Democracy has been under assault this year in a way that none of us have experienced in our lifetimes. Many of us feel hamstrung, but here are two tangible things you can do in the next week to defend democracy:
The national Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is accepting public comments on a proposal by the America First Legal Foundation to require voters to show a passport or other proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote. America First is the nonprofit conservative public interest organization founded by President Trump’s top aide Stephen Miller.
The League of Women Voters has opposed this and other attempts to restrict voting by requiring citizenship proof. And it has joined with other organizations in a lawsuit to block this proposal.
Such a requirement could disenfranchise rural voters, students, women and people of color. Obtaining proof of citizenship can be expensive. Many voters don’t have passports. Married women who changed their name face complications. Students living at school and young people living away from home likely don’t carry their paperwork with them.
And states already have effective processes for checking citizenship before people who register are added to the voting rolls.
You can register your concern at the EAC website. The commission is accepting public comment, but only through Oct. 20 (https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/EAC-2025-0236-0001).
Not sure what to say? Here are some suggestions from the U.S. League as well as more background on the issue (https://www.lwv.org/take-action/urge-eac-not-require-documentary-proof-citizenship#:~:text=US%20Passport.,how%20to%20submit%20a%20comment).
Meanwhile the League of Women Voters is a sponsor of the upcoming No Kings 2 protest on Saturday, Oct. 18. Our chapter will join other groups assembling at Scoville Park beginning at 11 a.m. There also is a protest downtown in Grant Park at noon.
The League is a nonpartisan organization. Our top priority is defending democracy and we oppose masked federal agents who are detaining immigrants under deplorable conditions and deporting them, all without due process. We are appalled at those federal agents who are shooting pepper spray and rubber bullets at people exercising their right to protest. And we are concerned about the presence of federal troops and the idea of staging the military against American citizens and turning cities into battlegrounds. These acts of authoritarianism sorely test our democracy.
Attending a protest might feel like shouting into the wind. But showing up at such an event can make a difference. The League’s United and Rise initiative hopes to engage and mobilize 8.5 million voters nationwide against the anti-democratic actions of the administration. The number 8.5 million is the estimated number of voters it would take to bring about change through nonviolent protest.
Beverly Tuck & Judith Crown are co-presidents of the League of Women Voters of Oak Park and River Forest.