December Newsletter
- LWV SouthCoast
- Dec 4
- 9 min read
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Greetings, our December 2025 newsletter highlights civic engagement as well as a Holiday Message.
The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes a spirit of joy, warmth, and togetherness that brightens even the coldest winter days. This time of year invites us to pause from our busy routines, reflect on the blessings we’ve received, and share meaningful moments with family, friends, and our wider community.
Gatherings around festive tables, cheerful conversations, and the laughter of loved ones remind us of what truly matters. Whether it’s exchanging thoughtful gifts, enjoying holiday traditions, or simply spending time with those we care about, these moments weave lasting memories that carry us into the new year with hope and gratitude.
As members of the League of Women Voters, we are fortunate to share not only common interests but also a sense of fellowship that extends beyond our activities. The holidays allow us to celebrate that bond, to wish one another well, and to look forward to the adventures and accomplishments that await us in the coming year.
In this season of giving, let us also remember those in need and extend kindness wherever possible. A simple gesture of goodwill can make a world of difference.
From all of us on the SouthCoast, may your holidays be filled with happiness, may your homes be blessed with health, and may your journeys be safe. Here’s to a joyful holiday season and a bright, promising new year ahead!
Happy Holidays!
League of Women Voters SouthCoast
Civic Engagement Highlights
Acushnet | Dartmouth | Fairhaven | Marion | Mattapoisett | New Bedford | Rochester | Wareham | Westport
“Democracy is not a spectator sport.” — League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania
League of Women Voters Statement on President Trump’s Claims that Lawmakers’ Dissent Equals ‘Seditious Behavior’
WASHINGTON, DC— “The President’s suggestion that lawmakers should face death for upholding the rule of law is not political rhetoric; it’s an authoritarian threat that shatters every democratic norm. No leader in a functioning democracy invokes death as punishment for dissent. Doing so endangers our institutions, our public servants, and the foundations of democratic governance.
“At a moment when Americans need real solutions to the growing crises impacting their lives, the President is choosing violent intimidation over governing.
“While he escalates chaos, the League of Women Voters is doing the work he refuses to do: strengthening democracy. We are winning in the courts, from challenging unlawful federal overreach in League of Women Voters Education Fund v. Trump to protecting Arkansans’ right to direct democracy in League of Women Voters Arkansas v. Thurston. We are registering voters, defending voting rights, and fighting disinformation in every community.
“He chooses division. We choose the American people—our safety, our freedom, and our future. We will keep choosing unity, dignity, and the shared promise of a democracy that protects us all. And we will stand up, speak out, and keep fighting to protect it.”
Improving Effiency
On November 11, 2025, the League of Women Voters SouthCoast received an inquiry from the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts regarding a request from Lou Bouley, Treasurer of the LWV Northampton Area. A new League member asked for certification of an election involving 60 tenants at a Northampton apartment complex. The process required Northampton League members to spend hours checking in voters, distributing ballots, and counting votes. Ms. Bouley was seeking advice to streamline the process and make it more efficient.
To improve efficiency and reduce the need for prolonged in-person staffing, the following options were proposed by the League of Women Voters SouthCoast:
Proposed Options:
1. Shorter Voting Window: Condense the voting period to a few peak hours, perhaps 8–11 a.m. This would allow for more focused staffing and reduce idle time for volunteers.
2. Use tablets or laptops: For voter check-in to speed up the process and reduce manual errors.
3. Advance Ballot Submission: Allow residents to submit ballots in advance via: a. Mail-in voting with clear deadlines and instructions. b. Place a secure drop box available for participants in the building lobby or at the management office. This would enable more flexible participation and reduce the need for all votes to be cast in person on the same day.
These changes would not only ease the workload for League members but also make the voting process more convenient for residents with varying schedules.
Indirect Taxation without Representation: A Conversation About Tariffs
As the 2024 election highlighted, candidates and media often failed to explain how democracy affects people’s everyday lives. To address this gap, the LWVMA Voter Engagement Committee created the “What Democracy Means in Everyday Life” series. The first three recorded programs explored Voter Engagement, the Intersectionality of Democracy and Immigration, and Civic Engagement & Technology.
Below is the first in the video series.
The League of Women Voters SouthCoast is one of several proud sponsors of Indirect Taxation without Representation: A Conversation About Tariffs.
The Committee filmed their next program in a series of What Democracy Means in Everyday Life: “Indirect Taxation without Representation: A Conversation About Tariffs.” This discussion focused on how tariffs, an indirect form of taxation, shape democracy at the local, state, and national levels. Panelists considered the constitutional foundations of tariff authority, the roles of Congress and the legal system, and the consequences of trade policy for communities. The program was recorded at NewTV on November 20, and the video will be posted online once it becomes available.
Background on the Panelists
State Senator Adam Gomez (D–Springfield) is a lifelong resident of western Massachusetts and the first Latino from the Hampden District to serve in the Massachusetts Senate. A former small business owner, he advocates for veterans and the Black and Latino communities, as well as social justice causes such as criminal justice reform, immigrant rights, education, and civil rights. Gomez previously served as a Springfield City Councilor.
Kent Jones, Professor Emeritus of Economics at Babson College, holds a PhD in international economics from the Graduate Institute in Geneva. Dr. Jones is an expert on trade policy and the World Trade Organization and the author of several books, including Populism and Trade. His career includes service as a staff economist at the U.S. International Trade Commission and senior economist at the U.S. State Department.
Facilitator, Erica Rachel Andrews, a community organizer and nonprofit leader in Springfield, serves as an At-Large Councilor and Treasurer on the McKnight Neighborhood Council. She is Co-Founder and President of Springfield Community, a digital-equity nonprofit. Andrews also serves on the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts and is a member of the Northampton Area League.
League of Women Voters, Campaign Legal Center Sue USCIS, DHS, and Other Federal Officials over Voter Registration Ban at Administrative Naturalization Ceremonies
On November 18, 2025, the League of Women Voters (LWV), along with five state and local Leagues, filed a lawsuit against the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and other federal officials. The suit challenges a new rule, announced abruptly in August without required procedures, that bars nonpartisan civic engagement groups from providing voter registration or promoting civic participation to newly naturalized citizens at administrative naturalization ceremonies. The League is represented by the Campaign Legal Center (CLC).
For decades, the League of Women Voters has exercised its constitutional right to assist new citizens in registering to vote immediately after naturalization. This effort aligns with the League’s mission to empower voters and strengthen democracy.
The lawsuit argues that USCIS and DHS have violated the First Amendment rights of the national, state, and local Leagues by restricting their political speech and civic activities. It also asserts that federal officials failed to comply with the Administrative Procedure Act, which requires agencies to use transparent, established processes when implementing new policies.
League CEO Celina Stewart criticized the rule as a deliberate attempt to limit new citizens’ access to the democratic process. She emphasized that the League has long been a trusted presence at naturalization ceremonies, helping new Americans register to vote on the day they become citizens. Limiting nonpartisan civic groups undermines constitutionally protected political participation and penalizes organizations that assist Americans in exercising their voting rights.
The ban harms new Americans, undermines trust, and dismantles a long-standing tradition of welcoming citizens into civic life. The League has assisted hundreds of thousands of new citizens in registering to vote. Due to a new rule, at least 166 planned registration events have been canceled, impacting an estimated 10,000 potential voters.
Big Win for Voter Rights: Petition Y Qualifies for the Ballot!
We have great news!
Same-Day Voter Registration (Petition Y) has enough signatures to appear on the 2026 ballot!
Canvassers, thank you for your hard work in getting enough signatures to qualify our petition to expand voter rights in Massachusetts.
Our grassroots effort reached across Massachusetts from the Berkshires to the Cape and Islands and everywhere else in between.
This initiative fills an existing gap in our present law. No qualified citizen will be deprived of the right to vote.
Hopefully, the energy demonstrated by this effort will persuade the legislature to act immediately on this issue, but if not, now we have an insurance policy – a recent poll indicates that 65 percent of Massachusetts voters support this change.
Thank you again, LWVMA, for your good work.
Economic blackout
You may have noticed calls on social media for an economic blackout around Black Friday. As these conversations highlight the power of collective economic action, the League has an opportunity to engage in ways that reflect our mission: uplifting communities and expanding civic power. At the heart of this moment are values we champion—economic empowerment, equity, and community strength. By supporting women-owned, minority-owned, and small businesses, we help build resilience and ensure resources remain within our communities.
The following messages can guide Leagues in contributing to this dialogue and reinforcing the link between economic justice and a thriving democracy.
Economic power is civic power. Communities with opportunity and stability can fully participate in democracy.
We uplift economic empowerment. The League supports actions that strengthen communities, especially those historically excluded from economic opportunity.
Support local businesses. Women-owned, minority-owned, and small businesses strengthen economies and keep resources local.
Address inequities. Economic disparities disproportionately affect Black communities, women, and other marginalized groups, limiting mobility and civic participation.
Reinvest locally. Every day choices to support local businesses build equity, resilience, and connection.
Democracy thrives when communities thrive. By uplifting diverse local businesses, we advance equity and strengthen civic engagement.
UpComing Events
The League of Women Voters of Newton, Brookline, Dover-Sherborn, Needham, Sharon-Stoughton, SouthCoast, and Wellesley invite you to join them on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 6:30-7:30 pm for a Congressional Update and Q&A on Zoom with Congressman Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional District.
Congressman Auchincloss will discuss recent events happening in the House of Representatives, followed by questions and answers from league leaders and audience members.
We invite all members to submit questions they would like to have addressed by the Congressman. Please submit questions to league@lwvnewton.org.
Registration is required to receive the Zoom link.
The Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition hosts a Civic Learning Week, scheduled for March 9-16, 2026. The theme is the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution. For more information: https://www.macivicsforall.org/clw
Our League members are encouraged to attend the State Civics Showcase events as possible community advisors, listening to student presentations and offering helpful feedback and appreciation. Next year, a local showcase event will be held at UMass Dartmouth on May 29, 2026.
Dates and locations for State Civics Showcases:
May 26: at MassMutual Center in Springfield
May 29: at UMass Dartmouth
June 1: at DCU Center in Worcester
June 5: at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston
Mission Accomplished
What a night! Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Indivisible Action Event, and to our incredible volunteers who made it possible. With music, energy, and community spirit, we welcomed new faces eager to learn more about the League of Women Voters.
Great thanks to Betty Hill, a strong, courageous, and awe-inspiring woman with a lot of heart. And, Gina, Lindsay, and Jess F., who together represented the LWVSC at the Indivisible Action Event held Thursday night, November 20, 2025, at the First Unitarian Church in New Bedford.
I want to acknowledge Betty’s effort, even though she was tired; she reported back upon arriving home, about the phenomenal success with sign-ups, and the super teamwork performed by Gina and Lindsay.
Jessica DeCicco-Carey is recognized for her presence at the Indivisible Action Event and masterful work on our Website.
Again, special thanks to Gina Sousa for capturing the evening! Together, we’re building a stronger, more informed SouthCoast.
Thank you, intrepid Leaguers, for your continued support with civic education and recruitment efforts.
LWVMA Executive Director Celia Canavan gave a shoutout for the 20th Witness Wednesday at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility last week. In these past 20 weeks, League members from across the state have shown up, rain or shine, to protest due process violations and show support for ICE detainees.
When due process is denied to any group, it weakens the rule of law for all of us.
Join us for Witness Wednesdays every Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. at Plymouth County Correctional Facility, at 26 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, where we peacefully protest against due process violations and show support for ICE detainees. Check out our new Due Process Toolkit at LWVMA under ADVOCACY for ways to take action!
Let’s keep the momentum going.
Wishing everyone a safe, happy, and healthy Holiday Season!
With gratitude,
Eileen J. Marum, Co-chair, LWVSC
League of Women Voters SouthCoast
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