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Local Leagues in New Mexico


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What we do

The League of Women Voters has worked since 1920 to improve local, state and national government and strengthen our communities through citizen education and action.

The League of Women Voters is nonpartisan; it never supports or opposes candidates or political parties. The League does take action on issues of importance to its members and the community, after studying them in depth.

Membership is open to all residents of the United States, both women and men, who are 16 years or older. Find out more.

A 100-Year Minute

100 years ago, the 19th Amendment guaranteed women the right to vote, but the women in Wyoming had already been voting. Wyoming entered the U.S. as a Territory in 1869 and had given women full voting rights from the beginning.

20 years later, when Wyoming was applying for statehood, its new constitution affirmed the right of women to vote. When Congress threatened to deny the Territory statehood unless it removed the provision allowing women to vote, Wyoming refused, and Congress gave in.

Wyoming became the first state in the nation to grant women full voting rights when it became the country’s 44th state in 1890.

2020 Legislative Session

The 2020 legislative session runs from January 21 to February 20. This is a 30 calendar day session and they can only consider legislation that is directly related to the budget, plus issues that are included in a message by the Governor to the Legislature. Memorials and joint resolutions can also be considered.

Please check the Action page for LWVNM priorities and activity, including our Tracking Sheet.

Upcoming Events

100th Anniversary at the State Capitol, Feb 6

On Thursday, February 6, 2020, the public will be invited to an event celebrating both the 100th birthday of the League of Women Voters and the centennial of New Mexico’s ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

Enjoy costumes, festivities and refreshments. Hear from women leaders including Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, Senator Nancy Rodriguez, Senator Liz Stefanics, Representative Gail Chasey and Representative Joanne Ferrary, LWVUS Director Virginia Kase and LWVNM President Hannah Burling.

More details: LWVNM 100th Anniversary at the State Capitol.

Legislative Reception, Feb 5

Wednesday, February 5, League members are invited to the annual Legislative Reception, at the Rio Chama Restaurant. Hear honored guest Virginia Kase, CEO, League of Women Voters of the US. Network with fellow members, legislators, and invited guests! More details: 2020 Legislative Reception.

Current Activities

The League is leading the Fair Districts for New Mexico Project. The goal is to promote fair and transparent redistricting for New Mexico following the 2020 census. Please visit the Fair Districts web site for updates.

The 2020 Census is also of critical importance to New Mexico. We'll be working to get every New Mexican counted. Read about it on our 2020 Census page.

Logo of La Palabra

Latest La Palabra

The Winter 2020 La Palabra (PDF, 2.7 Mb) newsletter is out.

President's Corner; League Days and 100th Anniversary Celebration; Reception and celebration; League Day accommodations; Special speaker; Redistricting project; Advocacy workshop summary; League legislative priorities; Judicial selection study; Program, proposed positions; Spent nuclear fuel advocacy group report; Local League News.

Keep up to date by reading La Palabra!

For issues of La Palabra dating back to 2005, see the Newsletters page.


Recent LWVNM News

LWVNM Proposed SNF Storage Advocacy Statement

December 11, 2019:

LWVNM has been studying the proposed storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) from the 99 domestic commercial nuclear reactors in two proposed Consolidated Interim Storage Facilities (CISF) in Southeast NM and the TX/NM border since 2017.

The study has produced a Proposed SNF Storage Advocacy Statement which was approved by the LWVNM Board in its November meeting, and has been submitted to LWVUS for approval.

New Redistricting Project

August 1, 2019:

The LWVNM has received a generous grant grant to lead an effort to ensure fair and transparent redistricting following the 2020 census. As part of that effort we have created a separate web site. Please visit fairdistrictsnm.org. The site is under development but already has links to valuable resources on redistricting.

NM should work now to implement redistricting reform

July 30, 2019:

Guest column in the Albuquerque Journal by Hannah Burling, President, LWVNM: NM should work now to implement redistricting reform.

SCOTUS Decisions on Census and Gerrymandering

June 28, 2019:

The LWVNM is pleased that the Supreme Court has not approved the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. Instead, they sent the issue back to the Department of Commerce, leaving the final decision up in the air. We hope that reason prevails and the question will not be added to the census. It would result in a serious undercount in New Mexico, costing the state $3,700 for every resident who goes uncounted, potentially $780 million over ten years. We hope the courts and the administration do the right thing.

The LWVNM is disappointed that in today's ruling on fair redistricting the U.S. Supreme Court did not take the opportunity to set guidelines for fair redistricting in all the states. As Justice Kagan stated in her dissent, "the partisan gerrymanders here debased and dishonored our democracy, turning upside-down the core American idea that all governmental power derives from the people".

Despite the Supreme Court ruling, New Mexico policymakers still have the opportunity to follow the other 21 states that have acted to ensure that constituents get to choose their legislators rather than legislators choosing their constituents.

More details in the Press Release: LWVNM on the SCOTUS Decisions on Census and Gerrymandering.

Video: Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard Speaks at LWVNM Convention Banquet

May 29, 2019:

The LWVNM convention, held in May in Los Alamos, was a great success. Besides talks by Sara Scott, Christine Chandler, and Liz Bander, our LWVUS liaison, we were treated to a half-hour talk by our own Stephanie Garcia Richard, the new State Land Commissioner, at our banquet. She speaks eloquently about the wins and losses that have occurred since her election and what she hopes for the future. Enjoy her talk and the questions: Stephanie Garcia Richard Speaks at LWVNM Convention Banquet.

LWVNM Elects Hannah Burling as New State President

[Outgoing LWVNM President Judy Williams welcomes new Presiden Hannah Burling] May 25, 2019:

At the League's biennial convention, held in Los Alamos, Hannah Burling of Santa Fe has been elected to a two-year term as president of the LWVNM. The convention also approved a position on the transfer of federal public lands after a two-year study on the subject, and approved a study on the selection of New Mexico judges in limited jurisdiction courts.

Read more: LWVNM Elects Hannah Burling as New State President.

For older news items, see the LWVNM News Archive.

How to Contact Your Legislator

Want to connect with your legislator? See our page on Contact Info for New Mexico Legislators.

Want to reach NM’s Congressional delegation? The Congressional toll-free number is 1-866-727-4894 . Just ask for your representative or senator. Please remember that you are speaking as an individual and not for the League.