By Charlene Jones & Lilli DuVal, Co-Presidents of Sacramento County’s LWV

The League of Women Voters of Sacramento County, or LWVSC, respects voters’ decisions in the 2024 Presidential election. Knowing each new president attempts to shape the nation with his or her vision, Americans expected policy changes – and some upheaval – when Donald Trump began his second term as President.

Candidate Trump was very clear about his intentions to lead America in a dramatically different direction. Change is what voters appeared to want, and change is what we must now manage, support it or not.

The League strives to preserve our representative democratic system of checks and balances on power. Unfortunately, the League observes that many of the new Administration’s actions threaten the democracy we cherish established by our Constitution. President Trump seeks numerous changes that could and should be considered through the legislative branch of our government, the “people’s house” where voters have chosen Senators and Representatives to make laws. Instead, his Administration has sidestepped Congress and ruled through dictates driven by narrow ideology and a belief in unlimited Executive power. In so doing, it disregards more than 200 years of governance by deliberative process, flouts the rule of law, and leaves a set-upon judiciary to protect our Constitutional order.

The Administration’s actions have begun to impact locally as federal agencies are gutted without Congressional consent. U.S. Forest Service employees have been laid off as we head into fire season. Severe spending cuts are proposed to Medicaid-our MediCal, relied upon by tens of thousands in the county. Essential food assistance programs are in jeopardy, as is funding for other vital human and educational services. And let’s not overlook the imperiled liberties of intellectual and political expression now endangered in our cities and on our campuses. Nor should we turn away from threats to our families and neighbors as masked agents snatch legal residents off the street, taking away their freedom without access to due process.

The President’s executive order, misleadingly titled, “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections” exemplifies the Administration’s threat to a fundamental democratic right. Far from protecting elections, it is doublespeak for making it harder for millions of citizens — particularly women—to vote. “This executive order is an assault on our republic and a dangerous attempt to silence American voters,” said Celina Stewart, Chief Executive Officer, League of Women Voters US.  “To be very clear — the League of Women Voters is prepared to fight back    and defend our democracy.”

LWVSC will continue to conduct our nonpartisan practices to protect and expand voting rights. We urge all voters, and voters-to-be, to inform themselves from reliable sources, check facts and use their power of the vote to protect what we love…our representative democracy and the rule of law as it should apply to all.   www.lwvsacramento.org