| I. NONPARTISAN POLICY
A. Preamble: The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization whose purpose is to promote the informed and active participation of citizens in government. As an organization, the League does not support or oppose candidates for public office, but acts only on those issues chosen by the membership for study and action. The League believes that political parties are essential to the American system of government and participation of informed citizens is beneficial to the political parties and to the system. Consequently, the League encourages its members as individuals to be active in the political parties, in finding and supporting candidates for public office and in seeking election to public office.
B. Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to protect the credibility of the League of Women Voters of Washington as a nonpartisan organization that does not support or oppose any political party or candidate. Only to the extent that the public and its elected officials are convinced of the League's genuine nonpartisanship, will the League be able to render effective voter service activities and gain a wide base of support for its positions on governmental issues.
C. Elected Office: The president and other highly visible board members shall not run for, nor hold any elective office. Other board members shall not run for, nor hold state elective office, but may run for local office regardless of party designation after consultation with the state board and the local Leagues involved.
D. Political Party Office: The president or other board members shall not serve in any position in a political party. A board member, however, may serve as a precinct committee person.
E. Campaign Contributions: Board members, with the exception of the president and the voter service chair, may attend fundraising events and make campaign contributions.
1. The political activities of a spouse or relative of a board member are to be considered separate and distinct from the activities of the board member.
2. The League's nonpartisan reputation is sufficiently strong to ensure that contributions from officeholders or candidates can be accepted without being construed as endorsement of those donors.
F. Political Campaigns: Board members shall not chair or administer fundraising or political campaigns, chair a campaign event or work in a visible way in the campaign of a candidate for state office. Board members may undertake such activities for candidates for national and local office after consultation with the presidents of the state and local Leagues involved. Except for the president, the voter service chair and other highly visible board members, board members, as individuals, may privately endorse national, state or local candidates.
G. Additional Clarification: Board members may present questions about specific situations to the state board where the foregoing policies do not resolve the question.
Approved by LWVWA Board of Directors 11/13/98. Amended 1/8/99, Amended 5/11/01.
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