The entire League of Women Voters Voter Guide in City Pulse

When I was growing up, that's when I saw the civil rights movement, the black civil rights movement, and saw people like John Lewis nearly die fighting for his rights, and the very least I can do is honor that.

For over 100 years, the men and women of the League of Women Voters have been soliciting the visions and ideas of candidates for all levels of political office as well as representatives of ballot initiatives and hosting public forums. That tradition continues this week with a 52-page supplement to City Pulse, produced by the local branch of the League and paid for by the City Pulse Fund for Community Journalism. It includes candidates and ballot issues in Ingham County and the portions of Eaton and Clinton counties that are part of Greater Lansing. Both organizations received grants for the project as well as advertising support from the Lansing City Clerk’s Office.  

Months ago, Donna Mullins, president of the LWV, and her team began shaping questions for candidates at the local level in the tri-county area.

“We have to craft those questions,” Mullins, a 75-year-old retired social worker, said. “And we want it to be fair. Not everyone knows what certain positions do, so we try to focus on broader issues each candidate can address.” 

With those created, they are uploaded to the back end of the Vote411.org website.  

That’s when the all-volunteer work begins in earnest. Joanne Winkelman, a retired special education teacher and Michigan Department of Education employee who serves as the local vice president for voter services, said it’s her job to make sure candidates are provided individualized links with questions specific to their race.  

Click here to download the PDF

Click here to download the PDF.

“I do read them, each and everyone,” said Winkelman. “because the league is very concerned you may not talk about your opponent. 

And there’s strict word limits for each answer: 150. Any concerns, and a candidate might hear from Mullins or Winkelman, gently persuading the candidate to edit an answer for clarity and brevity.  

From there, the responses go to two places.  

First they’re approved for the Vote411.org website. That site allows voters to compare candidates, find their election districts and polling locations and more.  

At the same time, they are sent to Dorothy Engelman. She’s another volunteer who takes all the information for the candidates and puts into a format to make it ready for designing. That, said Mullins, is an important part of what the organization does.  

“Some people may want to look at it in a paper form, and have it with them while voting,” she said. “So, it’s really important to us that we make sure we have this available in ways that people can use it.” 

And it’s also important, Mullins and Winkelman said, that the leaders and organization are beyond reproach as nonpartisan.  

“We identify as a progressive organization,” Mullins said. “But we are very nonpartisan.” 

“We keep that nonpartisan thing sacred,” said Winkelman. “We want everyone to vote.” 

How seriously? Neither Mullins nor Winkelman is allowed to donate to candidates or display their campaign signs while holding office for the organization.  

“The league is nonpartisan and, if it wasn't, I wouldn't belong,” said Mullins.”I think voting is important, and so does Joanne. I mean, it's the very least we can do, and the founders risked their lives, their family; they risked everything in order to do that. When I was growing up, that's when I saw the civil rights movement, the black civil rights movement, and saw people like John Lewis nearly die fighting for his rights, and the very least I can do is honor that.” She referred to the late U.S. representative from Georgia. 

The three women said they easily work more than 40 hours a week to produce the candidate surveys for voters.  

In addition to putting together the voter guides, Mullins said the local league chapter is active in registering voters.  

“We registered thousands of students in 2020,” she said. “And we were at East Lansing High School recently talking with students about registering. There were a lot who were interested in working the polls, which is very exciting.” 

City Pulse has published portions of the league’s surveys several times, but this year marks the first time the paper is distributing the entire guide.  

“It’s been a longtime goal, and it finally came together this year,” editor and publisher Berl Schwartz. “We share the league’s desire to equip voters with as much unbiased information about candidates as possible. We hope to do it again in 2024.”