The League of Women Voters

“We are not feminists primarily, we are citizens,” wrote an early leader of the League of Women Voters. Her statement reflects the organization’s goal of helping all Americans become knowledgeable participants in government.

An outgrowth of the National American Women’s Suffrage Association, the League was founded in Chicago in 1920. After a long battle, women had been given the right to vote by the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. The League was founded to educate women in the use of that newly won right. At first, members were divided on the role of women in politics. Some felt that they should work through exisiting political parties. Others argued that women should have their own party. Still others believed that women should remain above partisan politics. Finally, members agreed that the League would be nonpartisan, while supporting social and political reform.

Today, the League has more than 1,200 local and state chapters. It concentrates on educating the American public on important local, state, and national issues. It distributes reliable information on candidates and issues, runs voter registration drives, and sponsors political debates. The League remains nonpartisan, although it takes stands on important issues after conducting studies and reaching concensus among its members.

Membership in the League of Women Voters was opened to men in 1974.

The political cartoon pictured with this post is interesting. Click on it to see a larger view. The topic involves passage of the 19th amendment.