Non-Partisan Policy
Background
In 1920, when the League of Women Voters (LWV) was founded, they made a choice to neither support nor oppose any political party or candidate for public office. That choice continues today to ensure that the League’s voice is heard above the tumult of party politics. The League’s nonpartisan policy has added strength has made possible wide acceptance of the League’s Voter Service and other educational activities. At the same time, the League is a political organization and encourages members and the voting public to participate fully in the political party of their choice. This provides a unique advantage to the League. Read more about the details of our non-partisan policy here.
You can also see how to develop a nonpartisan policy here.
Purpose
The League of Women Voters of Nevada County promotes and protects voting and voting rights, provides resources for informed citizenship, and encourages civic engagement.
Who We Are
We are women and men who are interested in how government works, how it impacts our lives and the lives of others, and who wish to be informed citizens and voters. Our members thrive on learning unbiased political information difficult to find elsewhere. Information researched by National and State LWV members as well as our own analysis gives us what we need to facilitate understanding in order to make clear and objective voting decisions. We are a group of people engaged in our communities.
New members are always welcome from any political party, as well as any race, socio-economic status, age, ability status, religion, national origin, gender identity, or marital status. The League is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture that includes access for all citizens. The League is an organization that respects and values the richness of our community and our members. The collective sum of our individual differences and life experiences represents the richness of the culture in our community.
What We Do
We explain Ballot Measures in an unbiased way that the voting public can understand.
We moderate Candidate Forums in a fair and balanced manner, focusing on the issues.
We register voters.
We work at polling places.
We provide on-line information of interest to voters.
What We Don't Do
The LWV never supports a candidate or a party at any level: local, state, or national. We always remain non-partisan in order to maintain integrity in our unique position of providing unbiased polictical information that helps citizens of our country have the information they need to participate in government in the most effective way according to each of their personal preferences.
How We Operate
The League operates in a way in which the general public is free to contribute time, money, and to attend our public functions with or without membership. There are many choices in order to allow people to spend as much or as little time as they wish!
Our unbiased presentations of the Pros & Cons of ballot propositions and moderation of Candidate Forums is a rare opportunity for voters to hear issues discussed and to ask questions of candidates in an open forum free from personal attacks. This approach has earned LWV a global reputation for integrity and thoroughness.
Whether you aspire to leadership or to participate as a valued member in you area of interest, the League welcomes your civic curiosity as a citizen of Nevada County. We offer our members webinars, workshops, and mentorship opportunities at all levels of the organization. Contact us to get involved or attend an event you see posted on our homepage.
To conduct our voter service and citizen education activities, resources are available to us from the National and California League of Women Voters Education Funds, which are 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organizations that never advocate. These resources are developed from a rich source of knowledge held and research conducted by our members nationwide.
Our Local League History
Our Nevada County League was created in 1978 when a few League members from other areas moved here and formed a Member-at-Large group, which later developed into a Provisional League.
In 1984 all necessary requirements were met and the group was accorded full status by the National and California State Leagues as the League of Women Voters of Western Nevada County. The League changed its name to League of Women Voters of Nevada County in 2022 to be inclusive of the entire county.
2024-25 Board Members Board Members
Officers
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Co-President – Lynn Forbes
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Co-President - Jan Bedayn
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Treasurer – Julie Hubbard
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Secretary – Lauren Drutz
- Education Chair - JoAnn Castori
- Vote411 Chair - Julie Hubbard
- Voter Services Chair - Randi Swisley
- Member at Large - David Jones
Past Presidents
- Joan Lancaster & Miriam Swift 1980-1981
- Mary Adams 1981-1982
- Edi Silverman 1982-1984
- Shirley Price 1984-1986
- Eloise Gregory 1986-1987
- Susan Shotwell 1987-1988
- Virginia Birdsall 1988-1989
- Bonnie Taylor 1989-1991
- Eloise Gregory 1991-1992
- Betty Taylor 1992-1993
- Scottie Shields 1993-1995
- Mary Dreifuss & Dottie Schmidt 1995-1996
- Mary Dreifuss 1996-1997
- June Englebright 1997-1999
- Dottie Schmidt 1999-2000
- Joan Lancaster 2000-2002
- Mary Dreifuss & Edi Silverman 2002-2004
- Dottie Schmidt 2004-2005
- Board of Directors 2005-2007
- Ruth Schwartz 2007-2010
- Board of Directors 2010-2011
- Karen Schwartz 2011-2014
- Anne DeWitt 2014-2015
- JoAnn Marie 2015-2017
- Janice Bedayn 2017–2021
- Fran Cole 2021-2023
- Lynn Forbes, Jan Bedayn 2023-25
Other League Organizations
Our members are also members of:
See other Leagues in California and other state Leagues and local League websites.
Nevada County History
View this interesting film of Ellen Sargent who founded the Nevada County's Women Suffrage Association in 1869.
