What is UNITE AND RISE 8.5?
Unite and Rise 8,5 is an initiative of the League of Women Voters to mobilize 8.5 million people using the power of voter engagement as a cornerstone of democracy. Unite and Rise 8.5 showcases the many ways voters can drive change through advocacy, mobilization, civic education, and engagement. We need you to be a part of this movement and help us grow this network of 8.5 million people committed to defending our democracy. Together, we will unite and rise nationwide, from the streets to the courts to the polls, to defend a democracy that is by and for the people.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
PARTICIPATE in at least one state or national action alert (on your state League's website or at lwv.org/take-action). Share the alert with THREE friends!
ATTEND one League or other advocacy event per month .
CHECK VOTE 411.org to see if there is an election in your community. If so, find five friends and make a voting plan.
OBSERVE a local meeting in your area -- a redistricting hearing, or a school board, city council, or commissioner meeting (check your local city council website for details.
COMMIT to Unite and Rise with us at lwv.org/uniteandrise. Stay informed of how you can plug in with friends.
Our Positions
On Voting Rights
​LWVNV has advocated for the right of all Nevadans to vote without hardship or suppression in exercising their constitutional right.
Voting is a fundamental principle, and all Americans deserve the equal opportunity to make their voices heard in our democracy. We are dedicated to using advocacy, litigation, and resources like VOTE411 to include more voters, expand and protect voter access, and ensure that elections remain fair and accessible.
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​On Elections
Our vote is our power. Through our votes, elections make our voices heard. The League protects and empowers millions of voters every year to ensure that our elections are fair, accessible, and representative of all Americans.
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On Money in Politics
We work to ensure that our government serves the people, not wealthy special interests, by promoting transparency, limiting SuperPACs, and eliminating dark money.
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On Redistricting
Redistricting, or community districting, is the process of creating representational district maps for states and local communities. By determining which neighborhoods are included in each mapped boundary, redistricting impacts how our communities are represented in the US and local government and determines how resources are distributed.
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On Healthcare Reform
Every US resident should have access to affordable, quality health care, including birth control and the privacy to make reproductive choices.
On Immigration
Immigration policies should promote the reunification of immediate families, meet economic, business, and employment needs, and be responsive to those facing political persecution or humanitarian crises.
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On the Environment
Immigration policies should promote the reunification of immediate families, meet economic, business, and employment needs, and be responsive to those facing political persecution or humanitarian crises.
Our guiding document on public policy positions can be found in Impact on Issues, an overview of the League of Women Voters of the US advocacy and legislative work from the 1960s and onward. We focus our state advocacy on the right to vote, which can be found on pages 23–32.
Advocacy encompasses pleading for or against causes, as well as supporting or recommending positions. Lobbying is defined as an attempt to influence specific legislation, including both legislation that has already been introduced in a legislative body and specific legislative proposals that the League may oppose or support. It is a specific advocacy technique. While lobbying can be part of an advocacy strategy, advocacy does not necessarily include lobbying. For complete details, go to Defining Advocacy vs. Lobbying on the LWVUS website.
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At LWVNV, we are working toward establishing participation in both advocacy and lobbying on behalf of the Nevadans we represent.