League of Women Voters

League of Women Voters is a civic organization that is dedicated to helping voters exercise their right to vote and encouraging them to take a larger role in public affairs.

The organization was founded in 1920 to support the new women’s suffrage rights. The group began as a “mighty political experiment” to help newly enfranchised women exercise their civic responsibilities. The group’s mission is to empower voters and defend democracy so that every citizen has confidence in the electoral process.

The League of Women Voters has multiple chapters throughout California, including one in Sacramento. LWV Sacramento was founded in the 1930s, but wasn’t incorporated as an official chapter until April of 1965, formally named The League of Women Voters of Sacramento.

As interest grew and the chapter continually expanded, the name was changed to The League of Women Voters of Sacramento County in 2005 in order to recognize its participating members from all over the valley. 

Today, LWV of Sacramento County has members from all areas, including the cities of Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, Isleton, Rancho Cordova and Sacramento.

Their office is located in downtown Sacramento near the Capitol. 

LWV of Sacramento County has achieved some notoriety independent of the national chapter, having been featured as a case study in the book Vote for US, which tells how LWV led a governance reform effort in the Capital City. 

We Can Do This! Sacramento's Trailblazing Political Women, a book celebrating the accomplishments of local women in politics, was recently published and features several former LWV members, including Anne Rudin, Heather Fargo, Suzanne Phinney, Jo Smith and Kay Knepprath.

The Anne Rudin Scholarship Fund was established in honor of Anne Rudin, a member of LWV and the first female mayor of Sacramento. The scholarship enables other women to pursue higher education with a focus on public administration and public policy. Rudin herself presented the award each year until she passed away in 2021.

There is also a statewide League of Women Voters, which can be found online at cavotes.org.

From Sacramento News and Review...

Elections & Politics League of Women Voters

Essay: Vote With the League of Women Voters – A Guide to the Organization’s Views on Upcoming Ballot Measures

10/09/2024

The League of Women Voters of Sacramento County, in accord with the state and national organizations, shares a single-minded mission – Making Democracy Work!

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