November 30, 2025

Greetings League Friends!

From federal litigation to voter education, the League kept up its usual pace in November. We remain involved in various ways, as plaintiffs or amici, in the following four concurrent cases: (1) LWV v. DHS, challenging the SAVE system database of voter information, (2) VOTE v. Landry, challenging burdensome requirements on voters with felony convictions seeing restoration of their right to vote, (3) LWV of Louisiana v. Landry, challenging Louisiana’s documentary proof of citizenship law and the lack of transparency  about it, and (4) Louisiana v. Callais, in which LWVUS filed an amicus brief. Read about these cases at our new Litigation Advocacy page on our state website.

Preparation for the 2026 federal midterm elections, along with other important state constitution ballot issues, remains a key concern as we head into the new year. LWVLA has been the proud recipient of Making Democracy Work grants from our national organization for four years running, and the midterms are our key focus this year—a focus that has been complicated with shifting election timelines as we await a U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Callais case. The April and May primary elections have now been rescheduled for May and June. But a late decision from the Court could alter these primaries further, creating new timelines, possible new congressional maps, and maybe abandonment of closed party primaries. We will keep voters informed of the latest developments and possible legal challenges, as we head into the 2026 elections.

Ongoing uncertainties surrounding some of these legal cases have presented particular challenges for voter education. November brought the important runoff elections in several Orleans Parish races, along with other elections around the state. Ballot initiatives and millages were on both the October and November ballots in Lafayette Parish, to name just one example. LWV Lafayette rose to the local voter education challenge with a televised public forum on all of the October and November ballot initiatives. Local elections greatly affect our everyday lives, and we are always glad when our Local Leagues can provide crucial voter education in local elections. (Map courtesy of Christie Maloyed.)

Our newest local league, LWV of Tangipahoa, also distinguished itself with some interesting voter education this month. LWVT partnered with the bipartisan Democratic-Republican Club of Southeastern Louisiana University at a voter information table outside the SLU Student Union. This followed collaboration with the club earlier in the month at an event to encourage public interest in government and a Constitution reading session in September. LWVT also did a Veterans Day voter information table and supported local efforts to address homelessness and food security, including for those threatened with SNAP benefit cuts in the federal government shutdown. We expected great things from our new league in Tangipahoa—and we have not been disappointed!

We mentioned that constitutional amendments will be on the ballot in May 2026, and at the League, we have been monitoring especially closely the one on civil service. The amendment would give the legislature greater latitude in designating unclassified civil service positions, which would then have fewer civil service protections and fewer restrictions on political activity. All of this is occurring against the backdrop of threats to federal civil service workers. “Serving Democracy: The Value of Nonpartisan Civil Service” was the theme of our 2025 State Convention, and we also published a letter to the editor on the issue. Most interestingly, our national LWVUS Legislative Advocacy team has recently shared with us some LWV history on the issue, including a letter from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt praising the League’s engagement on the issue!

The “Unite & Rise 8.5” campaign to register, educate, and activate 8.5 million voters continues—and Louisiana is seeking to reach 160,000 Louisiana voters before the 2026 midterm elections. As always, if you’re not with us yet as a League member, join us, tell your friends, and consider a donation to fund our work. From voter education to protection of voting rights and democracy itself, your League is working for you!

In League,

Your LWVLA State Board

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