LWV ABC Messages on the 2020 Elections

Whew.  The people elected to office in November 2020 have now taken their places in government.  This has been a very difficult and divisive election cycle.   But we've made it through and are about to start on a new federal administration, divided state government in Minnesota and some new faces in our city and county  offices.   

The value of the work done by LWV
Following is from a message that LWV Minneapolis sent out to their members on Inauguration Day; we at ABC will borrow their stirring words... great reflections on the value of League and the work that we do! 
​
"One of the super powers of the League of Women Voters is that we are non-partisan AND we stand for truth, justice and fairness. We are proud to be a members of League. During the 2020 election we used our voices and volunteered time to help keep the election fair and safe and to make sure every vote was counted and that every voter trusted that their vote mattered. We joined our fellow League members in Minneapolis, in Minnesota and across the Nation to ensure that our Democracy, which is more fragile than we ever imagined, survived and will thrive as we move forward.   Grassroots activism is a powerful force that makes significant change happen. Imbedded in LWV's mission is the commitment to educate, advocate and empower. Working together we will achieve great things."

---

Challenges and truth-telling
This IS a good time to pat ourselves on the back as Leaguer's for our work on this election, but there are still many troubling things that our democracy is facing.   In the weeks after the election, we saw our President become increasingly strident in his claims that the election was 'rigged'.  This message was echoed by  many elected officials, lending credence to the claims and eventually fomenting the violence we saw at our nation's Capitol on January 6.  Some of these echoes came from Minnesota, despite the fact that our election here was closely scrutinized at every step and the results were certified by local and state election boards.   ​

On January 14, LWV Minnesota, through action of the state Board, sent a letter to Minnesota legislative leaders  that specifically called on the legislative leaders to:

• Require that all Minnesota State Representatives and Senators tell the truth about the settled 2020 elections as a duty to fulfill their oath to the United States and Minnesota constitutions;
• Require certain legislators who have incited lies and violence to issue a public message immediately disavowing the falsehoods about a “stolen election,” apologizing for the use of those lies for political purposes, and accepting of the 2020 election validity and integrity, and a clear message that harassment and calls for violence toward our public officials will not be tolerated; and
• Seek consequences and accountability of those legislators who have continued to violate their oath of office by spreading lies about the election through formal censure, the revocation of committee assignments, and even expulsion if needed, should their behavior of spreading lies and misinformation continue.

Actions taken by LWV ABC
LWV ABC's Board met on January 18 to discuss our response, as a League, to all of this.  Notice of this special Board meeting was sent to members who were also invited to attend.   At this meeting*, it was decided that LWV ABC would send our own letter to Legislative Leaders and all the Legislators that are in LWV ABC's service area, and that we would submit Letters to the Editor to our local papers.   
​
The letter is shown to the right, it was mailed on January 19.

The Letters to the Editor have run in the Anoka County Union Herald and The Life (serving Blaine, Spring Lake Park, Columbia Heights and Fridley). The letter was also submitted to the Northeaster and the Champlin Press.

​The text of our Letters to the Editor (LTE) follows:

 LWV ABC Letter to the Editor:
"For more than 100 years, the League of Women Voters has diligently promoted good governance and fair voting. The need for our diligence and our voice has never been greater.

We of the LWV of Anoka, Blaine, Coon Rapids Area call on our Legislative leaders to require that all MN State Representatives and Senators accept the outcome of the 2020 elections and fulfill their oath to the US and MN constitutions. We stand with one voice on the need to call for truth and accountability around our elections.

LWV is a nonpartisan, good government organization. Being nonpartisan means we don’t support any specific party or candidate. Equally, it means we don’t abandon our positions or our principles of good government for any party.

We will continue to work with all legislators to advance free and fair elections. And we will continue to hold accountable all legislators, regardless of party, who undermine the democracy for which we stand.

Signed, Gretchen Sabel, President, LWV ABC"

*Minutes from the special Board meeting can be reviewed on the LWV ABC members-only pages, under Board Agendas in the Jan 25 agenda on page 15."