About

OUR MISSION

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

OUR HISTORY

On February 14, 1920, six months before ratification of the 19th amendment to the Constitution granting women the right to vote, the League of Women Voters was formally organized in Chicago.  A brief history of the League since then can be found on line at http://lwv.org/content/league-women-voters-through-decades.

OUR ORGANIZATION

The League of Women of Louisiana was formed in the 1940's to address issues at the state level and to coordinate the activities of the local Leagues.  At present there are five local Leagues: LWV Caddo-Bossier LWV Lafayette LWV Natchitoches LWV New Orleans LWV St. Tammany Representatives of each local League are elected at the biennial LWV of Louisiana Convention to serve two year terms as state officers and members of the Board of Directors.  The currents state officers are: PRESIDENT:  Carol DeVille, president@lwvofla.org  VICE PRESIDENT: Stacey LaFleur, vicepres@lwvofla.org SECRETARY: Ellen Torgrimson,secretary@lwvofla.org TREASURER: Andrea Dubé, treasurer@lwvofla.org

OUR WORK

The League is dedicated to ensuring that all eligible voters – particularly those from traditionally underrepresented or underserved communities, including first-time voters, non-college youth, new citizens, minorities, the elderly, and low-income Americans – have the opportunity and the information to exercise their right to vote. The local Leagues are active in voter registration, especially of new citizens and high school and college youths, while the state League works with the Secretary of State’s office to increase voter participation in elections.  Prior to elections, the local and state Leagues also offer live candidate forums and online Voters Guides that contain responses to candidate questionnaires.  When citizens are asked to vote on complex state constitutional amendments, the state League offers online pro’s and con’s for each amendment. In addition to these voter services, the national League, after careful study, adopts public policy positions, which its members use to advocate or oppose legislation.  These positions are outlined in “Impact on Issues”. The state League forms Committees with state-wide representation to study proposed legislation in its area of expertise.  Applying the positions adopted by the national League, each Committee recommends that the LWV of Louisiana members support or oppose bills it considers importing.  Presently there are six active state Committees: CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT HEALTHCARE VOTER SERVICE WOMEN’S ISSUES

LWVLA BYLAWS

WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN IN OUR WORK!