October 2025 League Lookout - LWVNAZ News/Events Northern Arizona and Greater Verde Valley
| LWVNAZ Members and Supporters:
We have changed our newsletter to a quarterly format covering events for the next few months, supplementing this with periodic emails on specific events. We are providing information that the League is sponsoring as well as information about events that you might find of interest. Feel free to share this information with anyone you think would benefit from this information!
To get information about other league activities, see our website.
| Message from the Board
Hello fellow Leaguers,
There are a number of opportunities this month to get more involved with the League at the state level:
These are all chances to make a significant contribution to the state League. Consider volunteering.
LWVUS is joining No Kings 2 as a national partner on Saturday, October 18. LWVUS has decided to become an official partner for this day of mobilization to stand in solidarity with partners and stand up against hate and authoritarianism. The League has consistently and boldly spoken up in the face of rising authoritarianism.
See below to see locations and to sign up.
Our community is vibrant and focused on empowering voters and defending democracy. We do this through voter education, voter registration and advocacy and we want to continue strengthening our community. You can read about those efforts in this newsletter and on our website. We hope that you find something that will capture your interest and make you want to invite your friends.
Yours in league,
Kathy Henry
| | LWVUS is joining No Kings 2 as a national partner on Saturday, October 18. LWVUS has decided to become an official partner for this day of mobilization to stand in solidarity with partners and stand up against hate and authoritarianism. The League has consistently and boldly spoken up in the face of rising authoritarianism. This is an opportunity to put words into action and show up in defense of democracy and as an effective ally. We understand that we cannot control how other partners show up, and participating in any event comes with some risk. When participating in any event, please utilize our protest safety guidance. If representing the League or wearing LWV shirts (which we encourage), please use good judgment when creating signs and participating in nonpartisan chants. | | | | Calling for Democracy: Help ensure that every Arizona Voter can vote full ballot.
October and November 2025
Tens of thousands of Arizonans are at risk of losing full voting rights after being placed on the Documentary Proof of Citizenship (DPOC) list, which limits them to Federal-only ballots.
The League of Women Voters of Arizona has partnered with One Arizona to notify affected voters and help them check their registration status before the next election. We need YOUR help through phone banking.
Take action with us to ensure every voice is heard.
| | |  Two ways to take action
|  For experienced phone bankers — one-time registration only, no set schedule required.
Experienced Phone Bankers — Call on Your Own Schedule Use your skills to help protect Arizona voters. Make calls anytime between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., from wherever is convenient for you.
Registration link to receive instructions and information Your confirmation email will provide instructions and link to make phone calls. | |  New or hesitant volunteers - Community Phone Banks (via Zoom):
Join one of our Community Phone Banks. You’ll get step-by-step support from experienced members, and we’ll be on Zoom together as a team.
Together, we can build community, empower voters, and protect every Arizona voter’s right to be heard. Thank you for stepping up to defend democracy!
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GET READY FOR 2026 – IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES
State Primary Election – August 4, 2026 (including many local elections)
Voter Registration Deadline –
July 6, 2026
General Election – November 3, 2026 (including State Offices and All Congressional Districts)
Voter Registration Deadline – October 5, 2026 | | |
The Voter Registration Team has been busy organizing and conducting voter registration drives in advance of the 2026 Primary and General Elections. Volunteers have set up monthly voter registration tables throughout the Verde Valley and Flagstaff.
Voter registration is available monthly in Camp Verde, Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Flagstaff, West Sedona, and Village of Oak Creek from October 2025 – April 2026.
Weekly drives are planned for May – October 2026.
An in-person team gathering happened on September 10 to:
* Coordinate events across communities and partner with other organizations aligned with the LWV mission
* Meet with Coconino County Recorder Aubrey Sonderegger to review recent changes in voter registration procedures coming out of the 2025 Arizona Legislature
* Engage in a conversation with GEN Z leader, Francesca Martin, ASU student political activist, about best ways to engage young voters
Members of the LWVNAZ Voter Registration Team were invited to Sandra Day O’Connor CIVICS DAY at Mingus Union High School on September 25. Patti Blair, Gail Digate, Ashley Gonzalez, and Rose O’Donnell spoke with more than 300 students about the importance of voting in the upcoming primary and general elections. They registered age-eligible students to vote and distributed information about upcoming elections, including important election dates and registration deadlines as well as trusted sources for gathering election information.
If interested in learning more about the Voter Registration Team and/or volunteering at one or more community sites, contact Gail Digate, Co-Chair at (ggdigate@gmail.com). |
The Political Book Club meets at 3:00 pm MST on the last Monday of the month with the exception of December.
The PBC discussion for September was Murder the Truth: Fear, the First
Amendment, and a Secret Campaign to Protect the Powerful, by David Enrich.
The book for October is Who is Government?: the Untold Story of Public
Service, by Michael Lewis.
Future titles are the following:
Nov - Hate won’t Win: Find Your Power and Leave This Place Better Than You
Found It, by Mallory McMorrow
Dec - No meeting
Jan - Patriot: A Memoir, by Alexei Navalny
The only requirement to join us is to have read the book. We are still meeting via Zoom. If you would like to join the group, contact ann.holland99@gmail.com to obtain the Zoom link for the meeting.
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LWVNAZ Turns Strategic Focus on GEN Z Voters and Aspiring Leaders
into Voter Education Programs and Multi-Year Engagement Project
During the 2025 Convention of the League of Women Voters of Arizona (May 17-18), delegates from local leagues across the state explored the importance of reaching young voters in 2026 and beyond.
LWVNAZ renewed its commitment to engage young people in the critical work of the LWV— informing, educating and supporting voters and defending democracy.
The recent voter education program, GEN Z Young Voters and Aspiring Leaders: What Matters!?, was co-sponsored by LWVNAZ and LWVNWM (Northwest Maricopa) in partnership with Yavapai College Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). Held on National Voter Registration Day (September 16), this Zoom Webinar served as a kick-off for LWVNAZ strategic focus on young people and featured international researcher and noted author on GEN Z, Hana Ben-Shabat, as well as a dynamic panel of GEN Z members — Ashley Gonzalez, 2025 graduate of Mingus Union High School and freshman at Yavapai College, Francesca Martin, ASU Senior and political activist for students’ voting rights, and Lani Nallira, government teacher at Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy, who, interestingly, is a GEN Z teaching GEN Z learners!
This Webinar was recorded. To request a link to the recording, email lwvnaz@gmail.com
A follow-up Zoom meeting to continue the conversation with GEN Z Panel members is scheduled for Thursday, October 28 from 4:00 to 5:30 PM. Email lwvnaz@gmail.com to request the Zoom link.
Together, students, teachers and mentors will conduct voter registration drives on campus and in the community and work on other aspects of civic engagement in the months ahead.
If you are curious about this project and want to learn more about serving as a mentor, email lwvnaz@gmail or contact Gail Digate (ggdigate@gmail.com) for more information.
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The Voter Education team has been exploring topics for LWVNAZ Voter Education Programs for the balance of 2025 and beginning again in January 2026 (taking a holiday break in December).
October 2025 (date TBD)
4:00-5:30 PM
Virtual and/or in-person
Focus on Latino Voters
Rose O’Donnell is coordinating date with speakers.
November 2025 (date TBD)
4:00-5:30 PM
Virtual and/or or in-person
Focus on Native American/Indigenous People Voters
Rose O’Donnell is coordinating dates with speakers.
January 2026 (date TBD)
The Water below: A Community Dialogue
The Voter Education Programs Committee welcomes suggestions from the membership on additional topics for 2026. | LWV Northern Arizona Action Corner
The most effective way to harness the full potential of your League of Women Voters membership is to get actively engaged in our Action and Advocacy efforts.
Dive into making democracy work by bringing your curiosity, expertise, and passion to a myriad of roles aimed at empowering voters and defending democracy. Your involvement is pivotal—not only does it empower individuals, but it also strengthens the very fabric of our democracy. Join us in this vital work—your efforts make a significant difference.
Here are the actions you can take to make a difference!
STATE ACTION: LWV Arizona ADVOCACY
The LWV of Arizona needs Advocacy champions. Put your talent and passion to work by participating in a broad range of advocacy activities. You choose your level of commitment. Every action matters and your involvement makes us powerful and effective.
· Commenting on bills in the legislature that are LWVAZ priorities
· Join an Issue Team
· Become a League volunteer lobbyist
· Fight mis- and disinformation by volunteering to work on League podcasts
Use the LWV Arizona one-stop signup to participate in these advocacy activities.
Also take a look at 5calls.org. – it is an easy way for you to make a political impact.
And lastly, Download the League In Action app and join a network of Leagues across the country taking action to empower voters and defend our democracy!
| Follow the Ballot Tour
The Yavapai Recorder will be scheduling tours soon that show you how your ballot is processed after you vote. It's a great way to understand more about how voting works and dispel any misinformation you might have heard. If you are interested in taking the tour, send an email to lwvnaz@gmail.com. We will create a waiting list and let you know when a tour is actually scheduled. | | One Person One Vote - a program aimed at electing the President by direct popular vote. For a short term approach LWV is supporting the growing Popular Vote Compact which is an agreement by states that electoral votes will be awarded to the popular vote winner. Several more states are needed for this to become effective. The longer term approach is a Constitutional Amendment to abolish the Electoral College. This is a big, challenging goal that will take great effort, but accomplishing important things usually does. To learn more, go to One Person One Vote Campaign or watch the League panel discussion here. | | | |