with the Mayor and City Council in calling for ICE agents to leave the Twin Cities. Constitutionally protected activity by an unarmed individual does not justify deadly force, and we denounce the federal government's continued violation of individuals' due process rights. We demand accountability, transparency, and justice. We will continue to stand with our local leaders and our neighbors to demand safety and dignity for all."

What Else Can I Do?

1. Patronize immigrant and refugee-owned businesses across the state.

2. Check in on your neighbors: join your local volunteer Signal chat or ask community leaders where requests for mutual support are needed.

3. Faith at Work is a collaboration of local faith-based organizations engaging in the community. Currently they are focused on staffing the Mt View Day worker center during mealtimes each day. Contact them (or your local faith-based org) to get involved

4. Go to local businesses that you patronize and ask them to put up signs (below) stating that ICE is not welcome and what rights businesses have under the 4th amendment.

5. Get a whistle and keep the RRN hotline on you at all times and share widely: 408-290-1144 

Resources: Support Communities Impacted by ICE

● The League’s Position on Immigration. Immigration policies should promote the reunification of immediate families, meet economic, business, and employment needs, and be responsive to those facing political persecution or humanitarian crises.

● How to Support the Immigrant Community

Organizations and Resources to Get Involved

● Santa Clara County Rapid Response Network (RNN), via Amigos de Guadalupe - this is the main response locally and the training is easy and prepares us for a likely presence. To find latest training and info, follow RRN on Instagram.

● Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is a Bay Area-based resource that is deeply rooted in the community, committed to working with and educating immigrants, community organizations and the legal sector to help build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people.

○ Know Your Rights Toolkit - Help community members protect themselves from ICE - materials to educate the community and prepare individuals for possible encounters with immigration authorities.

○ Red Cards/Tarjetas Rojas - All people in the US, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the US Constitution; these cards give examples of how people can exercise these rights. Print and carry them to give out. Available in 56 languages.

● California’s Immigration Protections: Resistance & Resilience - a LWVC webinar discussing the challenges immigrants face in California, policy solutions, and ways to help our communities stay informed and aware of their rights. (Watch it on YouTube)

● Asian Law Caucus: immigrant resource kit. Learn about your rights and options in the event of interactions with immigration enforcement, transfers from jail or prison, and deportation orders. If you are a California resident seeking legal advice regarding a removal order, please contact the Asian Law Caucus at 415-896-1701.

● Immigrant Defense Network is a MN-based resource with a lot of useful info.

Use Your Voice

● Contact your Members of Congress and use this ACLU form to call for an end to the ICE operation in our cities, oppose further funding, and a transparent investigation. Reach their offices by phone or email at: SEN. ALEX PADILLA | SEN. ADAM SCHIFF | REP. SAM LICCARDO (16th District) | Find your CA state representative

● Protest Safety Guidance for attending a protest, rally, or other demonstration. Know your rights: Protesters’ Rights (ACLU)

● Resources and Actions to Protect Our Immigrant Communities from LWV Wisconsin including an Advocacy Toolkit on 287(g) Agreements - oppose local law enforcement officers acting as immigration agents


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