Nonpartisan and grassroots
The League of Women Voters was founded by Carrie Chapman Catt in 1920 during the convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. The League got its official start in Florida in 1939 and was followed by the establishment of the League of Women Voters of Broward County in 1953.
We have never supported nor opposed any political party or candidate for office at any level of government. At the same time, the League is wholeheartedly political and works to influence policy through advocacy.
The League is community-based. We work to improve our government and engage all citizens in the decisions that impact our lives. The League’s enduring vitality and resonance comes from our unique decentralized structure. We are a grassroots organization, working at the local, state and national levels.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
LWV is an organization fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in practice. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the organization’s current and future success in engaging all individuals, households, communities, and policy makers in creating a more perfect democracy.
Here is the official position of the US League, adopted Jan. 21, 2024:
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.