Sharing LWV’s Nonpartisanship & DEI Commitments with Members & Leaders

LWV is always excited to welcome new League members and new individuals into leadership within the organization. It is critical that the League’s key policies — Nonpartisanship and DEI — are shared with and understood by everyone.  

• ACTION: Share your League’s nonpartisan policy and diversity, equity & inclusion policy with members and incoming board members.  If your League doesn’t have current policies, please use that of LWVUS, which can be found on LWV.org’s About Us page. 

It’s good practice to always require training for individuals who wish to engage in voter information/registration efforts with the League for the first time.  

• ACTION: In this training, Leagues should deliver the message that the LWV does voter information work in a nonpartisan manner, never endorsing or supporting candidates or parties. Trainings for new members should also include the League’s strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Any local election administration rules should also be introduced (or resources provided).

  • Note: All voter information and voter registration efforts must be executed in compliance with federal, state, and local laws.

• ACTION: It’s also good practice to require that new League volunteers be accompanied by veteran League volunteers on their first few voter information activities. 

When a new board is elected in your League, LWVUS strongly recommends reading the nonpartisan policy and DEI policy together as a new board, to make sure all folks understand these foundational commitments.  

• ACTION: League boards can gain an understanding of these foundational policies together as a board by reading and watching these resources: 

  • Bylaws (includes nonpartisan and DEI policies) 

  • Webinar: Operating as a nonpartisan organization 

    • Part 1 

    • Part 2 

  • Understanding the DEI policy 

• ACTION: For more in-depth guidance, check out these resources: 

  • Nonpartisanship on social media 

  • Nonpartisanship in partnerships 

It’s good practice to indicate what it means when League planning and discussion is internal. 

• ACTION: Share this message or a similar one at internal League meetings, like board and committee meetings, and in documents/memos: “Information at this meeting/in this document must not be shared with external parties outside the League of Women Voters.” 

It’s also good practice to indicate that external speakers at League public events do not speak on behalf of your organization. 

• ACTION: share this message during events with external speakers: “The views expressed at this educational event are not necessarily aligned with those of the League of Women Voters.”