As we begin our Annual Town Meetings and Town Elections season here on the Vineyard and in the Commonwealth, we are reminded about our 250-year anniversary since the ratification of our country’s Declaration of Independence. The local League’s introductory remarks at Town Candidate forums contained the following:
An historical anecdote about Town Meetings –
When the British passed the Massachusetts Government Act in 1774 to ban town meetings, it was taken as a direct assault on liberty. In response, many towns barred their doors against British soldiers to continue meeting, often enumerating the grievances later listed in the Declaration of Independence. Nearly 60 Massachusetts towns in 1776 alone debated the notion of Independence. Some issued Declarations on their own…….and in 1776, actually beginning in 1775, our 3 Towns on the Vineyard – Chilmark, Edgartown and Tisbury – were taking up their own declarations…..
FOR MORE INFORMATION on actions being taken by our 3 towns, we refer you to our MV Museum’s archives.
An historical anecdote about Town Elections –
During the 1630’s the office of Constable was one of the first, and often compulsory, elected or appointed positions created in the original colonial communities. And by the 1640’s, the Town Clerk, along with the Select Board (formerly known as Townsmen and then Selectmen) were being elected at the Town (Municipal) level.
(Information provided by Deborah Medders, LWV-MV member and former Tisbury Town Moderator)
CANDIDATE FORUMS
The League holds a candidate forum each spring in each town that has contested races. Current information about the next round of Candidate Forums spring 2026 can be found HERE
If you are considering running for office, check out interviews with a local elected official who discusses why he ran. He was interviewed by Judy Crawford from LWV-MV. You may view the video here on MVTV
LWV-MV YOUTH VOTER PROJECT/CIVICS PROJECTS
VOTER REGISTRATION: In October 2025, working with students in the Women’s Club at MVRHS, the League held a Voter Registration Drive. The students in the club visited social studies classes, shared “talking points” prepared by the League, and encouraged all eligible
students to register and then vote.
CIVICS PROJECTS 2026: In May LWV-MV members attended a senior class presentation of civics projects at the MVRHS.
Seven groups of seniors talked about an issue they
had researched over the semester, presenting it as a problem
to be solved with goals and a plan to achieve those goals.
Two of the groups focused on accessibility to health care off
island. One group saw it as a Steamship Authority issue:
decreased access to same day emergency reservations for
islanders during the busy season. One solution offered was a
van specifically to be used for these trips so that people would
not have to take their cars on the boat. Another solution (in
jest) was to build a bridge to the mainland. The other group focused on healthcare accessibility on and offisland. Problems included getting off island, the expense of health care (especially emergency care) and understaffing at MV Hospital. To decrease the expense of travel off island (and on island), free transportation was considered (funded by
donations) that would increase availability of a “medivan.”
Another student group focused on low attendance at town meetings. The group interviewed residents who cited a variety of reasons why
they did not go (time of day, tired from work, lack of child care,
etc.) The group contacted the MA Moderators Assn which
encouraged the students to make a short video (four to five
minutes long) that could be added to the classroom page of the Moderators Assn. The video is not completed yet, but the
group was asked if our League could have a copy to post when
it is finished.
Two groups were focused on trash (especially plastic and mylar
balloons) and pollution. One group even collected trash on
State Beach one day and suggested that a plan for organized beach
clean-up days in the future would be helpful. Both groups saw
public education through social media and printed flyers in
venues where they would most likely be seen, such as
restaurants.
One group focused on the fear of arrest and deportation by ICE
and how it affects residents of Martha’s Vineyard. The group
developed a questionnaire with a QR code to collect responses
from approximately 70 students to determine their knowledge
level about ICE . They shared the collected data with the
island’s representatives in state government. The group wants
to increase awareness among the community through social
media and flyers.
The last group focused on the lack of affordable housing. They
believed that increased coordination with Island Housing Trust was
important to meet their goal of available housing.
Overall, the students chose topics that have great impact on
the daily lives of their peers as well as island residents of all ages.
LWV-MV HONORARY LEIGH B. SMITH SCHOLARSHIP
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 an area 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
LADY FEST AND WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY 2025
LWV-MV participated in Lady Fest on Oct 11, 2025, an event celebrating women-fueled music on Martha’s Vineyard. All monies raised were used to support “CONNECT to End Violence.” League members were in force to assist any and all LadyFest attendees with registering to vote. Below: Carole Early, Ken Armstead.
Lighting of the MV Museum on Aug 26, 2025 in honor of Women’s Equality Day, above and below. (photo credit: Scott Crawford)
COALITION TO CREATE THE MV HOUSING BANK
The MV League of Voters is in strong support of the creation of a Martha’s Vineyard Housing Bank (CCMVHB). Proposed legislation went to the Massachusetts State Legislature for approval. For additional information and to learn where things stand, please go to https://www.ccmvhb.org/ and https://vineyardgazette.com/tags/housing-bank
PAGE UPDATED 6/1/2026