League of Women Voters Huntington NY

Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy

New & Noteworthy

League of Women Voters Statement on USCIS Policy Restricting Voter Registration at Naturalization Ceremonies

Press Release / Last Updated: September 2, 2025

WASHINGTON – Today, Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters, released the following statement in response to revised policy guidance from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):    

“For decades, the League of Women Voters has been a trusted partner of both USCIS and federal courts to register new voters at naturalization ceremonies. This work has resulted in hundreds of thousands of new citizens registering to vote with League volunteers across the country. 

“The USCIS decision to bar nonpartisan organizations from providing voter registration services at naturalization ceremonies is an attempt to keep new citizens from accessing their full rights.  

“Naturalization ceremonies are empowering, joyful celebrations of American democracy. When a volunteer meets a newly naturalized citizen with a voter registration form in hand, they provide them with the tools to fully participate in the election franchise. 

“The League has always conducted this work in a proudly nonpartisan manner, with a single goal: to ensure new Americans have a voice in our democracy. Our League volunteers step in where election officials often lack capacity, making sure critical voter registration services reach those who need them most. Across the country, local election officials recognize and deeply value the partnership of their local League in voter registration, which strengthens communities and democracy.  

“By shutting out the League and other civic partners, USCIS is making it harder for new citizens to register to vote, which is yet another intimidation tactic and attack on the immigrant community. Our democracy is stronger with the voices of new citizens. 

“The League of Women Voters remains committed to ensuring every eligible voter can register, cast a ballot, and have their vote counted. Despite this setback, the League of Women Voters will find ways to do this vital work and ensure new citizens can access voter registration. We call on USCIS to reverse this policy.” 

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Shoutout to Local Businesses!

/These generous businnesses donated gifts for the Silent Auction that took place at our recent Annual Meeting. Thanks to All!

  • Bead Utopia, by Michelle
  • Sepanski
  • Einsteins Attic
  • Engemann Theater
  • Hengstenberg’s Florist
  • Jackie Shawn Hair Salon
  • Hewelry Collection and More
  • Jones Drug Store
  • La Porta
  • Main Street Optometry
  • The Next
  • The Window Shop
  • Your Yoga Place

/And to local League members for their Gifts

  • Jeri Cohen
  • Deb Cosher and Paul Levitt
  • Judie Gorenstein
  • Jayette Lansburfy
  • Marion Munch
  • Mary and John Perri
  • Nancy Holliday
  • Parker Clay
  • Isabelle Pullis
  • Kay Sato
  • Lizbeth Thalheimer
  • Angie Troici
  • Frances Whiittlesey

Special thanks to Connoisseur Radio and Five Towns College for their ongoing civic participation in creating and airing the LWV Huntington Public Service Announcements for “Get Out the Vote!”

No Kings Rally in Huntington

/Local League officals and members along with hundreds others on Main St Huntington for the No Kings Ralley. Across the Country millions gathered in protest in more than 1,800 ralleys.

Call to Action from LWV Huntington and NY State

LWV of Huntington strongly encourages all our members to get involved. We must all do what we can to Defend our Democracy.  Democracy dies in Darkness. 

Light for Our Democracy & April 5 Hands Off Mobilization

  • Leagues and over 24 partners mobilized 79 events nationwide.
  • LWV is joining national organizers for “Hands Off” events, a national day of action currently with over 200 events planned. Leagues are welcome to join or create events using this sign-up link.
  • A Community Field Call will take place on Thursday, March 27 at 5:30pm ET. This call is an excellent opportunity for local and state Leagues to learn more and coordinate on upcoming LWV activities and actions. Register for next week’s call here.

Congressional Recess Actions

Congressional Action

Upcoming Elections + VOTE411

  • Clearly there’s A LOT of important things happening right now, AND it’s still an election year; there’s really no “off-year” for elections.
  • Many of our communities’ most pressing issues hang in the balance, and Leagues have a chance to make some of their greatest impact in these local and special elections.
  • We have over 2,000 races on VOTE411 right now.
  • Election Prep Toolkit: https://www.lwv.org/league-management/voter-services/election-preparation-toolkit

Stop the SAVE Act: Huntington League of Women Voters Calls for Immediate Action to Prevent Disenfranchisement of Millions of Americans

Huntington, NY — The U.S. Congress is fast-tracking passage of the so-called
SAVE Act, a bill that would require all Americans to provide a birth certificate, passport, or one of a few other citizenship documents when they not only register for the first time, but need to register again because they’ve moved, or, as married women often do, have changed their names.

“The potential passage of this bill calls for emergency action to stop this effort to disenfranchise millions of American voters,” said Deb Cosher, a leader of the Huntington League of Women Voters. More than 21 million American citizens don’t have the documents named in the proposal readily available, according to survey data.

The bill, H.R. 22, euphemistically called the “Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act,” was moved to committee with a vote of 81-0 by House Republicans. A full vote in the House is expected on or around Feb. 25. It is already illegal for noncitizens to register and vote in federal or state elections.

Americans do not need MORE obstacles to vote.

Calling this an emergency because of that time frame, the Huntington League urges voters to immediately contact their Congressional representatives. “This is a blatant attempt to prevent and suppress voting, particularly people of color and young people, groups of individuals who are less likely than the average American to have the necessary documents,” according to the Brennen Center for Justice. Compared to white U.S. citizens, citizens of color are three times more likely to lack documents such as birth certificates, passports, naturalization certificates, etc., or face difficulties accessing them. For example, while approximately half of all American adults possess a passport, two-thirds of Black Americans do not.

What’s more, the bill would obliterate or upend longstanding and popular methods of voter registration for all voters, including registration by mail, voter registration drives, online voter registration, and automatic voter registration. The bill would functionally eliminate mail registration by requiring voters registering by mail to produce citizenship documents “in person” to an election official before the registration deadline.

Registering voters has been essential to the League of Women Voters since our founding 105 years ago. “We won’t stand by and let this attack on democracy go unanswered,” concluded Cosher.