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Date: 4/15/2026
Subject: LWV Bellingham/Whatcom - The Voter, March 2026
From: League of Women Voters Bellingham/Whatcom County




 


No Kings

It was great to see so many of you (and your families, friends and neighbors!) at No Kings Rallies in Bellingham and Everson on Saturday March 28.  The weather was great and the crowd was huge. 

Thank you to Indivisible Bellingham which did a great job organizing!   


Save the Date: June Member Meeting

The League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County will hold our annual Member Meeting on Saturday, June 20th at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship.  We have only three member meetings per year and this is the big one in which we will pass a budget, elect board members and generally do our business for the year.  We need a quorum for this meeting so we do appreciate you coming and participating.

 On the agenda will be potentially changing our name from the League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County to the League of Women Voters of Whatcom County.  We have gotten feedback that our name, with Bellingham first, turns some people off in the county and limits membership and participation outside of the city.

Please put this on your calendar – June 20th 10 to noon, Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship. More details to follow.

2026 Healthcare Bills 

This was a difficult year for the Legislature given the predicted revenue shortfall. Despite legislators looking for ways to cut expenditures and raise additional revenue, many of the healthcare bills supported by the League passed and are now law.

 A list of the healthcare and behavioral health bills supported or opposed by the State League, their status at the end of the 2026 legislative session, and how our local legislators voted can be found on the LWVBWC website. Learn more about this success and what bills are coming up that require support!



What do you Know about the Department of Homeland Security?

Immigration and Customs Enforcement—ICE—has been much in the news recently, but it’s only one of the agencies under the Department of Homeland Security.  This short video gives you an idea of the Department’s vast scope.



Community Voices: Whatcom Women Share Their Stories

On March 15, 2026 the Racial Equity/Healthy Democracy Issue Group brought together six women to tell us stories about their lives.
 
Whatcom County is enriched by its diversity - rural and urban, longtime residents and newcomers, different cultures, faith traditions, careers, and life journeys. By hearing directly from women whose lives reflect that breadth, we gain insight into both our distinct experiences and our shared commitments to community.


An Amazing Gift

Village Books and Paper Dreams regularly asks its customers to “round up” for a local not-for-profit organization, and we were honored when the owners chose The League as the object of their “rounding” during the fall of 2025, as well as, in January and February of 2026. 
 
To our amazement, more than 10,000 of their customers agreed to contribute on our behalf, for a total of $12,741.51! We are beyond grateful to Village books and the generous book lovers who gave. 
 
On your next visit to the store, please thank the employees who help you for their work on behalf of the League.



Good News for Democracy in Washington State

With voting rights under assault across the country, democracy advocates in Washington state – including members of the League of Women Voters of Washington (LWVWA) and other organizations – have reason to celebrate following two new developments. 

 

 The Legislature passed -- and the governor signed -- a suite of bills that offer added protection for voters.

In addition, a new policy position from LWVWA calling for better protection of the rights of immigrants might soon receive approval at the national League level, which would empower members in more than 800 local Leagues across the country to advocate for the well-being of newcomers.

 

Alison McCaffree, LWVWA’s Democracy Issue Chair, said the Washington League identified SB 5892 and SB 6035 and HB 1710  and  HB1916 as priorities. Each bill strengthens a certain stage of the voting process: registering to vote, keeping personal information private, reviewing changes to election law, and suing because of discrimination.

 

 “We worked hard for the passage of these bills and are pleased that the League played a role in their successes,” said McCaffree. “We thank our members for their letters, emails and calls to lawmakers.  We were proud to partner with the Washington Voting Justice Coalition on these efforts and look forward to many more successes in the future.”

 

 More details are available about the Washington League’s progress to national adoption of its position on Welcoming Immigrants. The position itself is outlined more fully on the LWVWA website as well.  


LWV Book Group

Read the book, Paper Girl, and join us for a thought-provoking conversation on May 27.


Remembering Rebecca Johnson

For those of you who knew Rebecca Johnson as a fellow League member, a “Celebration of Life” will be held for Rebecca on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at the Syre Student Center at Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, Washington. The doors will open at 1:00 and the program will begin at 1:30.

Upcoming Events

Please join us monthly on Wednesdays for Coffee or Happy Hour
Wednesday, April 15
10:00 - 11:00 AM Next Chapter Café, Village Books 
5:00 - 6:00 pm Wander Brewing 
 
If you are new, grab yourself a drink and let’s talk about what interests you and how you might find your place in the League!  If you are a longtime member, come get caught up with your friends and let us know how you are doing! 
 

Questions? Want to help with membership engagement? Please call Eileen McCracken 360-746-1984


Look for us on...

Bluesky Threads
Bluesky Threads


The League would like to welcome our newest members:

Michelle Diaz

Kelly Grugan

Linda Crawford

Maria Scheel


Help the League do Our Work

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LWVBWC thanks The Voter editors, Theresa Kingma and Becca Verda

PO Box 4041 Bellingham, WA  98227-4041
360-305-3523
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