• President's Message
• Unite & Rise Member Meeting Oct. 4
• What is VOTE411? Join the Team
• Sterk Pens MJS Column on FRT 
• Can’t Hide From the Climate Crisis
• Money Matters: Cultivating Support for the League
• Naturalization Ceremony at Lynden Gardens
• 2025-26 Board of Directors
• Thanks, M.J. McDonald & L. Neubauer!
• Repro Warriors Needed on the Front Lines
• Third Successful Future Voters Fest
• Members Gather to Learn About Advocacy
• NVRD Library Events

President's Message

Naturalization Ceremony at Lynden Sculpture Gardens

By: Mary Jo McDonald

On a very warm August day, the Lynden Sculpture Garden hosted “Home 2025 World Refugee Day: A Citizenship Celebration.” The league was one of six community sponsors of the Home celebrations held over the summer.

Friends and family watched 52 individuals take their oath of citizenship. The ceremony was presided over by Judge Nancy Joseph.  After the ceremony, the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County offered voting information to all and registered 13 new citizens.  Susan Armour Seidman, chair of the registration event, was aided by Annette Mertens, Martha Davis Kipcak , Linda Neubauer and Mary Jo McDonald. They all get extra credit and thanks for enduring a heat index of 101F!

The Citizenship Celebration partnered with the Community Center for Immigrants. It was a full day that included free photo portraits of those in attendance, musical entertainment, a memorial celebration of life for Mitch Scott Lewis, and a free lunch prepared by refugee chefs from the Afghan, Chin, and Indonesian communities. 

Thank you, Mary Jo McDonald and Linda Neubauer!

Mary Jo McDonald and Linda Neubauer have led, for more than 10 years, what is widely regarded as one of LWVMC’s most rewarding and effective volunteer opportunities: helping new citizens register to vote. Now, Linda and Mary Jo feel it's time to step back from their leadership roles.

For the past 50+ years, LWVMC has offered voting information and registration opportunities after naturalization ceremonies. These account for more than 1,000 voter registrations each year. 

“The judges are very welcoming,” said Mary Jo, who has been active since the committee formed in 2012, while Linda – whose involvement stemmed from her concern about voter suppression and the fundamental right to vote - has been involved for 10 years.

Throughout the year, team volunteers are present to assist new citizens in registeringto register to vote at naturalization ceremonies held at the U.S. Courthouse and at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Field Office.

“If you’ve ever been to one of these ceremonies, you see these new citizens so empowered and so happy . . . so many people, so many countries, so many excited to become citizens,” said Mary Jo.

At its peak, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the courthouse setupCovid, the courthouse set-up included four tables manned by 15-20 volunteers at six ceremonies a month. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, six volunteers cover three ceremonies a month, each naturalizing approximately 60 people – about 5,000 new citizens perCovid, six volunteers cover three ceremonies a month, each naturalizing 60 people – about 5,000 new citizens a year.  

“Everybody wanted to do this work. It is so gratifying at the time and the gateway to other opportunities in the league,” said Linda.

The group started applying for grants, and now – seven grants and $15,000 later – every piece of hardware or computer equipment now used was purchased through a grant. “I am most proud of that,” said Mary Jo.

A significant part of the initiative involves distributing election materials, and the work can be more complicated than one might expect. Many immigrants are still learning English and appreciate help in accessing computer programs for voter registration that can seem complexcomplicated, making sure the information they submit matches perfectly with Department of Motor Vehicles records used by the MyVote system, and navigating any name changes or spellings.

“Our presence is extremely helpful. People come up to me in the strangest places and say, ‘You were there when I registered to vote.’ It’s very rewarding,” said Mary Jo.

Both Mary Jo and Linda praised their strong group of volunteers. “The volunteers who come and do this work are a good core team. This effort is the antidote to what’s going on out there. It is a way to help everyone become part of the American fabric,” Linda said.

In late August, USCIS changed its policy to require that voter registration services at the end of naturalization ceremonies be performed only by election officials, not non-governmental groups. A subsequent clarification stated the new policy refers to administrative ceremonies only (those done at the USCIS offices) and does not apply to judicial ceremonies where a judge administers the oath, which represent the bulk of the League’s work. 

LWVMC is seeking two members to co-lead the program. Linda and Mary Jo will be available to work with the new co-leaders, ensuring a seamless transition. The only skills needed are expertise in the online voter registration process and a willingness to help keep this vital program moving forward. If you're interested, please email c.owley@lwvmilwaukeee.org,

Repro Warriors Still Needed on the Front Lines 

By Charlie Gaebler-Uhing, Co-Chair, Reproductive Rights Committee

Recently, the Reproductive Rights Committee was asked if we would continue our work now that Wisconsin’s 1849 Wisconsin Abortion Ban was found invalid. We responded that we have just begun our work to achieve our mission statement: to ensure equitable access to reproductive healthcare, inclusive contraception, and abortion care.  It is time for us to focus now and support legislation that eliminates the barriers to abortion care that the Wisconsin legislature has gradually implemented since 1974.  

Wisconsin’s Restrictive Abortion Laws

Many may be surprised to learn that Wisconsin is classified by the Guttmacher Institute as a restrictive state when it comes to abortion care. As you can see from the map (at link), individuals experience many barriers in receiving abortion care.  Since 2015, Wisconsin has had a 20-week abortion ban in place.  In addition, Wisconsin requires a 24-hour waiting period (1993), unindicated fetal ultrasound (2011), parental consent for minors (1985), in-person visits for medication abortions. It requires that the same physician who counsels a medication abortion must prescribe the medication (2011). In Wisconsin, only physicians, not mid-level providers, are allowed to prescribe medication abortions. These stipulations make Wisconsin’s medication abortion laws among the most restrictive in the country. 

In addition to abortion care restrictions, Wisconsinites face insurance coverage restrictions.  Since 1974, Medicaid has been restricted from funding all abortions except those that threaten the life of a mother.  Since 2010, the GOP majority has passed two insurance coverage bans.  In 2012, the Wisconsin legislature voted to opt out of federal funding for abortions in our Affordable Care Act insurance exchanges. In 2018, they passed a law further limiting coverage of elective abortions, Act 191, which banned elective abortion coverage in employee State Health plans, coverage that had been available since 1995. 

Hopeful Signs

Hope is on the horizon. State Sen. Kelda Roys introduced the Abortion Rights Restoration Act this spring, which eliminates the insurance bans and all restrictions except parental consent for minors. The bill didn’t gain much traction this session, but there is hope that in 2026, Reproductive Rights will continue to be a “Get Out the Vote” issue, and the composition of the Wisconsin Legislature will shift to one that values women’s autonomy. Then, the Abortion Rights Restoration Act will have a real shot of passing in 2027.    

A 3rd Successful Future Voters Fest!

 The August 13th, 3rd Annual Future Voters Fest/Festival de Futuros Votantes event at Plazita Verde (16th & Forest Home Ave.) was successful in many ways. 

 "We had a great turnout of over 100 people, including multiple families that have returned for the past three years," said Eloisa Gómez, who leads the LWVMC Comité por el Voto Latino.  "Also, most of our nine community partners have been with us for three years, and we noted several of these agencies making connections with one another, furthering community resource-sharing directly to residents."

 Eloisa conveyed special thanks to Muskego Way Forward for donating 100 school backpacks, all of which were taken by families, and the delicious tamales, flautas, etc., for a great meal. More special thanks gogoes to the following 20+ volunteers and staff of Comité members, Muskego Way Forward team (staff and volunteers), our Muchas Manos-MWF grant advisory team, and our LWVMC volunteers.

 Comité  Coordinators feel inspired by this circle of people committed to building community and supporting democracy among youth and their families. Si Se Puede!

Our Community Partners:

Muskego Way Forward  |  Safe and Sound   |  Cristo Rey High School  |  Milwaukee Turners  |   Tikkun Ha-Ir /WIVEC (WI Interfaith Voters Engagement Campaign)  |  La Causa School  |  Froedtert/Medical College of Wisconsin's Family Medicine Residency Program  |  VoteRiders  |  Lime 

Members Gather to Learn About League Advocacy 

Thank you to the 52 members and guests who enjoyed an interactive gathering on Aug. 19th to learn more about League advocacy from Gail Sklodowska (standing), LWVMC Program VP, and other League leaders. The event was held at the “oh so charming” historic Story Hill Firehouse in Milwaukee.  

Attendees learned about the LWVUS umbrella initiative, "Unite and Rise," as well as advocacy work in the areas of Immigration, LGBTQ+ Rights, Mass Incarceration, Climate Change, and Reproductive Rights. Two attendees joined immediately and are already significantly engaged in numerous advocacy programs, and the two key volunteer openings presented were filled. Additionally, two outside organizations attended and expressed interest in collaborating on immigration and climate issuesAlso, two outside organizations attended and asked to collaborate on Immigration & Climate. Our efforts to enhance our advocacy efforts regarding key League positions areis working, and you can be a part of it. Contact Gail at g.sklodowska@lwvmilwaukee.org

LWVMC Celebrated National Voter Registration Day

on September 16, 2025 

By: Amy Germershausen and Marsha Poulsen

 The Library Outreach Team celebrated National Voter Registration Day by holding voter registration events in six libraries. MPL sponsored mini-carnivals at the newly-opened Martin Luther King, Good Hope, and Mitchell Street branches. These libraries had fun mocktails and treats for those who answered voting-related questions. The Milwaukee Election Commission brought in their voting machines and demonstrated their use with a fun faux ballot. Our teams reached out to many people, including families. New voters were registered, and many were helped with updating addresses and other eligibility questions. Many folks thanked us (the LWV) for our work, including the election commission workers!