League of Women Voters Martha's Vineyard
EMPOWERING VOTERS; DEFENDING DEMOCRACY
Through consensus, the LWV-MV has adopted positions on five topics relevant to the Vineyard. These five relate to Housing, Land Use, Regionalization, Shared Use Paths (known as “bike paths”) and The Steamship Authority (SSA). Each Year the MV League reviews and votes annually to renew these positions in order to continue pertinent actions.
You may view the file HERE
Islanders went to the polls on November 3, 2026 to elect local officials for the Dukes County and Martha’s Vineyard Commissions, MA state and US senators and representatives and to answer nine ballot questions. Members of the LWV-MV stood out with the VOTE Banner in all six towns to encourage voting and participation in democracy.
League members (from L) Emily Galvin-Almanza, Carole Early, Tara Ledden at Five Corners in Vineyard Haven
LWV-MV member Julia Livingstone holding VOTE banner on State Rd in West Tisbury as fellow League member Kathy Laskowski takes the photo!
League members (from L) – Kris Vrooman, Joy Thoma and Tara Ledden holding VOTE banner in Oak Bluffs
Click HERE to hear MVY ‘s Ray Whitaker interview local league member, Kathy Laskowski about the merits of voting, the importance of being an informed voter and voting in all elections (local state and national) is significant. Every vote counts! Every time you vote you are participating directly in democracy. Ray also mentions understanding the Ballot Questions that will be voted upon on this November 3. Ballot Questions can be read HERE
MVY Radio’s program, The Vineyard Current, airs weekly on Sunday mornings at 10am.
Members of the LWV-MV participated in this national event at the MV Regional High School on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The goal: Empower Future Voters by encouraging all eligible voters, age 18 and older, citizens and residents of the US to register to vote. And, to encourage all 16 and 17 year olds to pre-register. Students heard the message: If you are old enough to vote this November 3, the last date to regster is October 24.
Volunteers from the local league went into eight diferent classrooms in the morning: the teachers, who were all discussing civics, were receptive to league members’ presence in the classroom, providing the members with at least 15 minutes of classroom time to introduce the students to the League: that it is non-partisan, it takes positions on issues not candidates and it engages in voter services and citizen education activities. Students heard the message: Your Vote is Your Voice. To Vote you must be Registered!
Students learned about the options for registering (getting a driver’s license, on line, at the student’s town clerk’s office or in person today in the cafeteria.) The League appreciated the cooperation and time offered by the teachers. There was often a lively discussion about why vote! Thank you, teachers and administrative staff at MVRHS!
On Saturday afternoon at the MV Museum, twenty five people enjoyed tea sandwiches and desserts while listening to LWV-MV member Deborah Medders speak about the 100+ year history of the founding of the LWV-US in 1920 in Chicago, several months before the passing of the 19th Amendment in Washington, DC – which gave women the right to vote. The LWV-MV has a 70 year history on the island, starting in 1956 . Ken Armstead, one of the few men who is a member of the MV league discussed how, when and why he came to be (and why men should be) involved as a league member. The tea party, organized by the league membership chair, Carole Early, was well received and generated several new members, several of whom recently moved to the island.
The League is a nonpartisan political organization that promotes active and informed citizen participation in government, in voting, and in influencing public policy through education and advocacy.
Want to be more informed on local elections? Each spring, prior to town elections, the LWV-MV holds candidate forums in each town where there are contested elections. The League holds these forums for the public, providing an opportunity for the public to listen to their town candidates state their positions and ask questions of these candidates. Moderated by a league member, the forum is also videotaped and made available for viewing by MVTV until the town election. Town election dates vary across the island. This website will be updated as the candidate forums are scheduled
Candidate Forum in Oal Bluffs 2018 (photo credit – Martha’s Vineyard Times)
Candidates for Dukes County Commission. Tuesday evening, October 13, 2026 at Edgartown Library. From L to R: Tristan Israel, Doug Ruskin, Christine Todd, Kate Putnam, Mike Bellissimo (photo credit – Kathy Laskowski)
Candidates for Martha’s Vineyard Commission. Tuesday Evening October 13, 2026 at Edgartown Library. From L to R: Ben Robinson, Doug Sederholm, Brian Smith, Fred Khedouri, Kate Putnam, Bernadette Cormie, Maria Krokidas, Mike MacKenty, Jannette Vandehoop (photo credit- Kathy Laskowski)
MVTV videoed the forum and it is now available HERE for viewing. Deborah Medders moderated both forums.
LADYFEST returned to Alley/Waban Park in Oak Bluffs to support Connect to End Violence MV and highlight female artists.
The LWV-MV hosted a booth at Ladyfest in Waban Park on Saturday, October 3. The booth was decked out with signs and the LWV-MV VOTE banner for this festive event! We provided info about Voter Registration with paper forms and QR codes so that people could actually register right there. We also had information about In-Person Early Voting hours which will begin on Saturday, October 17 and how to contact your Town Clerk and/or the Secretary of the Commonwealth for any voting info you might need. We distributed some candy to eager young visitors when they pledged to remind an adult to vote! With our position next to the entrance/exit we got lots of attention for all our red, white and blue!! It was great to be a part of this event for women, by women and with so much great music for another year. We have been honored to be a part of Ladyfest from the beginning.
Kathy Laskowski (L) and Linda Hammond (R) ready to hand out voting information and candy!
Lighting of the MV Museum on Aug 26, 2026 in honor of Women’s Equality Day, below. LWV-MV member, Deb Medders, wrote: …..”the evening was out on the lawn of the MV Museum – and, the night time skies with that majestic waxing full moon just added to the experience.”
The League awards a scholarship each year to a graduating senior high school student who lives on the Vineyard or to a first year, full-time Vineyard college student, and who is pursuing a higher education degree in these three areas supporting the League’s mission: environmental science, political science or women studies. The student would have attended high school at:
Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS)
Martha’s Vineyard Charter School (MVCS)
A certified home school program
Other public or private accredited school
For more information about how to apply please contact the league:
info@leagueofwomenvotersmv