League of Women Voters Linn County

09/04/2026

Be informed before the mid-terms!

At our September meeting, hear from Kylie Spies on behalf of Common Good Iowa regarding the ballot measure, called Fair Taxes for Iowa's Future.

The issue is Iowa Constitutional Amendment 1, which will appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot. If approved, it would amend the Iowa Constitution so that the legislature would need a two-thirds vote in both the Iowa House and Iowa Senate to:

-increase the individual income-tax rate;
-increase the corporate income-tax rate; or
-create a new income tax

A YES vote supports imposing that two-thirds requirement. A NO vote keeps the existing simple-majority requirement.

Join us...
Monday, Sept. 14
5:30-7:00 pm
Human Services Campus (317 7th Ave. SE)

08/27/2026

We partnered with the Women's Equality Coalition of Linn County and the AAUW to host a screening of the Bella Abzug documentary "Bella! This Women's Place is in the House!"

The documentary "follows the meteoric rise of firebrand politician and activist Bella Abzug. Considered one of the first feminists to be elected to Congress, her commitment to women’s rights and progressive causes upended the status quo in Washington."

Thank you to everyone who helped plan the event and attended!

08/21/2026

What is the League of Women Voters?

We are a nonpartisan, grassroots organization that works to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in democracy. We empower voters and defend democracy through advocacy, education, and litigation, at the local, state, and national levels.

AND, we're not just women! Membership is open to all people who support our mission. Learn more athttps://www.lwv.org/

08/19/2026

We have upcoming volunteer opportunities! Check your email today (8/19) to sign up for shifts for Women's Equality Day, Jazz Under the Stars and more.

08/19/2026

Today marks the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment—a milestone in the fight for voting rights, but not the end of that fight.

The amendment prohibited denying the right to vote on the basis of s*x, but in practice, it did not give all women the right to vote. Women of color continued to face discriminatory laws, intimidation, and other barriers to the ballot. It took decades of organizing and advocacy—and the Voting Rights Act of 1965—to strengthen federal protections against racial discrimination in voting.

That history matters today.

As the SAVE Act threatens to create new barriers to voter registration, we have to remember the lessons of our history: when access to the ballot gets harder, the people most affected are often those who have had to fight the hardest to gain that access in the first place.

The fight for voting rights continues. Tell your senators to vote 'NO' on the SAVE Act!

08/18/2026

Be in-the-know before midterm elections.

Hear from candidates running in the 2026 midterm elections for county and state legislative positions. This event is hosted by the League of Women Voters Linn County and is open to the public. All candidates with an opponent on the ballot have been invited to attend.

5 p.m. Doors open
5:30-6:15 p.m. County candidate panel
6:30-7:15 p.m. State Legislature candidate panel

Cedar Rapids Public Library (Downtown location) in the Beems Auditorium

LWV Linn County encourages community members to submit questions to designated League volunteers throughout the forum. This provides an opportunity for voters to ask questions in a considerate and respectful exchange.
Submitted questions will be reviewed and sorted by topic before being provided to the forum moderator.

08/14/2026

We care about our communities! This is one way you can engage others who care, grow your skills and learn more about issues impacting your community.

Ready to turn your civic interest into community impact?

Join our next Civic Circle cohort and become a catalyst for change! Through bi-weekly discussions, you'll build your civic engagement skills, learn more about issues impacting our community, and gain tools to help drive meaningful change.

Registration is now open! Learn more: https://bit.ly/4zogJCb

08/14/2026

A federal court blocked the US Postal Service from implementing President Trump’s 2026 executive order restricting mail voting, finding the order likely unconstitutional and harmful to voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections

08/13/2026

League of Women Voters of Iowa co-president Linda Hagedorn wrote an editorial explaining the LWV's official position that a "No" vote on the tax amendment is the right choice. Read her editorial below:

"As Iowans prepare to vote this November, they will be asked to consider a proposed amendment to the Iowa Constitution that would require a two-thirds supermajority vote in both legislative chambers to approve any increase in the corporate or personal income tax. While this proposal may sound like a reasonable safeguard at first glance, it raises serious concerns about governance, accountability, and the long-term fiscal health of our state.

The League of Women Voters of Iowa has long supported measures that promote transparent, responsive, and effective government. This proposed amendment does not meet those standards. Instead, it would embed rigidity into our state’s foundational document, making it significantly more difficult for future legislators—regardless of political affiliation—to respond to changing economic conditions or unforeseen challenges.

Constitutions are designed to provide a stable framework for government, not to prescribe specific policy thresholds that limit legislative flexibility. By requiring a two-thirds supermajority to raise income taxes, this amendment would set an unusually high bar that few states impose in their constitutions. It would shift power away from majority rule and toward a small minority of legislators, effectively granting veto power to a fraction of elected representatives.

This matters because the ability to adjust revenue is essential to responsible governance. Economic downturns, natural disasters, public health emergencies, and evolving priorities—such as education, infrastructure, and public safety—can all require thoughtful adjustments to state funding. Under this amendment, even broadly supported, carefully considered revenue measures could be blocked despite majority agreement among elected officials.

Importantly, this proposal does not apply equally to all fiscal decisions. While it would make it harder to increase income taxes, it places no similar constitutional constraints on reducing taxes or altering other sources of revenue. This imbalance risks limiting the state’s ability to maintain stable funding for essential services over time.

The League of Women Voters does not take positions based on partisanship, but on principles of good governance. We believe laws should be enacted through a process that allows for deliberation, accountability, and responsiveness to voters. The current legislative process already includes checks and balances, including public input, debate, and electoral accountability. Adding a supermajority requirement in the constitution is unnecessary and could have unintended consequences for Iowa’s future.

Iowans deserve a government that can adapt thoughtfully and responsibly to changing circumstances. Locking in restrictive fiscal rules at the constitutional level reduces that capacity and limits the voice of voters as expressed through their elected representatives.
For these reasons, the League of Women Voters of Iowa urges a NO vote on this proposed constitutional amendment."

Linda Serra Hagedorn, Ph.D.
Co-President – League of Women Voters of Iowa