By: 2026 Comunicador Valeria Hernandez
In November 2024, I sat on the floor of my high school hallway, eating lunch with friends and talking about the upcoming election. A handful of us were finally old enough to vote. The rest of us, including me, were left to place whatever influence we had in the hands of our closest friends. One of the few students who had already turned 18 said something I still remember: “I’m not going to vote. I’m afraid of making the wrong choice.”
The next day, once again at lunch, I handed them a magazine that explained the issues on the state ballot and outlined the positions of the two presidential candidates. In that moment, I realized they were not afraid of making the wrong choice. They were afraid of making an uninformed one. As they began reading and discussing the information, I watched that fear slowly fade. From then on, I knew I wanted a future where I could help ensure people’s voices are heard and represented by providing them with the knowledge and resources they need to exercise their right to vote.
For over 100 years, the League of Women Voters has worked to protect and expand voting rights through advocacy, education and litigation. Through its network of local and state Leagues, alongside the national League, the organization advances its mission every day by empowering people to participate in democracy and make informed decisions at the ballot box.
Over the past few weeks as a communications intern at the national League, I haven’t just had a front-row seat to this mission. I’ve had the opportunity to help advance it. I’ve worked on translating VOTE411.org resources from English to Spanish to help ensure non-English speakers have access to the information they need to participate in the voting process, directly addressing the kind of informational gap I first noticed in high school. I’ve also pitched media outlets to secure public service announcement placements for our Unite & Rise for Voting Rights Day of Action; served as an on-camera spokesperson for promotional campaigns; compiled weekly national press clips; and provided logistical support to prepare for the League’s Convention.
As a Latina and the daughter of immigrant parents, especially at a time when immigration rights remain at the center of national conversations, I feel more strongly than ever the power that my vote holds. At the League, I am grateful to play an active, hands-on role in helping bring that same sense of empowerment and clarity to communities across the country.
Valeria Hernandez is a rising sophomore at The George Washington University, studying international affairs and political science. She is a Cisneros Scholar and a 2026 Comunicadores for the Future intern at the League of Women Voters.
