On Feb. 14, the League of Women Voters celebrated its 103rd birthday. Since 1920, six months before the passage of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote, the National American Woman Suffrage Association dissolved and the League of Women Voters of the United States was formed. The LWV of Pennsylvania was formed in November of that same year.
From the very beginning, the League has been a nonpartisan, activist, grassroots organization. We are nonpartisan in that we never support or oppose any party or candidate. At the same time, we are activist in that we study political issues, then take positions on them and ultimately lobby on behalf of those positions at the appropriate level of government. And we are a grassroots organization because the choice of issues to study is made at the local level, the positions themselves are voted upon at the local level and result from the consensus of our members across the state or the nation. Our positions can be found on the state and national League websites.
The early League looked beyond traditional “women’s issues” to consider issues affecting all voters. Over the last century, we’ve fought for election protection, democratic reforms, and equal access to the ballot — all while maintaining our commitment to nonpartisanship and fostering an informed electorate.
In the past year, members of the League of Women Voters of Bucks County worked hard to achieve our mission of empowering voters and defending democracy through education and advocacy. We hosted over 40 events including a member event in September entitled “Unmute Yourself” with a focus on informing and encouraging voters to go to the polls in November, and a public information program titled “The Cascading Dangers of the Dobbs Decision.” We also reached out to Bucks Countians at a variety of community events with information tables.
Our Voter Services team registered voters across the county, especially reaching out to high school seniors. We compiled comprehensive Voters Guides with information about the races and the candidates on the ballot before both the primary and the general election; these were printed in the Bucks County Herald and were also available online at Vote411.org.
At the state level, the League lobbied to ensure that Pennsylvania’s legislative districts were drawn in a fair and un-gerrymandered way. We lobbied in favor of voting rights and voter access, advocated for fair school funding across the state, worked to protect civil rights across the state, and supported policies for a cleaner and more sustainable environment in Pennsylvania.
The League envisions a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge, and the confidence to participate. We are committed to creating and promoting a diverse and inclusive environment in our organization and in the areas in which we work.
The members of the League of Women Voters of Bucks County work year-round to provide voter services, educate the public, and advocate for issues that matter. Join us!
For information about the League of Women Voters, go to lwvbucks.org.
Jean Weston is co-president of the League of Women Voters of Bucks County, a non-partisan organization dedicated to providing voter education and services and advocating for issues. It envisions a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge and the confidence to participate.
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