League Of Women Voters Of Pennsylvania

The League is my go-to source for fact-based election and advocacy information. At a time when the civic engagement space in Pennsylvania is dramatically underfunded, the League steps up to inform and educate voters. The League clearly nonpartisan and does not advocate or fund candidates. Thank you for what you do!

The LWVPA-CEF provides non-partisan info about a variety of topics of importance to all Pennsylvanians. Whether this info appears on their informative website, through releases, programs, events, or public forums, residents have access to all sides of an issue, problem or situation and can make informed decisions. Their unbiased presentation of candidate forums and voter guides is invaluable. Perhaps, what is so amazing about this organization is that so much is accomplished by a small staff and many dedicated members and volunteers.

Are you frustrated by what is happening in your community, state, or nation? The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania can turn your despair into meaningful action. Working with others who care about good government, you can find your voice and help others do the same. I've been actively involved in the League for about a decade. During that time I have learned how local government works, I have had opportunities to study issues from topics about my local school and land development to national issues such as immigration. At the state level, I have found a League a great resource on pressing issues in our Commonwealth such as natural gas operations and pipelines. Unlike many non-profits, the League is known for its grassroots organization where ideas emerge from local concerns and then move up to state and national levels. Since we are nonpartisan, we focus on the issues and advocate only after careful study and consensus.

Pennsylvania is a tough place for people who are concerned about good governance. First off, it is not a "state" but a "commonwealth", which means that the state has the power and the control and lets that power filter down through a needless large number of counties and local governments. While most citizens engage with their local governments, the parameters of what the local government can do is controlled by the laws made by the state government. And this is the arena in which the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania must act. That work is done by volunteer league members who live in communities across the commonwealth and have to get their advocacy work down remotely and some times by donating hundreds of hours to travel to the capital to work in person. And that work is impressive. Let me give an example.

Three years ago, an extremely well funded legislative effort which changed the requirements for voter identification at the polling place to a requirement for each voter to present an authorized form of photo identification. The justification for the law was to prevent voter fraud but the intent was to disenfranchise millions of voters who did not have and could not easily obtained the required identification. The LWV has always supported voter rights and reacted to this law by taking the issue to court. It joined others in a class action suite and eventually prevailed in the PA Supreme Court. Because the LWV is a grassroots organization, they played a major role in building the case because they knew and were able to produce real people who were hurt by this legislation. While the case was working its way through the courts and the outcome was unsure, local Leagues around Pennsylvania were very active in providing education to the targeted groups about the law and worked to help them get identification. The point of this is that the LWV of PA is a key element in allowing league members in local leagues across the state to effectively have a say in legislative action at the state level. I am very happy that my membership in the LWV provides that I am a member of a local league, the PA league and the LWV of the United States. We have to work at all levels.

I became involved with LWVPA because I was looking for a way to engage politically without participating in partisan politics. I have been deeply impressed with the dedication, intelligence, and depth of understanding of board, volunteers, and staff. Issues are researched thoroughly before positions are determines, and advocacy takes place in a non-partisan, non-accusatory way. While LWVPA is undergoing transition, as are many organizations attempting to shift into a more technological, mobile milieu, the League continues to register and educate voters, hold essential debates, and advocate for a a safe, fair, transparent and equitable Pennsylvania.

Great organization. Every dollar is put to good use and the volunteers provide many hours of unpaid time.