With the November 5 election approaching, and lively local debate on the recent school district referendum, the need for nonpartisan voter education is high this fall. Hopewell Valley’s chapter of the national grassroots organization League of Women Voters is busy supporting residents as they navigate the election season.
“We hear many questions at our Hopewell Harvest Fair booth each year,” said Joann Held, President of the Hopewell Valley League. “People aren’t sure where, or if, they’re registered to vote. They want to know more about ballot questions and local elections, which I encourage because your vote has a lot more influence on the local level than it does in presidential elections.”
Founded by suffragists in 1920, the League of Women Voters was originally intended to help women navigate their new responsibilities as voters. Its work has since expanded to include initiatives for all Americans: spearheading voter registration drives, sponsoring candidate debates, supporting voting rights legislation, and sharing information with a commitment to remaining nonpartisan.
The League made history in 1976 when it sponsored the first televised nonpartisan presidential debate in 16 years. Its commitment to informing the public by bringing candidates into their living rooms launched the return of televised presidential debates.
The Hopewell Valley League has sponsored candidate forums in the past, but as Held pointed out, “People running for School Board and Township Committee aren’t polished politicians, they’re just regular people like you and me… televised debates can be overwhelming. These days, we interview each candidate on the issues and post the videos on our YouTube channel so the public can get to know them.”
In addition to their booth at the Hopewell Harvest Fair on September 21, League members will be available to the public at the Pennington Farmers Market on October 12; just three days before the October 15 voter registration deadline.
“We can look up if/where you’re registered, provide you with a postage-paid registration card if needed,” says Held, “we even offer to mail it since people might be having a day out and put it in their pocket, forget about it, possibly miss the deadline.”
In addition to community outreach events, the Hopewell Valley League supports residents through its website hopewellvalleylwv.org which provides straightforward, unbiased election information. Features include Know Your Valley, where residents find answers to common questions such as: What congressional district do I live in? Who are my representatives? When are they up for re-election? Know Your Valley includes a downloadable flyer listing the area’s elected officials and term dates, from municipal government all the way up to Congress.
On a national level, the League offers similar information via VOTE411.org. Those interested in improving the political landscape are encouraged to use League resources like the Activist Training Program, a series of webinars on topics such as Understanding Government and Crafting Testimony & Public Comments.
The Hopewell Valley League also serves the area by granting an annual Community Service Award to high school seniors who show exceptional initiative in civic engagement. On hiatus since the pandemic, the $500 award is returning in 2025.
“One of my favorite things is the work we do supporting new voters, like young people and new citizens,” said Held. The Hopewell League often attends naturalization ceremonies at the federal building in Trenton. “After the ceremony, our information table gets busy with new citizens who are so excited about the opportunity to vote.”
Hopewell Valley League members get together with other area Leagues (four in Mercer County) to share experiences in their communities and work together on state and national issues like improving elections and protecting voting rights.
Interested community members can get involved, or reach out with questions by visiting hopewellvalleylwv.org or calling 609-306-1483.
