Spring is a very busy time, so just two quick notes from me this month.
First, if you have not done so, please complete the Election Authorities Study survey on local voting experiences.
The survey is part of an ongoing League study exploring ways to reduce voter confusion about the two election authorities in McLean County, and looking for ways to improve election practices and election administration efficiency. The study began in 2025 in response to reports of voter confusion in recent years as voting options and methods expanded and changed.
Please share the survey widely! (see below)
Preliminary findings will be shared at the 2026 Annual Meeting on July 16.
Second, in my column in last month’s The Voter, I promised to share the links to the LWVIL 2026 Issues Briefing recordings:
|
Will you help get the word out?
Please tell your family, friends, neighbors, and community groups about the survey, and how to take it. To help with this:
| | | | Celebrate Camille and Art!
History Makers Gala | June 17
By Beth Porter
Help us celebrate our very own McLean County League member, Camille Taylor, and her husband, Art Taylor, at this year’s History Makers Gala on June 17.
Each year, the McLean County History Museum recognizes long-standing residents whose life-long contributions of time and talents have helped to make McLean County a better place to live. Joining Camille and Art to be honored are Malinda Fischer, John McIntyre, and Feli Sebastian.
Registration for the event closes June 1. See the link below for event details, including how to register for the Gala and sit with other League members.
Congratulations to Camille and Art on this honor and thank you for making a lasting impact within the League and McLean County! | | | Curious About Observing Government in Action?
Virtual Meeting on June 9
Join experienced observers and interested league members as we discuss what entities we are monitoring. We offer resources to each other, including tips and shadowing.
We need observers for the Town Council of Normal, both school boards, Normal Public Library Board, several commissions, planning entities, and more.
Mark your calendar for June 9 from 5-6 pm.
Contact Janine Toth at info@lwvmclean.org for more information and to receive the zoom link to our meetings.
| | | | LWV Members on Civil Rights Tour
Several League members participated in a Civil Rights tour organized by the First United Methodist Church of Normal. They visited important sites in Memphis, Birmingham, Selma and Montgomery. League member Cyndy Ruszkowski noted, “You can’t help but leave this experience feeling passionate about finding your own ‘good trouble’ that John Lewis spoke of.”
Pictured at the Legacy Museum Sculpture Park in Montgomery, AL, (l to r): Phylis VerSteegh, Jim Russell, Faith Russell, Diana Hauman, Cyndy Ruszkowski (Not pictured but very much present: Kris Williams). | | |  | League Welcomes McLean County Museum of History Collaborations
by Kyle Ciani, Director of Voter Services
It's not every day that one gets to snap a photo with "Abe Lincoln" but thanks to the McLean County Museum of History, members of the League's Voter Services Committee did just that at the inaugural Farmer's Market in downtown Bloomington on May 2.
The Museum has generously provided space in its plaza for the League to interact with visitors throughout the summer. On May 2 that included those who attended the Red Carpet Corridor celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66. Members will connect visitors to voter registration and candidate information through the League's Vote 411 tool, and distribute plenty of voter engagement materials.
| | Candace Summers, the Museum's Senior Director of Education, noted, "The Museum is an institution charged with preserving and interpreting our community's history, which includes engaging people in programs about how our Democracy was created and evolved over time. We are thrilled to partner with the League of Women Voters of McLean County for the Democracy Dialogues series and hosting them on our plaza to encourage more members of our community to become active participants in our Democracy."
| | | The League appreciates the collaborations with the Museum and looks forward to seeing folks at the plaza.
Also, mark your calendars for the next Democracy Dialogue on September 22, 6:30-8 p.m., at Heartland Community College when Dr. Meghan Leonard, Associate Professor of Politics and Government at Illinois State University will discuss the phrase "All Men Are Created Equal." (Details here.) | League Members’ Awards and Honors
Congrats to Caitlin Bradford for receiving the Paul Simon Democracy Prize this year. She is one of three university students in the state who were awarded a prize of $5,000 for the design and implementation of projects to revitalize democracy in their community.
Read more about the democracy prize and Caitlin’s proposal.
|  | | Drinks & Dialogue Recap
By Colleen Reynolds
At the May 6th Drinks & Dialogue, Bloomington Chief Simington talked about the Illinois TRUST Act and how it is implemented by the Bloomington Police Department. In 2017, Illinois enacted the TRUST Act, a measure that limits state and local law enforcement’s participation in federal immigration enforcement.
Chief Simington stressed that immigration and deportation are administrative, civil processes rather than criminal ones. For that reason, he explained, the term “illegal alien” is not accurate.
When he talked about his department’s mission statement, he was clear to point out it does not include the word “citizen” to highlight that the agency is there for everyone.
The chief shared he tries to innovate, including finding better ways of doing things. He said body cameras now have an automatic translation feature which no longer requires officers to call an interpreter to crime or accident scenes.
Bloomington police officers do not inquire about immigration status or citizenship, aiming to ensure all residents feel safe reporting crimes.
| | |  | Dear League of Women Voters of McLean County Members,
Please save the date for our Annual Meeting on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at the Bloomington Public Library, Community Room, 2nd Floor, located at 205 E. Olive St., Bloomington, IL 61701.
We will have a brief social time beginning at 6:00 p.m., and the meeting will be held from 6:15–7:30 p.m.
To help the evening run smoothly, we’re recruiting volunteers for several meeting support roles, including:
- Room setup and cleanup
- Greeters
- Sign-in and membership check-in
- Refreshments and hospitality
You can sign up for these volunteer positions here:
This is a wonderful opportunity to help welcome members, support the organization's mission, and make our Annual Meeting a smooth and meaningful event.
Thank you for considering a volunteer role. Your help makes a difference.
Warmly,
Beth Porter
Membership Director
League of Women Voters McLean County
| More Annual Meeting Information
2026-27 Program
By Faith Russell, Director, Issues & Advocacy
Members will be asked to vote on the League of Women Voters of McLean County (LWVMC) Program for the coming year, as part of the Annual Meeting held on July 16th. The Program consists of coordinated and purposeful action to implement the principles of the League. It consists of those governmental issues chosen for study with the intent of determining a position, or for advocacy and action.
For the 2026-27 term, the LWVMC Board is proposing the following elements as our focus. If any member has additional Program suggestions, please submit them to info@lwvmclean.org.
Unite and Rise 8.5: This initiative has been developed and promoted by the national LWV. It’s an effort to mobilize 8.5 million voters to resist the anti-democratic actions of this administration. The LWVUS states that we are in a constitutional crisis. (See LWVUS overview here.)
Youth Civic Ambassador Program: This new effort is currently being researched and explored; it would involve high school students learning about civics, democracy, elections, voting, etc. Several other Illinois LWVs, including that in Champaign, are models for our local effort.
Affordable Housing: Georgene Chissell is keeping the League appraised of local efforts to address the housing crisis in our community. We have a local position on this which was updated in 2016.
Immigration: Given immigration enforcement activity in McLean County, we will stay connected with the work of The Immigration Project. Laurie Bergner, who is on the board of both the LWVMC and The Immigration Project will keep us connected. The LWVIL has a position on immigration that is consistent with Immigration Project activities.
| Help Plan the Next 20 Years
McLean County Regional Comprehensive Plan
The McLean County Regional Planning Commission is updating the regional comprehensive plan. This will guide what our community will look like in the next 20 years from the look and feel of it, how we'll get around and what our environment will be.
How can you help? You can take the Visioning Survey listed below. You can also look at their website to learn more about the comprehensive plan and the timeline. And if you want to keep informed, you can sign up for their plan updates.
McLean County Regional Planning Commission Website
| | | | Welcome to Our Newest Members!
By Beth Porter
Ayshi Patel and Natalia Schmeiser | | | LWV in the News
Read LWVUS public statements about our actions to defend democracy.
Read LWVIL published news and media coverage.
| |