New Chapter Established
The Staunton, Augusta County and Waynesboro region has welcomed a new chapter of the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting and expanding voting rights.
Evette Barton, who has been involved with the league for 26 years and serves as chair of the Virginia league's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion board, initiated the local branch. She previously held the treasurer position with the Charlottesville chapter.
"Just imagine, with women's suffrage 100 years prior, if we all were invited [to] the table," Barton said. "That's where, for me, the passion lays ... how different today would have been if we all were [at the table], rather than [being] discounting and saying, well, maybe this is not the right time for you. Why not? Why the heck not? Then, when you look at the history again, and you fast forward, you see when Black women and Black people are able to vote. We are talking about years, decades, in between."
Mission and Activities
The organization will concentrate on government education and voter registration efforts. While maintaining nonpartisan status and not endorsing candidates, the group aims to engage with high schools and college campuses to educate future voters.
"We want to be equal in the sense of what equal means," Barton said. "That's why it's important to get everyone at the table, whether you're LGBTQ, whether you're Christian, non-Christian, whatever, we want everyone at the table. We want to listen and have some sense of balance about who we are and where we can go collectively."
Andrea Jackson, an early member of the organization, emphasized the importance of local elections.
"When we were in the 12th grade, most of our government learning was national, only 5 percent is state or local," said Jackson. "A lot of people don't know there's an election every year in Virginia. ... Your city council, they have the most power over you, then the state, then the national. [We are] trying to educate people without shaming them."
Organizational Details
The chapter currently has 15 members and welcomes both men and women. Membership registration through the local branch automatically enrolls individuals at local, state, and national levels.
Monthly meetings will be held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Staunton Public Library at 6 p.m., with virtual participation options available.
While the league doesn't endorse candidates, the state organization maintains policy positions on various issues. Local members plan to travel to Richmond during General Assembly sessions to discuss concerns including gun violence, education, affordable housing, food insecurity, and the prison system with representatives.
