“We’re political, but we’re nonpartisan. Our mission is to strengthen our democracy by ensuring that every eligible voter has the information, knowledge, confidence, and desire to participate.”
The League of Women Voters (LWV) of Boulder County – a grassroots organization and a grantee of your Community Foundation – is all about empowering voters.
“We’re political, but we’re nonpartisan,” says President Peggy Leech. “Our mission is to strengthen our democracy by ensuring that every eligible voter has the information, knowledge, confidence, and desire to participate.”
Specifically, according to the LWV of Boulder County website, the organization seeks to advance “the power of women to create a more perfect democracy.”
To that end, LWV of Boulder County helps community members stay in touch with elected officials, year-round. In Boulder County, the organization is also working to promote a living wage, and advancing alternative voting methods for elections. Statewide, the League advocates for immigrant rights, and for adding Colorado to the National Popular Vote Compact; the National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Meanwhile, in Washington, LWV of Boulder County is working on protecting healthcare, gun safety, and other issues.
“The public issues we focus on are chosen by our members for study and ultimate action,” explains Peggy. “We also present unbiased, nonpartisan information about elections, the voting process, and other issues … and we organize candidate forums, but we never support or oppose any political party or candidate.”
Another way that the League encourages informed and active participation in government is by “translating ballot language into simple-to-understand language, so people know what they’re voting on,” adds Peggy. Recent grants from the Community Foundation have also helped the League focus on youth engagement and Latino engagement.
Peggy further emphasizes the League’s collaborative approach to its public policy work. For example, “In our living wage efforts, we’ve worked to build a coalition within the community,” she says. “As for the National Popular Vote Compact, and Amendments Y and Z – both were statewide efforts. In both cases, the League was part of a coalition.”
In November 2018, Colorado voters passed Amendments Y and Z, allowing independent commissions to draw electoral districts for legislators and members of Congress. The measures each needed 55% of votes to pass.
Check out the League’s April events, including meetings on voting methods, money in politics, living wage, and more. “A lot of people in our community are interested in supporting businesses that pay a living wage,” says Peggy. “So we’re currently working in Longmont to identify and encourage businesses to do that, and to be recognized.”
