• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Board of Directors
    • LWV Mission Statement
    • Bylaws of the LWVN
    • LWVN Non-Partisan Policy
    • LWVN Diversity Policy
    • LWVN Handbook
    • Annual Meetings
    • Newton League Past Presidents
    • Jane Leighton Volunteer-of-the-Year Award
    • LWVN Scholarship Program
  • News and Events
    • News & Events
    • The League Presents…
    • Newsletters
  • New Member FAQ
  • Contact Us
LWV Newton logo
  • Facebook

Visit us on Facebook!

  • Learn
    • Learn
    • The League Presents…
    • Topic Meetings
    • Newton Civics Challenge
  • Act/Advocate
    • Act/Advocate
    • LWVN Positions and Program
    • Issues We Are Following
    • LWVN Observer Corps
    • LWVN Local Action Log
    • Consensus Studies
    • National and State Positions
  • Vote
    • Vote
    • How to Register to Vote
    • How to Pick a Candidate
    • How, When and Where to Vote
    • Massachusetts Voters Bill of Rights
    • Your Elected Officials
    • Tips for Contacting Elected Officials

About

Who We Are

Who are we?  How are we structured? What is our history? 

Founded in 1920, the League of Women Voters (League) is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization that derives its strength from the energy and commitment of its members and supporters nationwide.  The League encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.    The goal of the League is to empower citizens to shape better communities worldwide.

The League never supports or opposes any political party or candidate for elective office. The League does, however, take positions on matters of public policy and takes action on selected matters of government concern that its membership has studied.

The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (LWVMA) is a 501(c)(4) organization that is active and involved at the state level.  It strives to promote and defend a healthy democracy and support its members and local leagues to do the same.  Through its sister organization, the Lotte E. Scharfman Citizens Education Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization, the League empowers voters through voter service and civic engagement.

The League of Women Voters of Newton (LWVN) is a local league of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (LWVMA) and the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS), and is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) corporation.

Read a short History of the League of Women Voters.

We invite and encourage all persons age 16 years and older to join us!

Principles of the League of Women Voters

The principles consist of concepts of government supported by the League as a whole and constitute the authorization for adoption of national, state and local Programs. 

The League of Women Voters believes in representative government and in the individual liberties established in the Constitution of the United States. The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that all powers of the U.S. government should be exercised within the constitutional framework of a balance among the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial.

The League of Women Voters believes that democratic government depends upon informed and active participation in government and requires that governmental bodies protect the citizen’s right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings and making public records accessible.

The League of Women Voters believes that every citizen should be protected in the right to vote; that every person should have access to free public education that provides equal opportunity for all; and that no person or group should suffer legal, economic or administrative discrimination.

The League of Women Voters believes that efficient and economical government requires competent personnel, the clear assignment of responsibility, adequate financing, and coordination among the different agencies and levels of government.

The League of Women Voters believes that responsible government should be responsive to the will of the people; that government should maintain an equitable and flexible system of taxation, promote the conservation and development of natural resources in the public interest, share in the solution of economic and social problems that affect the general welfare, promote a sound economy and adopt domestic policies that facilitate the solution of international problems.

The League of Women Voters believes that cooperation with other nations is essential in the search for solutions to world problems and that development of international organization and international law is imperative in the promotion of world peace.

Our Mission and Roles

The League of Women Voters has two separate and distinct roles:

  • Voter Service/Citizen Education: we present unbiased nonpartisan information about elections, the voting process, and issues.
  • Action/Advocacy: we are also nonpartisan, but, after study, we use our positions to advocate for or against particular policies in the public interest.

Our activities are guided by:

  • Vision, Beliefs, and Core Values
  • LWVN Non-Partisan Policy 
  • Bylaws of the LWVN

How LWVN Funds its Work

The LWVN funds its operations through membership dues and donations.  A portion of membership dues are used to support national and state leagues, so donations are important to help support our activities.  Donations can be made to the LWVN, the LWVMA, or the State Scharfman Education Fund.

Donations to the LWVMA:    The LWVN uses funds from the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, a 501(c)(4) organization, to support our work to increase understanding of major policy issues through education and advocacy.  Contributions to this fund is not tax- deductible.

Donations to the State Scharfman Education Fund:   The LWVN uses funds from the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts Scharfman Education Fund, which is a 501(c)(3) corporation, a nonprofit educational organization, to conduct voter service and citizen education activities. Contributions to this fund are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

The Lotte E. Scharfman Memorial Citizen Education Fund was established in memory of a League president who died in 1970 on her forty-second birthday. Lotte Scharfman was a refugee who escaped with her family from Austria during World War II, and who devoted her life to working for the democratic process and to helping citizens gain access to government. She is widely credited with coining the phrase, “Democracy is not a spectator sport.”

Donate here.

 

Primary Sidebar

Support LWVN

Join/Renew
Donate

Upcoming Events

  • There are no upcoming events.

2021 LWVN Member Handbook

An updated electronic version LWVN Member Handbook is now available!

LWV Mass. & US

LWV MA LWV US

Watch “The League Presents…”

The League Presents... is a monthly program on NewTV produced and directed by LWVN members about issues important to our community.

  • The League Presents: Zoning Redesign, part 1
  • The League Presents: Newton’s Citizens Commission on Energy
  • The League Presents: What it means to be a League of Women Voters member
  • The League Presents: A Conversation with Three New School Committee Members
  • The League Presents: A Conversation with Congressional District 4 Director Dana Hanson

All past programs

Take Action & Contact Your Legislators

  • Support An Act Promoting Community Immunity
  • Support Public Health Measures 
  • Support Racial and Gender Parity
  • Take Action on the Votes Act
  • Potential Cuts to MBTA Service

Election Info

  • Find your polling location
  • Register to vote
  • Absentee Ballots

Posts by Category

  • VOTE – Voters Service
    • Elections
    • Candidate Forums
    • Voter Registration
  • LEARN – Topics of Interest
    • Charter Commission
    • Community Preservation
    • Education
    • Environmental Issues
    • Housing
    • Land Use
    • Municipal Finance
    • Transportation
    • Women’s Suffrage
  • ACT – Action & Advocacy
    • Local Action Log
    • Consensus Studies – MA
    • Consensus Studies – Newton
    • Consensus Studies – US
  • City of Newton Info
    • City Council Meetings: Docket Digest
    • Observer Notes

Facebook Posts

Ellen Auerbach Grody
Ellen Auerbach Grody

June 28th, 11:33 am

Thank you for the recent letter to the mayor:LWVN Board Concurs with Newton Citizens Commission on Energy’s Memo Rejecting Newton Cemetery’s Tree Removal RequestJune 24, 2022On June 24, 2022, LWVN sent an email to Mayor Fuller expressing our our agreement with the Newton Citizens Commission on Energy (NCCE)’s memo of June 20th stating “We are writing to you regarding the Newton Cemetery’ request for exemption from the Tree Preservation Ordinance. We urge you to stand with the Director of Urban Forestry in denying that request and any waiver of its consequences. We also urge you to ask the City Council to revise the ordinance language to clarify their intent that the Tree Preservation Ordinance not exclude any property owners from its provisions.” ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

League of Women Voters of Newton, MA
League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

June 22nd, 6:26 pm

Breaking News: Governor Baker Signs VOTES Act Into Law - https://mailchi.mp/56363aee24bf/votes_act_update-8901645 ... See MoreSee Less

Breaking News: Governor Baker Signs VOTES Act Into Law

mailchi.mp

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

League of Women Voters of Newton, MA
League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

June 21st, 11:26 am

Newton Public Facilities Meeting: New Pipelines and Gas Valve Safety - https://mailchi.mp/ceafe522986a/newton-public-facilities-meeting-new-pipelines-and-gas-valve-safety ... See MoreSee Less

Newton Public Facilities Meeting: New Pipelines and Gas Valve Safety

mailchi.mp

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

League of Women Voters of Newton, MA
League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

June 13th, 10:33 am

LWVN has launched an important new "Municipal Transparency and Accountability Initiative". Learn more here!: https://lwvnewton.org/2022/06/… ... See MoreSee Less

Municipal Transparency and Accountability Initiative: Mission Statement and Goals - League of Women Voters Newton

lwvnewton.org

Throughout its 102-year history, the League of Women Voters has been a vigorous advocate for transparent and accountable government. The League strongly believes that transparency and accountability i...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

League of Women Voters of Newton, MA
League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

June 9th, 10:12 am

Important Update: VOTES ACT Released from Conference Committee - https://mailchi.mp/6365b29fa297/votes_act_update ... See MoreSee Less

Important Update: VOTES ACT Released from Conference Committee

mailchi.mp

Boston, MA — The Massachusetts VOTES Act Conference Committee today released its version of the comprehensive election reform bill, which will now head to the House and Senate for final procedural...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging the informed and active participation of citizens in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy.

© 2022 League of Women Voters® Newton | P.O. Box 610207, Newton, MA 02461 | info@lwvnewton.org

Site by Tech-Tamer | Log in