The League of Women Voters (LWV) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, grass roots organization. It supports and opposes selected governmental issues and ballot measures. It promotes political responsibility through informed and active participation in government. Membership is open to men and women over 18 years old.

The National League, founded on February 14, 1920, grew out of the woman suffrage movement, which had arisen in the United States in the years before the Civil War. State after State voted to give women the vote. This movement culminated in the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Effective August 26, 1920, this amendment granted women the vote.

From the beginning, the League has pursued two major goals:

• To encourage more active and informed participation of citizens in government, the League provides a variety of voter services. These include voter registration campaigns, voter education materials, such as Pros & Cons of state and local ballot measures. The League also provides speakers to local groups, and sponsors candidates’ meetings.
• To advocate and lobby on public policy issues based on League principles and positions. League members study and discuss public policy issues, then adopt policy positions on those issues.

The League is strictly nonpartisan. It supports and opposes issues, but not candidates or political parties.

Organized parallel to the levels of government (national, state, region, county and local), the League’s work is vital to the well being of our democratic system.

(Written by Fran Packard and Doris Fine for the first LWVBAE website in 1996; edited by Nancy Bickel for the revised website, 2013.)

We invite you to join.