In 1971, when the voting age in the U.S. was lowered from 21 to 18, Levin’s son, a political consultant, worked to register new voters. Inspired by her son, Levin helped — and never stopped.
Six days a week, she would travel from place to place from her home in Santa Monica, Calif., to find people to sign up. (Sundays: the farmers’ market in Westwood Village. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays: outside the Westwood Federal Building. Fridays: Malibu. Saturdays: Venice.) Her job, deputy county registrar, is a volunteer position — she got no pay.
“She’s an example of a person who has done more to make democracy work than anybody I know,” said Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, who introduced a resolution to honor her. Over 36 years, she registered more than 47,000 people to vote. Did she favor Democrats, or Republicans? “Everyone is important,” she would reply. She continued her efforts until she was hospitalized after a stroke in May. She died June 25 at 91.