The purpose of the League of Women Voters is to promote informed and active participation of citizens in their government through education and advocacy.  The League is nonpartisan in that it does not support or oppose any political party or candidate; it is political in that it takes positions on selected public issues after member study and agreement.  The League recognizes the role of political parties in our form of government and believes that participation in their activities is an essential ingredient of citizen responsibility.

While the League urges its members to be politically active, certain constraints are necessary in order to maintain the nonpartisanship, which has always been a major source of strength for the League.   It is the cornerstone of our Voter Service program: candidates appear at our events because they trust our forums will be fair and impartial and they know they will be treated with respect.   Candidates give information to the League because they know it will not be used for partisan purposes. This reputation of fairness and independence accounts for the confidence placed in our positions by interested citizens, other organizations, and the media.

Individual board members must recognize that as a result of close identification with the League, they have a special responsibility to see that their activities do not create a partisan impression.

 

The Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters The Villages / Tri-County Florida has established the following guidelines: 

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LWVTRI Responsibilities

• LWVTRI will neither lead nor initiate coalitions with partisan organizations nor join organizations that are led by partisan organizations.  

• Coalitions led by non-partisan groups may have other partners who support a candidate or political party. A decisions to work with such a coalition must be based on how the partnership will advance the League’s goals balanced against community perceptions such a partnership may invoke.  

• LWVTRI will not join a coalition that includes one of the two major political parties unless both parties are participating.

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Board Member Responsibilities

• Each board member is responsible for maintaining the nonpartisanship of the League.

• Board members may attend public political meetings, but not private political meetings nor advise or work for parties or candidates or state preferences for parties or candidates in writing or in speech. Board members are expected to resign upon declaring an intention to be a candidate or work for a candidate for public office. 

• The President and Voters Services Chair may not attend fundraising events or make campaign contributions for candidates.

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Member Responsibilities

• Speakers representing the League must recognize they have a responsibility to see that their activities do not create a partisan impression. Therefore, members closely identified with a political campaign (candidate, campaign manager, etc.) should recuse themselves from the Speakers Bureau until after the election. No political signage should be on any vehicle which is driven to a speaking location and no campaign buttons/clothing shall be worn.

• Members may not wear buttons, clothing, or other partisan identifiers to any League function.

• Once the League (either local, state, or national) takes a position on an issue, members may not identify themselves as League members in public expressing an opinion that is in opposition to a League position.

• Only the President or a member designated by the President may speak for LWVTRI. Letters, press releases, speeches, etc. put forth in the name of the League shall be approved by the President before release.

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