League of Women Voters readies to get out the vote in 2024

Through a nonpartisan approach to educating and motivating local voters, the Sussex County League of Women Voters is preparing for election year 2024. Members met Nov. 25 for a workshop at Lewes Public Library. 

With more than 32 seats up for election in 2024 in Delaware alone, the scope of the 2024 races poses a challenge to the league’s mission of empowering voters and defending democracy.

Open seats include governor and lieutenant governor, insurance commissioner, one U.S. senator, Delaware’s one U.S. congressperson, 10 state senators and 17 state representatives. In Sussex, three out of five county council seats are on the ballot, in addition to clerk of the peace and various municipal offices.

Historically, the Sussex LWV has been the reliable source for objective, nonpartisan information on local issues (through the social policy committee), government activities (through its observer corps reports), voting information and access (through voter services and VOTE411.org), and candidate platforms (through moderated candidate forums).

Core elements of the 2024-25 program affirm the league is firmly nonpartisan and serves voters, not political parties. It focuses on particular issues close to home in Sussex County. As Sussex County’s diversity is its strength, the league serves all county segments – coastal and inland, rural and suburban – all ages and all economic levels, including underrepresented groups such as BIPOC, youth and LGBTQ.

Through its Let’s Get Out the Vote campaign, the league educates voters on the issues, helps all candidates get their messages to voters and helps remove obstacles to voting.

Workshop attendees brainstormed to define each committee’s role and activities in getting out the vote. They agreed that reaching the broadest segment of Sussex voters would require collaboration with like-minded, nonpartisan organizations. Other priority activities include outreach to young voters. In 2022, only 16% of voters aged 18-20 cast ballots, compared with 72% of those 65 and older.

The league will also continue to support and develop the VOTE411.org website. In addition to being a one-stop site for up-to-date information on voting for Delaware residents, VOTE411 reaches out to all political candidates in election years to get their unedited take on issues of importance to the public.

All members agree that the league’s moderated candidate forums are essential to informing voters on candidates’ ideas and platforms, and an extra push would be needed to educate the candidates and parties themselves on the forums’ value for reaching citizens.

The LWV of Sussex County is not for women only. For 66 years, the organization has been educating county government, empowering county voters, and promoting political responsibility through informed and active participation in government. The league does not support or oppose any political party or any candidate for political office. 

For more information, go to sussexlwv.org.