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2025: A Look Back
Although 2025 was not an election year, LWVAZ Advocacy remained vigilant and deeply engaged in defending our democracy. Our work did not slow down; instead, we sharpened our focus, expanded our reach, and strengthened our impact.
During the 2025 Legislative Session, we analyzed roughly 250 bills, provided testimony on 50 occasions, and issued weekly Calls to Action for 175 bills. These Calls to Action helped members use the advocacy issue teams’ analysis to determine whether to support or oppose legislation affecting Arizona voters and our democratic institutions, and to guide their RTS comments.
Our litigation efforts continued as well, with the League engaging in key cases affecting elections, voting rights, and governmental accountability. Read the articles we have published at lwvaz.org
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Federal Court Blocks “Show Your Papers” Order — Major Win for Voters
LWVUS, LWV of Arizona and partners filed a federal lawsuit arguing that President Trump’s Executive Order 14248, which ordered the EAC to require documentary proof of citizenship on the federal voter registration form, threatened to withhold funds from states allowing post-election day receipt of mail ballots, and invited DOGE to assist in voter list maintenance, among other provisions, was an illegal order beyond the President’s powers under the United States Constitution and federal law.
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Ninth Circuit Upholds Voting Rights: Court Confirms NVRA Protects Arizonans in All Federal Elections
The League of Women Voters of the United States, the League of Women Voters of Arizona, and partner organizations celebrated a major voting-rights victory on February 25, 2025, when the Ninth Circuit affirmed that the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) applies to all federal elections, including presidential contests. The case arose after Arizona enacted HB 2492, which imposed documentary proof-of-citizenship requirements and other barriers to voter registration; LWV Arizona, LWVUS, the Secure Families Initiative, and the Modern Military Association of America filed an amicus brief defending the NVRA. A federal district court blocked the law, and the Ninth Circuit upheld the injunction, rejecting arguments that the NVRA did not apply to presidential elections. With this final ruling, HB 2492’s proof-of-citizenship provisions remain struck down, ensuring all eligible Arizonans can continue to register and vote in federal elections without unlawful barriers.
2025 Legislative Lobby Week, February 25-28, consisted of 5 virtual Lunch and Learn programs. These sessions included: Federalism and States’ Rights: Intersection of Federal and State Laws and the Impact on Arizonans, Funding the Future: Strengthening Public Education in Arizona, Drought and Debate: The Legislative Landscape of Arizona Water Policy, Ballots & Bills: The Legislative Fight for Voting Rights in Arizona, and Navigating the Legislative Landscape: Trends & Challenges. Sessions were open to members, community partners, and the public. Participation was strong.
We also provided multiple advocacy and civic education training throughout the year, equipping members and community organizations with the tools they need to navigate the legislative process, engage effectively with lawmakers, and support voter education efforts.
As part of the Arizona Defend Democracy Coalition, LWVAZ—represented by Pinny, Gitelle, and Cindy Walsh—participated in briefings, strategy sessions, and joint communications. Together, we signed on to letters to the Governor and the Secretary of State urging action on election administration, voting rights protections, and improvements to the Election Protection Manual.
In July 2025, the State League launched a major civic-education initiative using podcasting as its primary platform. Social Contract in Action: Democracy, Dialogue & Civic Duty is a multigenerational project created with students and community partners—exactly the kind of deep, timely civic learning the League is known for. This is not an academic presentation, but a series rooted in the original documents and brought to life through the experiences and insights of Americans today. Read more about this project here.
Our first series, Breaking Away – The Declaration of Independence, is now complete. These conversations illuminate America’s founding break with monarchy, with next-generation leaders giving voice to the original grievances and their relevance today. Expert commentary deepens the exploration of liberty, justice, and the consent of the governed—and what they mean in an era when democratic institutions are under pressure.
The Second Series: This year, LWVAZ will honor Bill of Rights Day by officially launching our planning for the second series of the Social Contract in Action project: Securing Rights: The Bill of Rights.
Each year on December 15, our nation observes Bill of Rights Day, commemorating the ratification of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. These foundational protections—freedom of speech, religion, and the press; the rights of assembly and petition; protections against unreasonable searches, excessive punishment, and abuses of power—form the bedrock of American democracy. President Franklin D. Roosevelt first proclaimed Bill of Rights Day in 1941 to remind Americans of both the protections we are guaranteed and the responsibilities we share to safeguard them. It is a moment for reflection, vigilance, and renewed commitment to democratic values. We will also ask the pressing question central to the moment we live in:
How safe are these rights now—and what must we do to protect them?
This series will explore:
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how the first ten amendments were envisioned,
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how they responded directly to the grievances laid out in the Declaration of Independence, and
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why these rights remain vital to civic life and democratic participation today.
As we move into developing this next series, we invite League members across the state to join us. Read more about the project here
Now we invite you to help shape the next phase of this work. Whether you choose to support Content Design, Production, or both, your involvement will directly strengthen the quality, credibility, and reach of Social Contract in Action. Your time, talent, and insight truly matter—and we are deeply grateful for all you bring.
Please read the section below about podcast roles and opportunities to learn how you can contribute and become part of this exciting multigenerational project.
2026: A Look Ahead
2026 will be a critical election year, and Arizona will once again be at the center of national attention as a battleground state. With eleven Congressional seats, state executive positions at stake, and numerous competitive legislative races, our work will require full engagement from League members across the state.
Our growing Arizona presence on VOTE411 will require all hands on deck—drafting candidate questions and preparing nonpartisan ballot proposition analyses for the anticipated wave of legislative referrals. Citizen initiatives may also appear on the ballot, though it is still too early to determine the final slate.
We will begin Get Out the Vote efforts in early April and continue through both the primaries and the general election. These efforts will include voter outreach through texting, phone banking, postcards, and community engagement events.
We also encourage members to actively support their local Leagues in hosting candidate forums for municipal, county, and school board elections. These nonpartisan public forums are a cornerstone of our mission to ensure voters have the information they need to decide for themselves.
Together, we have built a strong foundation in 2025—and together, we will rise to meet the challenges and opportunities of 2026.
Pinny Sheoran, Chair, LWVAZ Advocacy Committee
Gitelle Seer, Vice Chair, LWVAZ Advocacy Committee
lwvazadvocacy@gmail.com
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