League 101

League 101

The League of Women Voters never endorses a party or candidate.

League Roles

The League of Women Voters has two separate and distinct roles:

Voter Service/Citizen Education: We present unbiased nonpartisan information about elections, the voting process, and issues through varied voter education programs. 

Action/Advocacy: After studying issues carefully, we develop League positions. We use our positions to advocate for or against particular policies in the public interest. We never endorse a party or candidate. Learn More

League Positions 

The League of Women Voters advocates or lobbies on issues or causes when there is an existing League position that supports the issue or speaks to the cause. Local, state, and national positions result from a process of study, and positions are developed only when members reach consensus, the overall decision-making process by which substantial agreement among members is reached on an issue. Members are not required to agree with all League positions. Learn more

Program

In League, Program can be thought of as the League's issues for emphasis. It means the issues that we choose for concerted study, education, and action at local, state and national levels. Program can include all three components -- study, education, and action. 

The Program Planning process is part of what makes the League a grassroots organization; each League member has the opportunity to influence the selection of issues where the local, state, and national League will focus time, talent and money. Learn more

Studies

The League of Women Voters takes action on an issue only when we have a position addressing it. If the members have not studied and come to consensus on it, the League has no position and therefore cannot take action. Studies (whether national, state, or local) are a defined process lasting one to three years, during which we undertake thorough pursuit of facts and details, both positive and negative, and come to consensus about policy. Learn more