'Fannie Lou' Musical

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, has fought since 1920 to improve our government and impact public policy through citizen education and advocacy. The League's enduring vitality comes from its unique decentralized structure; working at the national, state, and local levels. The League neither supports nor opposes candidates or political parties at any level of government.

While the League's legislative priorities change to reflect the needs of society, our organization remains true to its basic purpose: to make democracy work for all citizens.

The New York City League of Women Voters was founded on June 2, 1919 as an outgrowth of the Women's Suffrage movement.

Mission Statement: The League of Women Voters of the City of New York is a nonpartisan organization whose purpose is to promote informed and active participation in government. The League neither supports nor opposes candidates or political parties. The League is supported by public-spirited individuals, businesses, and organizations. Help support our work!



SOURCE: www.lwvnyc.org

The League is dedicated to ensuring that all eligible voters – particularly those from traditionally underrepresented or underserved communities, including first-time voters, non-college youth, new citizens, minorities, the elderly and low-income Americans – have the opportunity and the information to exercise their right to vote. 

Brief history

The League of Women Voters was founded by Carrie Chapman Catt in 1920 during the convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. The convention was held just six months before the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, giving women the right to vote after a 72-year struggle.

The League began as a "mighty political experiment" designed to help 20 million women carry out their new responsibilities as voters. It encouraged them to use their new power to participate in shaping public policy. From the beginning, the League has been an activist, grassroots organization whose leaders believed that citizens should play a critical role in advocacy. It was then, and is now, a nonpartisan organization. League founders believed that maintaining a nonpartisan stance would protect the fledgling organization from becoming mired in the party politics of the day. However, League members were encouraged to be political themselves, by educating citizens about, and lobbying for, government and social reform legislation.

This holds true today. The League is proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government, but always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public. The League has a long, rich history,that continues with each passing year.



SOURCE: www.lwvnyc.org