by Ramelle Pulitzer, President with Board Members Amy Cooper, Stockbridge; Betty Farbman, Egremont; Lucy Kennedy, Lenox; Susan Morris, Stockbridge.
Have no doubt about it: There is a local League of Women Voters. And it’s going strong!
The Central Berkshire County Chapter (LWV CBC) was recognized in 2020 as the 47th Chapter of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (LWVMA)…just before the pandemic hit.
Pre-COVID19, LWV-CBC met monthly at the Stockbridge Library. When we had to move online, attendance dropped quickly. Nonetheless, several people persevered: We now have a board of five and a membership of 30 men and women dedicated to the mission and goals of the League:
“… a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy. We empower voters and defend democracy through advocacy, education, and litigation, at the local, state, and national levels.” (www.LWV.org)
An early challenge for our chapter, was the change in rules for voting in Massachusetts in the November 2020 elections. We connected with our neighbor leagues and learned strategies for voter engagement. We staffed information tables and distributed registration materials. We also discovered Vote411.org, a website chockful of information, which is hosted by the LWV of the United States (LWVUS).
Berkshire County, with its many self-governing towns and cities, constitutes a special challenge, and this is particularly true for local elections. But it is also a challenge for statewide elections, when information must be shared widely. In 2020, we tried to reach every locale in the Central Berkshires, distributing lawn signs and voter calendars of key dates: last day to register; last day to get a mail-in ballot; dates of the primary and general elections. Given the pandemic challenges, some town clerks needed additional support, so we linked them with high school students, who received the appropriate training and helped staff the polls.
Voter turnout in 2020 was encouraging, breaking records across the Commonwealth, with 75 – 90 percent turnout in Central Berkshire County.
Conversely, local election turnouts in 2021 were dismal. For example, one third of registered voters participated in the election for Selectman of Stockbridge. The result: an extremely close count, a recount, and finally a win by a margin of five votes. This example clearly shows the importance of every vote. LWV CBC intends to keep voter turnout a top priority. This coming season, we plan to encourage and enable more voters to get to the polls, especially traditionally disengaged voters. We have ideas, and we have hope!
Your participation as a member or volunteer would make a big difference. You don’t need to be a full-time resident. Please explore our website and join us.
https://lwvcentralberkshires.org/membership-account/membership-levels
