LWV — Supporting a representative democracy
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Submitted by The League of Women Voters.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy. The idea for such an organization was first raised by the suffragist Emma Smith DeVoe, who led the successful campaign for women to vote in Washington state. In 1911, she organized the National Council of Women Voters to educate newly enfranchised women voters in the Pacific Northwest. On Feb. 14, 1920, six months before the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, giving women the right to vote, was ratified, the National Council merged with the National American Women’s Suffrage Association to form the League of Women Voters.
The League’s principal mission then and now is to empower voters and defend democracy through advocacy, education and litigation, at the local, state and national levels. The League believes in representative government and in the individual liberties established in the Constitution of the United States, that democratic government depends upon the informed and active participation of its citizens, that responsible government should be responsive to the will of the people and that every citizen should be protected in the right to vote.
The League takes nonpartisanship seriously. It is essential that the public and its elected officials be convinced of the League’s genuine impartiality. Therefore, as an organization, the League does not support or oppose candidates for public office. At the same time, the League encourages its members as individuals to be active in political parties, in finding and supporting candidates for public office and in seeking election to public office.
Although it is nonpartisan, the League does take positions on political issues, but only after rigorous study of the issues and gaining the consensus of League members on the study findings. Positions can be adopted at the national, state and local levels of the League.
The League of Women Voters of the San Juans abides by these principles in its work. LWVSJ’s president and other officers cannot contribute to a political party or candidate, attend political meetings except for information purposes, work on a campaign, publicly support a candidate or permit use of one’s name in endorsements, or engage in other activities that may be construed as partisan.
LWVSJ’s activities fall into several categories. Perhaps our most visible programs are our Voter Forums and Observer Corps. The former educates the electorate about upcoming elections, and the latter educates the community about what their elected and appointed officials are doing on their behalf. Our local League’s civics engagement program also includes tabling resources at the county fair, distributing the State Leagues’ civics books and hosting monthly meetings with speakers who address current issues facing the county, state and country. In addition, LWVSJ has led efforts at the state and national levels to successfully adopt positions and resolutions on immigration and immigrant rights as well as reproductive rights.
Please join us at one of our monthly meetings, which take place at the Friday Harbor Library on the second Monday of the month at noon.
