The League of Women Voters
of New Jersey

a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose purpose is to promote political responsibility
through informed and active participation in government

Nonpartisanship and Your League

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. We take action on public policy positions established through member agreement. We are political, but we do not support or oppose any political party or any candidate.

Each League’s board of directors is responsible for carrying out the League nonpartisan political activity/conflict of interest policy in its community, keeping in mind that everything the League does should be measured against the yardstick of nonpartisanship. See In League (Pub. #275, $11.00) for general information and examples of League nonpartisan policies.

Now that more and more League members are employed outside the home, we must pay increasing attention to potential conflicts of interest as well as to maintaining the League’s nonpartisanship. The national board’s policy has two parts: a Nonpartisan Political Activity Policy and a Conflict of Interest Policy. Both are reviewed and adopted by each new national board.

The ideal time to review your League’s implementation of the nonpartisan policy is at the orientation meeting for your new board, when you clarify the policy-making role of the board as a whole, as well as individual responsibilities. It is important to review the nonpartisan policy before specific cases come up. Even if no changes are necessary, the review is important, both to educate board members and to anticipate situations that might cause difficulty later. All situations should be considered on a case-by-case basis; for example, is a key committee chair likely to run for political office?

Once the review is complete, you may wish to publish the policy in your bulletin. It is important, however, that the general membership understand that members are encouraged to be politically active. The code of behavior that the board sets for itself applies only to board members and, possibly, to certain off-board chairs.

Here are some basic elements that should be included in your board’s nonpartisan political activity policy:

• A statement of the nonpartisan nature of the organization.
• Guidelines on permissible activities for board members.
• Restrictions on certain board positions.
• A policy on how to handle resignations when board members resign to engage in political activity.
• A procedure for an annual review of the policy by the board.
• The date the policy was last reviewed/revised.

Suggested Discussion Guide on Nonpartisan Policy

(courtesy LWV of Pennsylvania)

Consider the following types of candidates as you discuss each section: single party candidates; cross-filed candidates; candidates without party designation; candidates for policy-making office; candidates for non-policy-making office.

1. Should board eligibility, or eligibility for specific board portfolios, be affected by:

• Running for office?
• Being an elected official?
• Filling a visible role in a candidate’s campaign?
• Working on a candidate’s campaign behind the scenes?
• Being appointed to political office?
• Circulating nominating petitions/distributing campaign materials?
• Family members who are active in partisan politics?

2. Should a specific period of time elapse after having been politically identified by one of the above activities before being elected or appointed to the board?

3. Should board eligibility be affected by having an official position in a party organization or in an organization endorsing candidates for public office?

4. Should board members be allowed to donate money to political campaigns? Any amount? An amount less than that which might be recorded on a contributors’ list?

5. Should board members be allowed to attend social events, when the purpose is to:

• Announce candidacy?
• Raise money for candidates?
• Hear a candidate’s position on issues?

6. Should off-board members with known political affiliations be permitted to represent the LWV before the public in any way, including:

• Registering voters?
• Being involved in candidates meetings/debates by — making the meeting arrangements?— being moderator? — screening questions?
• Being official LWV observers at government meetings?
• Testifying for the LWV before government panels?
• Lobbying in the name of the League?

7. Should nominating petitions be circulated at League meetings?
Note: While an LWV’s written policy may not go into such detail, each item should be discussed by the board. The secretary should include a record of the discussion in the minutes. The nonpartisan policy that is agreed upon should be distributed to board members, published in the newsletter and a copy sent to the state League office.

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