What the League Does
Since 1920, the League of Women Voters has been an activist, grassroots organization whose members believe that citizens should play a critical role in democracy. Over the years, the League has continued its dual purposes of educating voters and promoting the adoption of public policies that drive advocacy and action.
Leagues at every level provide nonpartisan information on current issues as prioritized and adopted by their boards. The work of the League includes developing policies through study, consensus, and concurrence. Action is taken on the adopted policies, including lobbying lawmakers and conducting voter education programs, forums, and debates, and providing voter guides.
Taking Action
We tend to focus our efforts on influencing legislative measures with the state and local government bodies by preparing testimony, educating voters, and initiating advocacy campaigns on issues of interest to our members. When a position is reached on an issue as the result of study, the League may take action to change or enact laws that reflect the position. The League’s comprehensive approach to advocacy may involve monitoring compliance with a law, observing public meetings, lobbying at the local, state, or national level, writing letters to the editor or to public officials, and/or working to draft legislation.
Unlike the League’s broader advocacy work described above, League lobbying is a defined advocacy technique that promotes or opposes specific pieces of legislation. League lobbying is based on member study and agreement on selected issues and involves concerted efforts to achieve public policies consistent with League positions. League Boards at every level set their own legislative lobbying priorities.
Voter Services
Leagues at every level provide nonpartisan information on the election process, on voter registration, and on candidates through forums and voter guides. This is probably the service for which the League is best known. LWVMP has an active program that includes voter registration drives throughout the community, including a Young Voter Engagement program. Our guideline for Voter Services is providing nonpartisan, unbiased, factual information to help citizens make their own informed decisions on Election Day.