Who Is the League of Women Voters? 

The League of Women Voters (LWV) is a nonpartisan, grassroots nonprofit dedicated to empowering everyone to fully participate in our democracy. With active Leagues in all 50 states and more than 700 Leagues across the country, we engage in advocacy, education, litigation, and organizing to protect every American’s freedom to vote. 

Founded in 1920, the League was a merger of the National Council of Women Voters and the National American Women’s Suffrage Association. Referred to as a “mighty political experiment,” it aimed to help newly enfranchised women exercise their right to vote. Learn more about our history. 

Today, the League has expanded our vision of a more inclusive democracy where all Americans, regardless of gender, sex, race, ability, or party can see themselves represented in our government. To build this vision, we bring an anti-racist, social justice lens to the issues of: 

• Expanding Voter Access; 
• Fighting Voter Suppression; 
• Money in Politics; 
• Redistricting; and 
• Safe and Fair Elections; 

Additionally, we promote social and economic justice through the lenses of health care, the environment, immigration reform, and the Census. 

Our Foundational Principles

The League shall not support or oppose any political party or any candidate.To learn more about our nonpartisan stance, read this blog post.

Discrimination or harassment of any kind will not be accepted within the League, including but not limited to race, socio-economic status, age, ability status, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, or marital status. The League is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging for all people. 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 not only our culture, but our reputation and the organization's mission and achievements as well.

The League of Women Voters of South Carolina 

The members of the League of Women Voters of South Carolina are found in 13 local Leagues serving about half of our 46 counties. Every day, South Carolina's state and local League members engage in hands-on work to safeguard democracy and improve our communities. The League is citizen-powered democracy in action. We not only promote the values of representative democracy, we embody them.

The League is known and respected as a preeminent grassroots citizens’ network, directed by member consensus and committed to engaging citizens in our democracy so that it works for all Americans. The League is both strictly nonpartisan and wholeheartedly political in working to influence policy through advocacy.

In 2020, the League of Women Voters celebrated the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the  Constitution and the birth of the League, rooted in the suffrage movement, in that same year. The League was a "mighty political experiment" designed to help 20 million women carry out their new responsibility as voters.

The fact that half the population only secured the right to vote – the most fundamental democratic freedom – a century ago is a powerful reminder of how young American democracy is. Democracy must be carefully nurtured and fiercely defended by the efforts of an informed, active citizenry.

Since our founding in 1920, protecting and promoting the right of every citizen to vote has been a guiding principle of the League. South Carolina's state and local Leagues sponsor debates and forums to educate voters about where candidates stand on important issues. We register voters, offer them nonpartisan information about issues and candidates, and promote voter turnout. To ensure government is owned by citizens, not special interests, the League has been a strong advocate for campaign finance, lobbying, and ethics reform at both the national and state levels.

The League does not endorse political parties or candidates, but it does study issues and arrives at member consensus to take positions on critical issues. The action priorities, which are set by the board and the membership, typically focus on redistricting, election integrity, voter protection, ethics, and money in politics. Other areas of focus, often in collaboration with other state organizations, include education, healthcare, environment, and utility regulation.

Join us

Our members are passionate activists who support our work in all 50 states and in more than 700 communities. Join us today!

Our mision: EMPOWERING VOTERS, DEFENDING DEMOCRACY.