About Us - League of Women Voters of Palo Alto

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The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation of citizens in government, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. We operate on a national, state and local level, with active Leagues in all 50 states and more than 800 Leagues across the country, the District of Columbia and US territories.

League of Women Voters of Palo Alto

The League of Women Voters is a grassroots organization providing every member with opportunities to learn and educate others about government, and to take action on public policy.

The League of Women Voters of Palo Alto (LWVPA) was established in 1938 by Mrs. Paul Eliel to take an active role in our community.

For over 80 years, we've provided education encouraging people to vote in elections and participate in government, and engaged in advocacy to influence public policy that benefits the community. Read 80 years of Achievement to learn about what we have accomplished.

The League provides fair and unbiased, nonpartisan voter information about elections, ballot issues, candidate opinions, the voting process, and public policy issues through the work of Voter Services. Based on “positions” reached through in-depth League study, our Advocacy Teams advocate for or against public policy issues and may take actions on governmental measures, policies, and processes.

We also inform and engage the community by organizing educational events.

We need everyone to participate in order for our community to be strong, safe and vibrant. Whether you contribute your time, your money or both, you can feel confident that your investment in democracy goes further in the League.

Our voting membership is open to all who have reached the age of sixteen, however you identify.

We also welcome non-member volunteers and collaborations with organizations whose values align with ours.

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Nonpartisan Policy

The League never supports or opposes any political parties or candidates for office.

Any use of the League of Women Voters’ name or logo in campaign advertising or literature is prohibited.

Read about the League's commitment to being nonpartisan: Remaining Nonpartisan in Hyper-partisan Times.

History of the League of Women Voters

The League of Women Voters was founded by Carrie Chapman Catt during the convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association on February 14, 1920, just six months before the ratification of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which granted women the right to vote.

Catt described the purpose of the new organization:

"The League of Women Voters is not to dissolve any present organization but to unite all existing organizations of women who believe in its principles. It is not to lure women from partisanship but to combine them in an effort for legislation which will protect coming movements, which we cannot even foretell, from suffering the untoward conditions which have hindered for so long the coming of equal suffrage. Are the women of the United States big enough to see their opportunity?"

Since 1920, the League has helped improve the general welfare of the people. Some of the League’s earliest causes included support for child labor laws, minimum wage, compulsory education, and equal opportunity for women.

Our work on some of these issues affected the creation of laws that are still in force today, with new issues added as times change.

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