We’re excited to announce that we partnered with The Andrew Goodman Foundation to honor the 50^th Anniversary of Freedom Summer at the 6th Annual Hidden Heroes Awards on November 17th at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in NYC.  

Click here to purchase your tax-deductible tickets for the Awards Ceremony and VIP Reception.  Read more…

Here’s your weekly quick look at a few developing stories in the political arena:

• The midterm elections were this past Tuesday. Republicans winning control of the senate, marijuana, and minimum wage were just some of the big stories from this election. For our recap article, click here.

Read more…

The midterm elections are over (well, not counting Louisiana, but more on that later). Now that the dust has settled, the electoral landscape has decidedly changed. From races to key ballot measures, we’ve got you covered with the results of the most important results of the midterms. So who are the big winners of the election?

• Republicans: The GOP gained control of the Senate last night and kept control of the House of Representatives.
• Marijuana supporters: While Florida voted no on medical marijuana (57% of Florida actually said yes, but 60% was needed), Oregon and Washington D.C. voted yes to approve the legalization of marijuana and at current writing, it looks like Alaska has as well.
• Minimum Wage Increase supporters: Voters in Arkansas, Nebraska, Alaska, and South Dakota all said yes to increasing their minimum wage. Illinois voters also passed a non-binding minimum wage increase measure.
• Both sides of the Gun Control argument: Washington state Ballot Initiative 594 was approved requiring universal background checks for all gun purchases. Meanwhile, voters in Alabama bolstered their right to bear arms.
• Sick Pay supporters: Voters in Massachusetts approved a paid sick leave ballot initiative that allows workers in the state to earn 40 hours of paid sick leave per year.
• Abortion Rights supporters: Voters in both Colorado and North Dakota rejected fetal personhood measures.
• Women Politicians: For the first time in U.S. history, there are 100 women in congress.
• Tim Scott, Shelly Moore Capito, & Gina Raimondo,Elise Stefanik,& Joni Ernst: Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) became the first African-American senator to win election in the South since Reconstruction and also the first African-American in U.S. history to be elected to both the House and the Senate. Shelly Moore Capito (R-West Virginia) became the state’s first female senator. Gina Raimondo (D-Rhode Island) became Rhode Island’s first female governor. Elise Stefanik (R-New York) at age 30 became the youngest female ever elected to congress. And Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), an Iraq War veteran, became both the first female combat veteran elected to the Senate and the first woman elected to either chamber of Congress from Iowa.

And finally, back to Louisiana. Voters in Louisiana will have to do it all over again for their senate race. Since no candidate was able to secure 50 percent of the vote, they will now have a run-off election on Saturday, December 6th between Sen. Mary Landrieu (D) and Rep Bill Cassidy (R). More about that here.

We hope you all voted. Though the election may be over, there is still much work left to be done. Keep tuned to the League of Young Voters for more great things and content to come! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram .

Election Day is finally here. These midterm elections are one of the most important in recent memory and it is critical that every registered voter, VOTE!

Why are these elections so important?

• Control of the Senate is up for grabs and there are 36 senate races this election.
• Across the country, 36 states will be voting on who they want to represent them as Governor.
• Ballot measures across the country include: marijuana legalization, minimum wage increases, abortion, and gun control, just to name a few.

Three big things to know before you vote:

1. Know what’s on your ballot by checking out november4th.

2. Know what to do if you come across a voting issue at your polling place. Any voter in any state can call the ALCU Election Protection Hotline

3. Know when you can vote. Many, but not all, states allow you to leave work to vote including paid time. (List here). Also, it’s important to know how long your poll is open. Here is a handy map of poll closing times for the Nov. 4, general elections (From the Daily Kos) so that you can know when to start checking returns in each state on election night. Note that all times are Eastern, not local.

(Also don’t forget if you live in Texas, you will need to show proper ID to vote now!)

So don’t forget to vote and remind all your friends and family to do the same. Voting is your civic duty.

VOTE!