One hundred years ago the National American Woman Suffrage Association began winding down its work because it was about to achieve its goal...the right for women to vote in national elections.
President Carrie Chapman Catt and some of her colleagues felt it would be too bad to disband such a large, organized, enthusiastic group of women across the country. Carrie had always felt that next to getting the vote for women was helping educate them on the facts of governing. She wanted the nation to be filled with educated women voters. She urged that the League must be nonpartisan and all partisan. So, the League of Women Voters was founded, encouraging members of the suffrage organization to join. Carrie was asked to lead the group but declined, saying they needed someone younger. Maud Wood Park, well educated on the operations of government due to her work with the suffrage association, became the first chairman. Today, the League works to register voters, provide voters with election information through voter guides as well as candidate forums and debates. In the past it sponsored popular presidential candidate debates seen throughout the country. The league envisions a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge and the confidence to participate. To learn more about how the league works with over 700 state and local leagues to improve our democracy visit the League of Women Voters website. The league's assistance is invaluable as we approach a presidential election in November of this year.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
November 2020
Categories |