Our Mission and What We Do
Our Mission and Roles
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. We never support or oppose any political party or candidate.
The League of Women Voters has two separate and distinct roles:
Voters Service/Citizen Education: we present unbiased nonpartisan information about elections, the voting process, and issues.
To conduct our voter service and citizen education activities, we use funds from the
League of Women Voters Education Fund, which is a 501(c)(3) corporation, a nonprofit educational organization.
Action/Advocacy: nonpartisan, but (after study) we use our positions to advocate for or against particular policies in the public interest.
The League of Women Voters, a membership organization, conducts action and advocacy and is a
nonprofit 501(c)(4)
corporation.
VOTER SERVICES/CITIZEN EDUCATION
We present unbiased nonpartisan information about elections, the voting process, and issues.
The League of Women Voters Education Fund conducts voter service and citizen education activities. It is a nonpartisan nonprofit public policy educational organization, which:
- Builds citizen participation in the democratic process.
- Studies key community issues at all government levels in an unbiased manner.
- Enables people to seek positive solutions to public policy issues through education and conflict management.
Donations to the Education Fund, a 501(c)(3)corporation, are fully tax-deductible where allowed by law.
ACTION AND ADVOCACY
The League of Women Voters takes action on an issue or advocates for a cause when there is an existing League position that supports the issue or speaks to the cause.
Positions result from a process of study. Any given study, whether it be National, State, or Local, is thorough in its pursuit of facts and details. As the study progresses, a continuing discussion of pros and cons of each situation occurs. Prior to the results of the study being presented to the general membership, study committee members fashion consensus questions that are then addressed by the membership.
Additional discussion, pro and con, takes place as members (not part of the study committee) learn the scope of the study. After the members reach consensus, the board forms positions based on that consensus.
It is the consensus statement -- the statement resulting from the consensus questions -- that becomes a position. Firm action or advocacy can then be taken on the particular issue addressed by the position. Without a position, action/advocacy cannot be taken.
Our Board
The members of our board of directors are dedicated, passionate leaders from a variety of backgrounds. Each board member brings expertise and life experience that the League draws on in its mission to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government and to act on selected governmental issues.
Please visit "Our Board" page in the drop-down tab above for more info.