Date: 8/27/2026
Subject: LWV of Denver VOTER - September
From: League of Women Voters of Denver

The LWVDenver Newsletter

September 2026

We are being deluged with threats that the November elections will create difficulties for citizens to cast their ballots and the results of elections will be improperly tallied, including the recent Supreme Court ruling on the Administration's Executive Order on mail in voting. However, that ruling is not the final answer.

How much of this is misinformation and “noise”? What are the facts about election safety, security and integrity in Colorado? Our kickoff briefing will feature speakers who are specialists in election law and the processes that make Colorado the “Gold Standard” for elections nationwide. They will address the concerns that some voters have about in-person voting, receiving and mailing their ballots, and using ballot drop-boxes.

Our Kickoff event is co-sponsored by the Colorado Social Legislation Committee. We have allowed time for greeting familiar faces and people new to our educational programs. Food and beverages will be provided.

Please invite friends and neighbors to this timely breifing.

Sue Stark, Co-Director of Program/Advocacy

Did Someone Say Rooftop Party?

Join us for our Voting Is People Power Launch Party, where we’ll kick off the election season with community, purpose, and action. Whether you’re a longtime volunteer, Circulator or simply wondering how you can make a difference this year, this is your chance to get involved.

We’ll have a brief presentation on how you can help get out the vote for the November 3 General Election where we'll discuss our concise message and give you tools, such as our Voter Registration QR cards, VIPP cards, election information sheets, backpacks, buttons, yard signs, and plans to spread the word. This is all part of our proactive plan to build voter confidence. This initiative and the tools we can provide are possible because of the generous donation from the First Unitarian Church earlier this summer.

So come to get copies of election information to share in community, grab a yard sign, or volunteer for our Speakers Bureau. Come for the conversation and enjoy the great views of the city.

If we all show up, we win!

Save the Date!
Ballot Issues Briefing

October 6, 5:30 p.m.
Montview Blvd. Presbyterian Church

Please plan to attend our annual briefing about the issues that will be on the November ballot. The Leaguers who did the research on the Denver ballot issue will present the main provisions, background, and what a yes/no vote means.

Twyla Boe Bequest Fund

We are extremely fortunate that Twyla Boe, a longtime League member, left us $133,670.52 in her will, with a possibility of $20,000 more once the estate is settled. We plan to treat most of this money the same way we treat Marge Fisch’s Future Fund. We will “invest” most of the money in a series of Certificates of Deposit (safe from stock market’s unpredictable swings) and use the interest each year to balance the budget. This generous bequest will help League of Women Voters of Denver continue far into the future. These types of gifts are so valuable for the future of the League, please consider the League in your estate planning.

Meet the Board

Editor’s Note: We are starting a series of articles highlighting Board members. We thought you’d like to know a little more about their backgrounds and what League means to them. We’ve also asked them for recommendations on books, movies, or activities.

Janet Imhoff - Director of Organization

I joined the League in 1972 in Texas when I had two babies at home. I loved the camaraderie of the women and the intellectual discussions. I also loved the nonpartisanship while still learning about political issues. I stayed a member through a couple of different jobs and going back to school, and I got my 50-year pin in 2022.

I taught 6th grade for 15 years, and I owned a dance school for four years. My main hobby has always been dance, and I still tap dance. It works my brain as well as my body. I also play bridge and I love to read. I'm currently reading Theo of Golden, and I highly recommend it.

I moved to Denver in 2025 to live near my daughter and her family. I have two children and seven grandchildren, and I love living in Colorado.

Voter Service in Action

Ballot Measures Update from Diane Young
Our researchers have been hard at work gathering information on the six issues that will be on the Denver Ballot in November. Thanks to Katie Brennan, Rosemary Hartman, Christine Jensen, Gwen Murdoch, and Justin Schulz for working on the issues.

We hope to have the ballot issues pamphlets printed and available by the last week in September. We would like to get them out to the voters by early October when the ballots drop and have them available for our speakers to pass out when they talk to voters.

The Denver Issues are:

Prohibiting the Force Feeding of Birds
Charter Amendment Clarifying the Auditor’s prevailing wage Enforcement Authority
Changing the Budget Cycle of the City to a Two-year Cycle
Making changes to the Denver Civil Service Commission
Granting a renewal of the franchise with Xcel to provide utilities to the City of Denver and the Airport for the next 20 years
Denver Public Schools Mill Levy Override

Colorado Issues:
The Secretary of State’s office is still certifying a few more petitions for the Colorado State Ballot that have been turned in. So far, ten have been certified for the ballot. LWVCO will be presenting the state-wide ballot issues at their Making Democracy Work Day on September 19. Watch for upcoming details from LWVCO.

Denver League plans to train members to give the speeches as requested by various organizations, places of worship, and others. We hope to have the materials ready to go the last week in September. If you are interested in joining the Speakers Bureau, please email lisa.m.haddox@gmail.com.

LWV Denver Youth Council - Check out our new website!
lwvdenver.org/youth
If there is a young person in your life, ages 15 to 25, please share this link!

Summertime…..and Voter Registration is Easy

Unity Pentecostal Temple Church Bazaar: Margie Kraus,
a Christian Women's Council representative, and Renee Ruderman

Manual Alumni Association’s Party in the Park: Rosie
Hartman, Rocky from the Nuggets, and Lisa Haddox

Day of Action at Huerta Urbana Farmers Market: Linda Siderius,
Joan Heller, Sue Stark

Day of Action at KIPP Northeast: Pearlanne Zelarney and Eileen
Robinson

Lisa Haddox and Mariam Bouricius, Voter Service Co-Chairs

Collaboration Between the Colorado Bar Association and LWV Denver

In early August, a member of the Rule of Law Task Force of the Colorado Bar Association (CBA) contacted the Denver League to discuss collaboration between the two organizations to educate citizens about their rights during the upcoming election cycle. Susan Stark, Co-Director of Program and Advocacy, contacted Gerald (Jerry) Pratt, a member of the CBA to let him know about our voter education and voter registration efforts as well as our upcoming kickoff event addressing the facts about election security.

Jerry attended the League Day of Action event at Focus Points Family Resource Center in west Denver where he met Mariam Bouriius, Co-Director of Voter Service and Pearlanne Zelarney, DIrector of Communication. LWVD was invited to the next Zoom meeting of the Rule of Law Task Force. Mariam and Susan joined the Bar Association’s discussion and shared our Voting Is People Power efforts and materials. Information was provided to allow the CBA to connect with other League groups throughout the state.

Voter Service will continue to work with the Bar Association group, which plans to set up tables along the 16th Street Mall to answer the public’s questions about voting and register new voters using LWVD trained circulators. We hope future opportunities to work collaboratively will follow.

Susan Stark, Co-Director of Program and Advocacy

Updates on Advocacy

As mentioned in last month's VOTER, LWVDenver sent a comment in opposition to the proposed Ballot Mail for Federal Elections rule (39 CFR Part 111). Our comment was one of over 200,000 submitted to the Postal Service. On Friday, August 21, the USPS published its 90 page final rule. They made a few changes from the proposed to final rule, but it substantially stands. The Postal Service said that it would “not take actions to implement the rule specifically for the 2026 election” unless the Supreme Court rules in the administration’s favor on the Executive Order that began this action.

The Supreme Court ruled on August 24 in the administration's favor on one of the lawsuits challenging the Executive Order that only applied in the states that sued. The case brought by the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts that imposed a nationwide ban on letting the EO go into effect is potentially heading to the Supreme Court as well this week or next. We do not know how this will eventually impact mail in ballots here in Colorado.

Membership

Drinks and Dialogue Recap

Hosted by the new membership chairs, Katherine Schults and Annie Cannon, over 30 new and prospective members shared drinks and conversation on the patio at the All Inn Hotel. Attendees learned more about the League from the Board members and at least three joined on the spot.

Book Club - Start Reading the Next Book Now

She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story that Helped Ignite a Movement

By Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey

Join us on October 22, 6:00 p.m. at the Sienna Wine Bar, 3434 E. 12th Ave., for a stimulating discussion of the book the ignited the #MeToo movement.

Purchase from the Publisher

Borrow from the Library

We Need Your Volunteer Hours!

These are important for getting grants at the local and national level. You can use the form to enter any hours you have spent on League activities.

Volunteer Hours Form

Welcome New and Returning Members

Diana Cutler, mumskispowder@gmail.com, 80220
Lisa Donovan, lisdonovan@yahoo.com, 80465
Mary Duran, mary.duran@mullenmail.com, 80236
Shannon Jacobs, wildlifewriter@aol.com, 80206
Maria Marino, maria.marino703@gmail.com, 80220
Kathleen O'Brien, mitzileen@gmail.com, 80260
Katrina Olson, bolsonkat@gmail.com, 80220
Melissa Pulsinelli, melissa@littlemanicecream.com, 80211
Brynn Sheehan, brynnasheehan1@gmail.com, 80230
Sherri Stieg, sherristieg@yahoo.com, 80209
Edna Wigington, missprothero@gmail.com, 80247

LWV Denver Units

A great place for meaningful conversations

Units are small groups that meet after briefings to discuss the topic further and whatever else is on the minds of the attendees. This is a great way to be more involved in League and to make lasting relationships. All are welcome!

Cheesman Unit
Meets the fourth Tuesday of the month
Next Meeting: September 22 at 9:30 a.m. at Sue Stark's home, 310 Bellaire Street
Leader: Bobbie Heisterkamp (303-333-6818)

Cherrington Unit
Meets on the third Thursday of the month
Next Meeting: Thursday, September 17 at 1:00 p.m., Location TBD
Leader: Peg Oldham (720-220-3988)

Highland/Woodbury
Meets the third Wednesday of each month
Next Meeting: Wednesday, September 16 at 1:00 p.m. at Sassafras American Eatery, 32nd and Perry
Contact Sally Augden (303-455-5800) or Joan Friend (303-596-1022) for more details

Observatory
Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 22 at 4:00 p.m. at The Cana Wine Bar, 2554 S Broadway
Contact Jeanette Scotland (303-479-4368) for more details

VOTER Articles Welcome!

We welcome articles from all members. We traditionally publish the VOTER on the fourth Thursday and the deadline to submit articles is the Friday before.