League Of Women Voters

The League of Women Voters is an during a meeting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association . It began as a "mighty political experiment" aimed to help newly enfranchised women exercise their responsibilities as voters. Originally only women could join the LWV but in 1973 the charter was modified to include men.

The LWV is non-partisan, meaning it does not endorse or oppose political candidates or parties at any level of government. The LWV does support or oppose political issues after studying them and coming to consensus on a position. The LWV works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy, as well as through political lobbying of Congress.

Historically the LWV has supported Child Labor Laws , Civil Rights legislation, the Equal Rights Amendment , and the Motor Voter Law . More recently, it supports Campaign Finance Reform , Gun Control , and Electoral Reform , and has taken positions on a growing number of public policy areas.

Specifically in the area of gun control, according to the organization's website,

"The 1990 League convention took the rare step of
adopting the gun control position by concurrence
at convention. Proponents had sent two informational
mailings to all Leagues before convention, and spirited
debate on the convention floor persuaded the convention to
concur with the statement proposed by the LWV of Illinois.

Following the convention action, the LWVUS wrote to all
members of Congress, announcing the League’s new position
on gun control and urging passage of federal legislation to
control the proliferation of handguns and semi-automatic
assault weapons in the United States. In 1991, the League
joined with other organizations to support legislation
banning semi-automatic assault weapons. In 1992 and 1993,
the League supported congressional passage of the Brady bill,
to institute a five-day waiting period
and background check for the purchase of handguns. Following
enactment of the Brady bill in November 1993, the League
stepped up its lobbying efforts in a successful 1994 House
campaign to force inclusion of the assault weapons ban in
the final conference report on omnibus crime legislation." {Link without Title}

The League of Women Voters Education Fund sponsored the 1976 , 1980 , and 1984 Presidential Debates . In 1988 , the LWV withdrew from debate sponsorship, in protest of the major party candidates attempting to dictate nearly every aspect of how the debates were to be conducted, which ultimately resulted in the Democratic and Republican parties forming the Commission On Presidential Debates which gave the parties greater control over the debate environment. On October 2 , 1988 , the LWV's 14 trustees voted unanimously to pull out of the debates, and on October 3 they issued a dramatic press release:

''The League of Women Voters is withdrawing sponsorship of the presidential debates ... because the demands of the two campaign organizations would perpetrate a fraud on the American voter. It has become clear to us that the candidates' organizations aim to add debates to their list of campaign-trail charades devoid of substance, spontaneity and answers to tough questions. The League has no intention of becoming an accessory to the hoodwinking of the American public.''

The LWV continues to sponsor and moderate candidates' meetings and debates for local and state elections across the country. The LWV puts out voter's guides that compare candidates' positions on various issues. Some chapters of the LWV also staff precincts on election day helping to administer elections. The LWV is a strong supporter of transparency in government and many chapters send members to observe meetings of governmental bodies.

The League of Women Voters endorsed and supported the Mother’s Day 2000 Million Mom March of the Brady Campaign through the activities of many league members across the country who participated in the event, as well as by the official involvement of the organization's leadership and board. {Link without Title}

The LWV has approximately 150,000 members (as of 2006). {Link without Title}

SEE ALSO

U.S. Presidential Debate Sponsorship

EXTERNAL LINKS

League of Women Voters home page

LWV History page

Full video footage of 1976, 1980 and 1984 LWV-Sponsored Presidential Debates (includes Ronald Reagan)

LWV Photo Collection, Womens Suffrage Movement

Information About

League Of Women Voters