As we enter this season of reflection and gratitude, the LWV Arizona Advocacy Committee Chairs and LWVAZ officers extend our deepest appreciation to each of you—our members, volunteers, and steadfast supporters across the state. Your continued engagement is the heartbeat of our work.

We are grateful for all the ways you show up: through your advocacy at the Legislature, your outreach in communities, your willingness to speak up on issues that matter to the League, and your years of dedicated service registering voters, educating the public, and defending democracy. Your efforts ensure that Arizona voters have access to reliable, trusted election information through our award-winning VOTE411 platform. Because of you, communities across Arizona remain informed, empowered, and included.

Every single action—every hour volunteered, every call to a lawmaker, every conversation with a neighbor, every donation—makes a difference. Without your time, your voice, and your unwavering commitment, the League simply could not have the impact that it does.

As we approach another critical election year in 2026, our gratitude deepens. The challenges ahead are significant, and we will continue to rely on your strength, your resilience, and your passion for protecting voters and defending our democratic systems. The League has always been strongest when we stand united, and your continued activism will guide us into this next chapter.

We invite you to explore the many opportunities in this month’s newsletter to stay engaged and to join us in the work ahead. Together, we will continue to empower voters, uplift our communities, and safeguard democracy for all Arizonans.

Pinny Sheoran, Chair, LWVAZ Advocacy Committee

Gitelle Seer, Vice Chair, LWVAZ Advocacy Committee

Emily Bridson, President, LWVAZ

Marcia Barry, President-Elect, LWVAZ

Barbara “Cricket” Mitchell, Treasurer, LWVAZ

Legislative Analysis the League Way: Learn by Doing

Part One: Understanding Power — How the Arizona Legislature Works
Saturday, December 6, 10:00–11:30 AM Registration Link 

Part Two: Turning Insight Into Action — How Legislative Analysis Is Done 
Saturday, December 13, 10:00–11:30 AM Registration Link  

Part Three: Building Confidence and Community — Preparing for the Session Ahead  

Saturday, January 10, 2026, 10:00–11:30 AM  

Part Three: Building Confidence and Community — Preparing for the Session Ahead  

Saturday, January 10, 2026, 10:00–11:30 AM Registration Link

Legislative Lobby Week February 2026

Legislative Lobby Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, February 25 (members only) 

Virtual “Lunch and Learn” programs February 23, 24, 26, and 27 (open to the public)

Click here to view LWVAZ EVENTS

Social Contract in Action: Breaking Away — A Journey Through the Declaration of Independence

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, our nation is once again asking fundamental questions about representation, justice, and the responsibilities embedded in the social contract. When the founders drafted the Declaration, they were not simply listing grievances—they were redefining the relationship between the people and their government. They insisted that legitimate power rests with the governed and that the purpose of government is to secure the rights and dignity of all.

Today, those expectations are just as urgent. Across our state and nation, communities continue to confront voter suppression, inequitable representation, and persistent threats to civic participation. The promise of a just and inclusive social contract remains unfinished—and worth fighting for.

This is why the League of Women Voters of Arizona created Social Contract in
Action: Democracy, Dialogue, and Civic Duty.

This multi-generational project brings together thoughtful, committed members of the next generation—emerging leaders who care deeply about the future of this country and the health of our democracy—alongside community voices and subject-matter experts. Together, they explore what the Declaration means today and why it still matters.

Series One: Breaking Away dives deep into the 27 grievances—revealing how a people stripped of representation and justice found the courage to demand self-government.

Each episode blends

• Guided readings from the next generation of engaged, informed leaders

• Historical context to illuminate the founding tensions

• Modern reflection connecting 250-year-old demands for accountability to today’s democratic challenges

This is not a history lesson—it is civic education brought to life. Accessible. Relevant. Rooted in the belief that democracy requires informed and engaged people.

A timely national conversation
The release of this series coincides with Ken Burns’ highly acclaimed PBS documentary on the American Revolution. While Burns’ work revisits the Revolution through a historical lens, using the memories of those who lived through it, our project brings those same themes into the present through the insights and voices of today’s rising generation. Together, these works invite us to reexamine the founding era not as distant history, but as a living, evolving dialogue about power, rights, and responsibility.

We invite you to listen, share, and use these episodes as tools for discussion in your communities. The next generation is reminding us: the social contract belongs to all of us, and defending it requires knowledge, courage, and action.

Where to Find the Series

🔴▶️ YouTube  (Video Episodes)
All currently released episodes can be found on our LWV Arizona YouTube channel.

• Visit our channel and select the playlist “Social Contract in Action: Democracy, Dialogue, and Civic Duty.”

• Direct playlist link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSj6xy2jhRxFJUEbe5ThGC1oAaWz3G7nVV

• Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get the latest episodes as soon as they are posted.
  

🫘🎧 Podbean (Audio)
Prefer audio only? Listen on Podbean through the Democracy Truth Podcast:

• Democracy Truth Podcast | League of Women Voters of Arizona

• Stream episodes or download them for offline listening.
  

🟢 🎧 Spotify (Audio)
You can also find the audio series on Spotify under Democracy Truth Podcast:

Ready to Influence Arizona’s 2026 Legislative Session?  Join Our Training Series!

Empower Your Voice. Expand Our Impact. Learn Legislative Analysis Together.

The 2026 Arizona Legislative Session has started, and the League needs members ready to make a difference. Join our Legislative Analysis Training Series to learn how to analyze legislation the League way and strengthen our advocacy at the State Capitol.

This hands-on series will cover why analysis matters, how the Legislature works, and how League tools turn insight into action.  Each session builds on the previous one, with short practice assignments to help you gain confidence in using our tools. The series aims to keep you engaged from start to finish, and recordings, slides, and materials will be available for reference and future training.

Together, we’ll explore:

• Why it Matters. Legislative analysis enables us to understand the actual impact of laws and how they affect people’s lives. It’s essential to the League’s mission, turning knowledge into fair, fact-based advocacy that makes a difference.

• The Arizona Legislative Process. We explore how bills are introduced, debated, and passed, and how understanding each step helps us know when and how to take action.

• How Legislative Analysis is Done: We track and review priority bills, study their language and intent, and research who and what they affect. Then we turn our findings into clear, plain-language summaries that guide League advocacy and education.

Register Now — We Want You and Your Passion to Make a Difference!

Bring your energy and passion for issues like voting rights, education, women’s rights, climate, or criminal justice reform. Join an issue team, meet regularly, and help track and analyze bills as they move through the Legislature. From mid-January until adjournment (about 100 days), your time and insight will help the League drive real impact at the Capitol.

Each session requires a separate registration. 

Part One: Understanding Power — How the Arizona Legislature Works
Saturday, December 6, 10:00–11:30 AM Registration Link 

Discover how laws are made and how the League’s mission and priorities guide our advocacy. Learn how bills move through the process, what tools track them, and how to navigate Arizona’s legislative systems with confidence.

Part Two: Turning Insight Into Action — How Legislative Analysis Is Done 
Saturday, December 13, 10:00–11:30 AM Registration Link

Learn the League’s step-by-step process for analyzing bills, using checklists and trackers to uncover their intent and impact. Develop the skills to write clear, fact-based calls to action and collaborate effectively with your team.

Part Three: Building Confidence and Community — Preparing for the Session Ahead  

Saturday, January 10, 2026, 10:00–11:30 AM Registration Link

Regroup, reflect, and recharge before the Legislature convenes. Share lessons learned, refine your skills, and strengthen your readiness to take informed, effective action that drives real impact at the Capitol.

These sessions will be repeated in January and February 2026.

2026 will be a pivotal year in Arizona’s political landscape, and the work starts now. The League of Women Voters of Arizona Advocacy needs your passion, your voice, and your time to defend democracy at every level. Advocacy work depends on the power of many. We can’t do it without you!

✅ Volunteer for Advocacy Projects – Support the League’s efforts on legislation, elections, redistricting, and more.
✅ Raise Your Voice – Learn how to give testimony, talk to your legislators, and advocate effectively in your community.
✅ Grow Your Skills – Whether you’re new to advocacy or an experienced advocate, our training sessions will help you expand your impact.
✅ Defend Democracy – Every action matters. When we all step up, we make a difference.

Take the first step today:
👉 Complete this form to sign up for opportunities that match your interests:
LWVAZ Advocacy Volunteer Opportunities 2025–2026

No experience? No problem. We’ll support you every step of the way. Targeted education and training sessions will prepare you to:

• Understand issue-based advocacy and where you can contribute your time and talents

• Analyze state legislation and describe the implications for members and the public

• Assist with building content and promoting VOTE411

• Build confidence as a community leader

New events are posted monthly at lwvaz.org. Check the site often and register for training sessions that will prepare you to be a powerful voice for the League’s positions at the Capitol and in your community.

Defend Democracy.  

Every person, every action counts. When we all step up, we make a difference.

📚 Stay Informed! 

On October 31, a federal court (D.D.C.) permanently blocked a key provision of Donald Trump’s March 2025 executive order, “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” ruling that it violated the Constitution’s allocation of authority over federal elections. The decision, issued by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in League of Women Voters Education Fund v. Trump, strikes down the section that would have required documentary proof of citizenship—such as a passport or birth certificate—to register to vote using the federal form. The court held that Congress and the states, not the president, have the power to regulate elections, marking this as a significant victory for voters and the rule of law.

The League of Women Voters of Arizona, a plaintiff in League of Women Voters Education Fund v. Trump, welcomes the federal court’s decision permanently blocking a key provision of Donald Trump’s March 2025 executive order.  Despite its title, the order was designed to make voter registration more difficult by requiring documentary proof of citizenship — such as a passport or birth certificate — to register using the federal form.

Judge Kollar-Kotelly ruled that this mandate violated the Constitution’s clear assignment of election authority to Congress and the states, not the president. Her opinion reaffirmed a fundamental principle: the president cannot unilaterally change the rules for federal elections. The decision strikes down the “show your papers” provision, preventing the Election Assistance Commission from enforcing a requirement that would have disenfranchised millions of eligible voters, especially young people, students, low-income individuals, and those without access to expensive identification documents.

This ruling is a significant victory for democracy and for every eligible voter in Arizona. It ensures that registering to vote remains accessible, not a privilege limited to those who can afford passports or locate decades-old birth records. The court’s reasoning was clear — the Constitution was designed to prevent rule by a single individual, and the authority over elections rests with the people, through their representatives.

While the administration may appeal, this decision sends a powerful message: the rule of law still stands, and no president is above the Constitution.

The League of Women Voters of Arizona remains steadfast in our mission to empower voters and defend democracy. We thank the judiciary for upholding constitutional principles and protecting the rights of voters across the nation. We call on all Arizonans to stay engaged, support our courts, and continue building an inclusive democracy where every voice is heard and every vote counts.

For further information:

Order: 217 Order Granting MSJ.pdf

LWVAZ press release