A Message from the Presidents

We are in a time of constitutional demise and reckless use of governmental power at the highest level.  We see nightly citizens of all walks of life standing up to these abuses of power and the League stands in unison in nonviolent protest.  The Leagues of Women Voters across the US have stood together brandishing lawsuits against unshackled power at the national, state and local levels.  We have marched at rallies, contacted our congress and local officials, but we say, what else can we do, right here in Sacramento County.  Read More

Lilli Duval and Claudia Bonsignore

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Spotlight

Anne Rudin Scholarship awarded to
Isela Bravo

Isela Bravo was selected as the 2025 Anne Rudin Scholarship recipient for her exceptional leadership, deep commitment to community service, and clear trajectory as a future public policy leader. A first-generation Latina and Master of Public Administration student at the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, Isela has built an impressive record of service centered on immigrant advocacy, language access, and civic engagement. Her work reflects the values at the heart of the Anne Rudin Scholarship: equity, public service, and impact.

Alongside her studies, Isela works as a Legislative Coordinator, analyzing legislation, supporting advocacy strategies, and engaging stakeholders across policy spaces. Her recommenders praised her empathy, professionalism, and readiness to lead, with one stating they had “no reservations or hesitation” in recommending her for this award. The Scholarship Committee is proud to honor Isela Bravo, whose passion, drive, and service exemplify the spirit of this scholarship.

Read More

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League in Action

SPECIAL EVENT:
Making Democracy Work ft. Teresa Romero

Celebrate democracy in action at the Making Democracy Work event on March 26, 2026 at Antiquité Midtown. The evening features keynote speaker Teresa Romero, President of the United Farm Workers, recognition of local democracy champions, and wine and appetizers alongside community leaders committed to strengthening civic participation. Come for the conversation, stay for the inspiration, and leave energized to keep democracy working. Tickets are tax-deductible and start at $30 for Members before March 12. Register Now

MLK Jr. Walk

On January 19, We responded to a LWVSC notice to join in honoring and walking in the Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy March that began in Oak Park and centered at Sac City College before the participants stepped off.  We rode the light rail to the college and met up with a large, peaceful crowd.  There were people of all ages with lots of kids.  After brief talks from community members and elected officials with songs to enliven, the walk started to the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center.  It was accompanied by horses, motorcycles and law enforcement officers.  The streets were lined with residents cheering us on.  LWVSC members who walked were Cheryl and Marge Patzer, Olga Aguirre, Donna Paul, Charlene Jones, Julia Mullen, Paula Lee, Calum Lottt and Evelyn Urincho (CSUS student and LWVSV intern applicant). Submitted by Marge Patzer

MLK Celebration: Sacramento

The MLK Celebration Sacramento is an annual event held in honor of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Established in 2000, by Sacramento leaders Dr. Dorothy and Jerry Enomoto, the event uplifts Dr. King’s legacy of commitment to civil rights, justice, and equality. The late Congressman Robert Matsui joined in this endeavor which ultimately brings together a diverse celebration of unity within the faith, educational and civic communities of Sacramento. Congresswoman Doris Matsui currently serves as Honorary Event Chairwoman. This year marked the 27th anniversary of the event, which featured a range of speakers, presentations of community awards, and a keynote address by Bishop Parnell Lovelace, a spiritual leader and community advocate. The event was well attended by city and county elected officials, members of law enforcement, and representatives from many community organizations, including the League of Women Voters of Sacramento County (LWVSC). Attendees from LWVSCincluded Board Member Nolice Edwards; Criminal Justice Committee members Norma Nelson and Rhonda Rios-Kravitz; activist Neefasah Musfafa; Intern Manager Lexi Tesch; interns Caleb Lotto and Melanie Arechiga (Ranked Choice Voting); and Isela Bravo, who serves as both an intern and a recipient of the Ann Rubin Scholarship Award for 2025. Submitted by Nolice Edwards

LWV Sacramento Now on TikTok!

Interns with the League of Women Voters of Sacramento County are taking civic education to TikTok, launching a new channel to reach young voters where they already spend time online. Using short videos, students seek to break down voting, democracy, and local issues in clear, engaging ways designed to energize the next generation of voters. Find us at @lwvsacramento

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Action Opportunities

General In Person Program Planning Meeting

Our League will be hosting another General Meeting in February (Date & location to be determined – a Saturday from 11-2pm).  We will be focused at this meeting on our 2026-2027 Program Planning Session.  This session sets the specific areas of emphasis that our League will pursue in the upcoming League year.  Please plan to attend.  Your voices lead our direction and this meeting is where you can pursue your ideas for a better League.

League Tabling Event

4th Annual “Fight Poverty Not The Poor” Community Festival – February 21st – Fruitridge Community Collaborative (4625 44th Street, Sacramento CA 95820 – 11am-3pm.  Login to register online at lwvsacramento.org or contact Lilli or Claudia.  Volunteers Needed

LWVUS: Oppose the SAVE Act

The SAVE Act would require voters to provide documents proving U.S. citizenship to register to vote, even though current law already prohibits noncitizen voting and there is no evidence of a widespread problem. The bill would make it especially difficult for people who have changed their names to register, a requirement that would disproportionately impact women. Other groups could also be affected, including military families and individuals affected by natural disasters. With the bill now before the U.S. Senate, this is a critical moment. Read the full letter from LWVUS and take action

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Please login to the lwvsacramento.org website to get all League member only information. Review the Calendar weekly, as new events are posted weekly as are news articles from the California and National League.  News items are updated weekly on Wednesdays.

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News Reel

Sacramento Youth Press For Rights With Vote 16 Movement

Sacramento teens are speaking up for a bigger role in their community by calling for the local voting age to be lowered to 16. Working with Vote 16 USA and talking with city leaders, they hope to place a 2028 ballot measure that would let 16- and 17-year-olds vote in city and school board elections. Cities like Oakland, Berkeley, and Newark already allow young people to vote in some local elections. From The Observer

In a Time of Discord, Dr. Weber Says Civic Engagement Is Our Lifelong Duty

Current California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber framed civic engagement as a lifelong responsibility while speaking in Sacramento and launching her 2026 re-election campaign, warning that democracy weakens when civic education is neglected. Drawing on history and current political tensions, she argued that protecting voting rights and teaching people how government works are essential to holding the system together. From The Observer

Sacramento considering a ban of immigration enforcement on city-owned properties

The Sacramento City Council will vote Tuesday on a resolution reaffirming the city’s status as a sanctuary city and expressing its support for immigrant residents. A separate proposal is being drafted and would prohibit federal immigration enforcement on city-owned property, including sidewalks and parking. Proponents are hoping to get it before the council’s Law and Legislation Committee in early February. Immigrant advocacy groups have applauded the effort, saying recent federal enforcement has increased fear in immigrant communities, while city officials caution that enforcement of these measures may be limited and will likely face pushback.  From The Sacramento Bee

Federal Court Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Seeking California Voter Data

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice that tried to force California to share private voter information, including Social Security numbers and driver’s license data. The League of Women Voters of California, along with the ACLU, stepped in to protect voter privacy and oppose the lawsuit. The judge agreed that the federal government does not have unlimited access to voters’ personal information and warned that collecting it could scare people away from registering to vote. From the League US

Supreme Court won’t block California’s Prop 50, allowing new maps for midterm elections

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to block California’s Proposition 50 congressional maps, allowing the state to use the new districts in the 2026 elections. The court issued its decision without explanation or dissent. Approved by voters in November 2025, Proposition 50 redraws congressional boundaries following a mid-decade process that has prompted legal challenges nationwide. Opponents argued the maps constitute unconstitutional racial gerrymandering, particularly in districts with growing Latino populations. A lower federal court rejected that claim, finding the maps were partisan rather than racially motivated—a permitted practice. The ruling keeps the new districts in place for the upcoming election cycle, though further legal challenges are expected. From The Sacramento Bee

Oscars 2026: How Is Ranked-Choice Voting Used?

Who knew Hollywood is ranked-choice voting in action? With Oscar nominations just announced, the process offers a real-world example of how ranked-choice voting works by allowing Academy members to rank films instead of choosing just one. As explained by FairVote, the system is used to select nominees and determine Best Picture, rewarding movies with broad support rather than simple vote totals. From FairVote

Utah review finds more than 99.9% of registered voters are US citizens

A statewide review of Utah’s voter registration list found that more than 99.9% of registered voters are verified U.S. citizens. The review examined over 2 million registrations and identified 486 voters with incomplete information, along with one non-citizen who had never cast a ballot. Voters with incomplete records were notified, and the non-citizen was promptly removed from the voter rolls. From KUTV

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Member Submissions

Book Review

(Submitted by Muriel Strand, P.E.) Placeless: Homelessness in the New Gilded Age Patrick Markee, former deputy executive director for advocacy at the Coalition for the Homeless in New York City, lays out the history of homelessness in New York, distilling decades of firsthand experiences at one of the headwaters of the river of homelessness that continues to flow nationwide. The exigencies of New York City’s quasi-bankruptcy in the 1970s, combined with the nascent economic philosophy of for-profit neoliberal capitalism, was the crucible which cooked up the witch’s brew of exported jobs, monopolization, automation, and the shredded social safety net. This recipe for stagnation was supplemented by the criminalization of homelessness by almost all New York mayors in the last half-century, and this model was exported nationwide by New York police and other officials. There is particular irony in the absolute failure of Michael Bloomberg, the very image of corporate competence, to be noticeably effective in even stemming the tide of increasing homelessness, let alone its receding. “[O]ver more than two decades [Markee] saw repeatedly how homeless people, even while enduring the harshest circumstances, could create community, banding together to struggle against hopelessness and for something better.” View in store from the publisher Check out this suggestion by Paula Lee: American Carnage: How Trump, Musk, and DOGE Butchered the U.S. Government by Sasha Abramsky

If you are a member and would like to be featured, please email tommy.civicsoutreach@tommyyap.com. 

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In Memoriam

Doris Janet Olson of Carmichael passed away peacefully at 99, leaving a legacy of dedication to family, special education, and lifelong community service. A devoted League member, she is remembered for her generosity of spirit, global engagement, and lasting impact on those she taught and served. Read more about Doris

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