Home - LWV of the Gunnison Valley

Photograph by Dave Scheefer, Gunnison

We believe in the power of women to create a more perfect democracy.

We envision a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge and the confidence to participate.

This Holiday Season, so many of us will not be spending time with family and friends. LWVGV is supporting our community by raising money for the Gunnison County Center for Mental Health and will match up to $500 of member donations.
Donate online here Donate or send a check to:
322 N Wisconsin St
c/o LWVGV
Gunnison, CO 81230

“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.”
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Next LWVGV Program

Due to the increasing Covid cases, our Holiday Party will be Virtual (Zoom)

Wear your favorite Holiday Sweater and
Join us for:
6 Minutes of Suffrage,
Update on our Holiday Fundraiser,
Sharing of Holiday recipes, traditions, and more!!

Click Programs
For More Information about this and
Upcoming Meetings

DEFENDING DEMOCRACY

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Colorado's Independent Redistricting Commissions

In 2018, Colorado voters overwhelmingly voted for independent commissions to redraw both the US Congressional Districts and the State Legislative Districts.
The Commissions:
Each 12-Member Commission will consist of:
4 Democrats, 4 Republicans, and 4 Unaffiliated voters. They must include one member from each of the current 7 congressional districts and at least one member from the Western Slope. To the extent possible, the Commissions must reflect Colorado's racial, ethnic, gender and geographic diversity.

The Districts:
Each district must consist of equal populations, be contiguous geographic areas, comply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, be as compact as reasonably possible and maximize the number of politically competitive districts.
They cannot be drawn in a way to protect incumbents or declared candidates or deny or abridge the right of any citizen to vote on account of race or language.

For more information go to:
US Congressional Redistricting
and
CO Legislative Redistricting

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Equal Rights Amendment

"Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex."

It's been 100 years since women's fight for the right to vote became reality with the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

It's been almost 100 years since Alice Paul introduced the first version of the ERA in 1923.

It's been almost 50 years since the current ERA was introduced and ratified by the first 22 states in 1972.

Virginia became the required 38th state to ratify the ERA on Jan 27, 2020.

Now is the time for Congress to remove the time limit set for ratification.

For more information go to:
equalrightsamendment.org

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National Popular Vote

Colorado Voters passed Prop. 113 to join the multi-state NPV compact. We are the 15th state plus DC to pass the NPV. This brings the total electoral votes to 196 - which means that 74 electoral votes are still needed to choose the President by popular vote.

For more information go to:
nationalpopularvote.com

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Statehood for DC

It's time for DC's 700,000 residents to have their voice in Congress.

Learn more @
statehood.dc.gov
and
LWVCO - Sign the Petition

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Voting Rights Act of 1965

Five months after "Bloody Sunday" on the Edmond Petus Bridge, the VRA of 1965 was signed into law by President Johnson. This Act banned the "Jim Crow Laws" passed by Southern Democrats following the ratification of the 15th Amendment. These laws had disenfranchised black Americans by using the "separate but equal" doctrine and imposed literacy test, poll taxes, property ownership, moral character tests, etc.

The VRA prohibited state and local governments from imposing any voting laws that discriminated against minorities. And it specifically targeted those with a history of voter discrimination by subjecting any law changes to 'preclearance' by the federal government.

"The Gutting of the VRA"
A 5-4 Supreme Court decision in 2013 struck down a key component of the 'preclearance' requirement. In her dissent, Justice Ginsberg wrote:
“Throwing out preclearance when it has worked and is continuing to work to stop discriminatory changes is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.”

In 2018, the Court allowed states to purge voting rolls for inactivity.

In another 5-4 decision in 2019, the Court ruled that they did not have the power to review gerrymandered maps and left it up to the states.

See the FOR THE PEOPLE ACT below

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For the People Act of 2019

This first bill of the 2019 Legislative session H.R.1 was introduced in the House on Jan 3, 2019 and, after 54 amendments, passed the House on Mar 8, 2019.

The bill moved to the Senate on Mar 12, 2019 and was never brought to a vote.

Overview of the Bill:
To expand Americans' access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, and strengthen ethics rules for public servants, and for other purposes.

The Congressional Research Service's summary of the bill can be found here:
Library of Congress - For the People Act

The LWV is a sponsor of the petition for this bill to be passed in 2021- sign it here:
Petition - For the People Act

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US Constitution

Every Article and Amendment at your fingertips!

US Constitution

ELECTED OFFICIALS

Your Voice Matters
Contact Your Representatives:

US Congress

Colorado Gov. & Legislators

Gunnison County BOCC

Gunnison City Council

Crested Butte Town Council

Mt. CB Town Council

Pitkin Board of Trustees