⚡ Action Alerts

Mail Ballots Belong to Voters — Not the USPS

The U.S. Postal Service has finalized a rule restricting the delivery of mail ballots, and on August 24 the U.S. Supreme Court lifted one of the two court orders holding that executive order back.

We say NO. Mail ballots belong to voters, not the Postal Service. Millions of Americans — military families and voters overseas, older voters, rural voters, and people with disabilities — depend on the mail to cast their ballots.

The August 11 order still standing came from a federal district court in Boston, which blocked the Postal Service from implementing Section 3 of the executive order — through the November 3 midterm elections and any earlier federal election. The court held that "the executive branch has no authority to regulate elections." The League of Women Voters and the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts were among the plaintiffs, joined by the ACLU, the Legal Defense Fund, the Association of Americans Resident Overseas, U.S. Vote Foundation, OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

What this means for you right now: nothing about how you vote in Rhode Island has changed today, and the League is still in court to keep it that way. But the protection is one court order thin — so make your plan early rather than counting on the last days of delivery.

What You Can Do

• Have a plan to vote. If you vote by mail, request your ballot early and return it as early as you can — don't count on the last few days of delivery.
• Tell Senators Reed and Whitehouse that mail ballots belong to voters, not the USPS. Senator Jack Reed: (202) 224-4642 • Senator Sheldon Whitehouse: (202) 224-2921.
• Spread the word. Share this with anyone who votes by mail, especially military families, overseas voters, and neighbors who can't easily get to the polls.

Background: the League's statement on the August 11 ruling blocking the Postal Service.

The RI Voting Rights Act Did Not Pass — Keep Up the Pressure

The General Assembly ended its 2026 session without passing the Rhode Island Voting Rights Act (H 8334 / S 3143). Both chambers' committees voted to "hold the bills for further study" — the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 7 and the House State Government & Elections Committee on April 16 — so the RIVRA never received a floor vote.

The RIVRA would codify into state law the protections of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, which the U.S. Supreme Court has continually weakened. Codifying these protections in Rhode Island law shields voters here from any federal rollback of voting rights. The bill would protect Rhode Islanders from vote dilution, voter suppression, and voter intimidation, and from discrimination based on race or color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, age, country of ancestral origin, or change in marital status.

Sponsors: Representative Katherine Kazarian (H 8334) and Senate President Valarie J. Lawson (S 3143).

The League of Women Voters of Rhode Island testified in strong support of the RIVRA, calling it "a common-sense, pro-voter bill that solidifies and builds upon the protections in the federal Voting Rights Act," and made the case in a letter to the editor in the Providence Journal. The League stands with a broad coalition of partners, including the ACLU of Rhode Island, Common Cause Rhode Island, and The Womxn Project, whose RIVRA campaign page tracks the bill's history and the full coalition.

Take Action!

The fight is not over. Write and call your state Senator and Representative: tell them you are disappointed the RIVRA was held in committee, and that you expect them to pass the Rhode Island Voting Rights Act when the General Assembly reconvenes. With the U.S. Supreme Court weakening the federal Voting Rights Act, states must lead — and Rhode Island should be among them.

Newport Hospital Birthing Center: Keep It Open — and Funded

Good news: On April 11, 2026, Brown University Health announced the Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center at Newport Hospital will remain open. The fight isn't over. Keeping the center open requires $4.9 million in new annual state and philanthropic funding. Without it, closure remains on the table. The League of Women Voters of Newport County continues to advocate for sustained funding and legal protections, with attention to avoiding racial, economic, or geographic disparities in maternal care.

Key Actions to Take:

• Contact Leadership: Thank Brown University Health for the commitment to keep the birthing center open, and urge sustained investment in its long-term future.
  • John Fernandez (Brown University Health President & CEO)
  • Sarah Frost (Chief of Hospital Operations, Brown University Health / President, Rhode Island Hospital)
  • Mailing Address: Brown University Health, Office of the President, 593 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02903
• Support Legislation: Advocate for Rep. Lauren Carson's maternal-health package introduced in January 2026 — including H 8203, which would require a rigorous RI Department of Health review before any birthing-center closure, relocation, or capacity cut of 25% or more, and H 7626, the Rhode Island Maternal Health Improvement and Equity Act of 2026.
• Contact Your State Legislators: Urge them to fund the Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center in the FY2027 state budget.

Coalition

No Bridges to Birth!

The Coalition for Newport Hospital Birthing Center continues to rally under the banner "No Bridges to Birth!" — highlighting the unacceptable reality that island and East Bay families would face if forced to cross bridges in labor to reach a hospital. Join the coalition and stand with Newport County families to keep the Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center open, funded, and accessible.

The SAVE Act Still Has the Potential of Becoming Law

There is still the threat that the SAVE Act may become law. The original SAVE Act was introduced in 2024 — and the version moving through Congress in 2026 is a stricter attempt at controlling voting rights (see the comparison below). On February 11, 2026, the U.S. House passed the SAVE America Act, 218–213, as an amendment to S. 1383.

In passing it, the House also incentivized states to adopt parts of the SAVE Act. No state would be required to adopt the entire legislation, but states that adopt documentary proof-of-citizenship or photo-ID requirements would qualify for federal funding — the House set aside $10 billion for this purpose. For perspective, that $10 billion is nearly double everything Congress has allocated for election administration since 2002 combined. (Bipartisan Policy Center)

Although stalled in the Senate, there is still a chance of passage.

How Has the SAVE Act Become Stricter?

2024 SAVE Act vs. 2026 SAVE America Act — scroll the table sideways on a phone.

Where Is the Senate in the Process?

Once the Senate is back in session on September 10, there are several ways the SAVE America Act could be passed and sent to the president for his signature. The three most likely pathways are marked ★; options 4 and 5 are considered unlikely.

What You Need to Know About the SAVE America Act

Who Would Most Likely Be Affected?

• Military members and their families, who must re-register each time they move
• Natural disaster survivors who have lost important documents
• Anyone with a changed name — married women and members of the trans community. An estimated 69 million women and 4 million men lack paperwork that reflects their current name
• The elderly and young people
• The unhoused and poor
• Naturalized citizens and Native American voters
• People of color and citizens living in rural areas

Take Action

Call Senators Reed and Whitehouse. Ask them to vote NO on the SAVE America Act when it reaches the Senate floor — and take the LWV US survey so the League can document who would be affected.

• Senator Jack Reed: (202) 224-4642 (DC) • (401) 528-5200 (Providence)
• Senator Sheldon Whitehouse: (202) 224-2921 (DC) • (401) 453-5294 (Providence)

Sources: Bipartisan Policy Center and the League of Women Voters US. All information on this alert has been fact-checked through the Brennan Center for Justice.