# League of Women Voters *Non-partisan American nonprofit political organization (founded 1920)* The League of Women Voters (LWV), founded in 1920, is a non-partisan nonprofit political organization in the United States. Its continuing work centres on registering voters, informing them, raising turnout and advocating for voting rights. It also joins partner organizations in campaigns on campaign finance reform, women's rights, health care reform and gun control.[^1] The League succeeded the National American Woman Suffrage Association, the body that had led the national campaign for women's suffrage. It began with two aims: educating women to participate in the political process and advancing legislation of interest to women. Its bylaws bar it from endorsing candidates or political parties. The issues it lobbies on are selected by members at its biennial conventions.[^1] In the Minnesota record, the League appears in *[[United States v. Simon]]*. That federal case was filed on September 25, 2025, in the District of Minnesota over Secretary of State [[Steve Simon]]'s refusal to provide the unredacted Statewide Voter Registration List. The League and [[Common Cause]] moved to intervene. The case is recorded as ongoing as of June 18, 2026.[^2] ## Activities ### VOTE411.org The League runs VOTE411.org together with its state and local leagues. The site is nonpartisan and available in English and Spanish. A voter enters an address and receives candidate and election information for that location. For each office, the site carries candidates' answers to three survey questions specific to that office. VOTE411.org won a Webby Award in 2020.[^1] ### National Voter Registration Day The League originated National Voter Registration Day in 2012. On that day, volunteers register voters and work to raise participation.[^1] ### Sponsoring debates State and local leagues organize candidate debates at every level of government as a way of presenting candidates' positions.[^1] ## History ### Founding The League was formed in 1920 by merging NAWSA with the National Council of Women Voters (NCWV). Emma Smith DeVoe had proposed such an organization at the 1909 NAWSA convention in Seattle. After that proposal was rebuffed, she founded the NCWV in 1911. Its goals, educating women on election processes and lobbying for legislation on women's issues, were the same as the founding goals the League later adopted.[^1] Before NAWSA's 1919 convention in St. Louis, Missouri, Carrie Chapman Catt opened negotiations with DeVoe to merge the NCWV into a new league that would succeed NAWSA. The Wikipedia account says Catt preferred a new organization to a continued NCWV. In that account, she was concerned that DeVoe's alignment with Alice Paul could deter conservative women from joining. The account also says Catt regarded alliance with political parties as a threat to the organization's independence.[^1] ## Policy views The League lobbies at the national, state and local levels. National positions follow the decisions of the most recent national convention. Members of state and local leagues set positions on state and local matters, consistent with the national positions. Outside voting and representative government, its current advocacy covers international relations, natural resources and social policy.[^1] In 1993 the League pressed for passage of the [[National Voter Registration Act]] of 1993. That law requires states to offer voter registration at driver's license agencies, at social service agencies and by mail. In 2002 it endorsed the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, which banned soft money in federal elections. It was also a major proponent of the [[Help America Vote Act]]. In 2010 it opposed the Supreme Court's decision in *Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission* and filed an amicus brief supporting the FEC.[^1] The League supports the DISCLOSE Act, which would make public disclosure of campaign spending fuller and faster. It works with the VoteRiders organization to circulate state-specific information on voter ID requirements. It currently opposes restrictive photo ID laws and supports campaign finance reform, including public financing of elections.[^1] ## Governance A national board governs the League under the Bylaws of the League of Women Voters of the United States. The board consists of four officers, eight elected directors and up to eight board-appointed directors, most of whom live in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. It is chosen at the national convention and sets position policy.[^1] State and local Leagues are organized to advance the League's purposes and to act on state and local government matters. Each has its own directors and officers. The national board can withdraw recognition from a state or local League that fails to meet recognition requirements. Leagues exist in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hong Kong.[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who The League of Women Voters and Common Cause moved to intervene in *United States v. Simon*, in which the United States is plaintiff and Secretary of State Steve Simon is defendant. Judge [[Katherine M. Menendez]] and Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard are assigned.[^2] ### What The project's validated master describes the suit as a challenge to the Secretary of State's refusal to provide the unredacted Statewide Voter Registration List. The challenge is brought under the [[Civil Rights Act of 1960]] and the Help America Vote Act. The refusal is defended on state law (§201.091). The pack does not show whether the court has ruled on the motion to intervene.[^2] ### When The case was filed on September 25, 2025. It is recorded as ongoing as of the master's refresh of June 18, 2026.[^2] ### Where The case is No. 0:25-cv-03761 in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.[^2] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia, *League of Women Voters* (revision 1378105599, retrieved October 26, 2026; CC BY-SA 4.0) — description, activities, founding history, policy positions and governance of the organization. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Women_Voters [^2]: Project master, *The Instrument No One Will Name* (densified, validated June 18, 2026), entry [54] — establishes the docket of *United States v. Simon*, 0:25-cv-03761 (D. Minn., filed Sep. 25, 2025), the assigned judges, the federal statutes invoked and the state-law defense, the motion to intervene by the League and Common Cause, and the ongoing status; marked primary-confirmed. No URL for this entry is in the pack's allowed sources.