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I. NONPARTISAN POLICY
The League of Women Voters of Westchester (LWVW) is a nonpartisan organization. It does not support or oppose candidates for public office. The League studies and acts on county issues chosen at the annual meeting. Members of the Executive Committee (board members) and the Executive Director of the LWVW recognize that as a result of their close identification with the League, they have a special responsibility to see that their activities do not create a partisan impression or compromise the nonpartisanship of an individual board member's local League. Board members and the Executive Director will use discretion in any political activity, ascertaining in advance from the local League board and Executive Committee that such activity will not compromise the nonpartisanship of the League of Women Voters.
Restricted Activities
Board members, voter service committee members and Fair Campaign Practices Committee (FCPC) coordinator and the Executive Director may NOT:
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Run for or hold ANY PUBLICLY ELECTED OFFICE before consulting the Executive Committee. If approval is withheld, that member should resign before publicly announcing candidacy for that office and should attempt to see that the press release contains the information that the individual is a former member of the LWVW Board of Directors. An unsuccessful candidate will be ineligible to be an Executive Committee member for three months.
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Accept appointment to fill an unexpired term of any public office normally filled by election before consulting the Executive Committee. If approval is given, board member must resign from Executive Committee.
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Manage or take an active role in a campaign for a candidate for any publicly elected office.
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Contribute to local, county, state or national candidates sums large enough to require declaration with the Board of Elections (currently $100). Contributions of lesser sums must be done without any publicity.
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Publicly endorse any candidate, serve as district leader, committee person or office holder in a political party or club or attend political party caucuses.
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Sponsor or host any parties or fund-raisers for any candidate. President, Vice Presidents, the Voter Service Committee members, the FCPC Coordinator and the Executive Director should not attend these.
Board members may sign nominating petitions for all levels of government. However, the President, Vice Presidents, Voter Service Chair and FCPC Coordinator may sign petitions only for local, but not county, state, or national elections.
General Nonpartisan Policies for Board Members
Any board member may serve as an Inspector of Elections.
A board member should inform the Executive Committee whenever she/he contemplates participating in partisan political activities not enumerated in these policies.
The partisan political activities of a spouse or relative of a board member are considered separate from the activities of that board member.
Meetings
Campaigning for specific candidates should not take place at LWVW meetings, including wearing campaign buttons, passing out flyers, soliciting signatures on petitions, etc.
Candidates Guides and Forums
The League maintains its nonpartisan role while educating voters about candidates' views on issues by:
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Producing a Voters Guide containing information supplied by all willing and qualified candidates in response to identical questions posed by the League.
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Assisting local Leagues to run candidates forums.
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Holding forums for county-wide offices when it is not feasible for local Leagues and when more than one candidate attends the county League forum. The League will plan and offer the forum in such form or manner as the Executive Board shall determine. A write-in candidate may participate in a League forum when all of the following conditions are met:
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The candidate has made a public announcement of her/his candidacy at lest 28 days prior to the date of the election.
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The candidate meets the requirements to hold office according to the New York State Constitution and the Constitution of the United States.
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The candidate meets the requirements to be on the ballot according to New York State election law.
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The candidate has demonstrated significant voter interest and support in her/his candidacy by making campaign speeches, distributing literature, issuing press releases, maintaining a campaign committee, and establishing campaign headquarters. If the candidate cannot so demonstrate the above, she/he must produce evidence of a show of support through petitions.
II. CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY
Appointees to County government boards, commissions and committees shall serve as individuals rather than as formal representatives of the League unless the position was offered to the organization. League representatives must be approved by the Executive Committee and may not express any views contrary to a League position. An Executive Committee member who is asked to serve as an individual shall notify the Executive Committee of her/his appointment. Executive Committee members may serve as directors on non-governmental boards where policies do not conflict with League positions. A LWVW item chair must not serve as a spokesperson on her or his issue for any non-League county-level group.
Any situation that could present a conflict should be brought to the Executive Committee.
III. DIVERSITY POLICY
LWVW, in both its values and practices, affirms its belief and commitment to diversity and pluralism. We encourage membership and participation in the activities of the League without regard to gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin or disability. We recognize that diverse perspectives are important and necessary in representative decision making in a democracy.
IV. COMMUNITY RELATIONS POLICIES
The following policies govern the community relations of the LWVW:
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Lists of League board members are not to be distributed in answer to non-League requests unless approved by the President, the Executive Director or the Executive Committee.
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Distribution of any non-League materials at LWVW meetings is prohibited unless prior approval of President is secured. If individuals or groups have material which they would like to distribute through the LWVW, they should submit the request in writing, enclosing a copy of the material and stating the number of copies they wish to distribute. The Executive Committee will consider such request.
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When interviewing county officials, as with any other level of government, the interview is to be attended by no fewer than two LWV members.
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The League must adhere to the National and State League guidelines when joining a coalition and will be governed by the following:
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Any new affiliation or renewal must be brought to the Executive Committee for review and decision. Affiliations will be reviewed annually.
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Goals of other organizations must be consistent with LWVW standards and positions in order to be considered.
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Our representative may not speak in opposition to LWVW positions and should make regular reports to the board that can be included in our "County Voter."
V. FISCAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
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All program chairs must submit their annual budgets including a percentage for administrative costs, speakers’ fees, room/equipment rental, postage, xeroxing, etc. to the board and to the budget committee. After board approval, the executive director will submit each budget to the FCE when appropriate.
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All requests for funds must be submitted to the treasurer prior to expenditure. No reimbursement can be made without these requests.
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All requests for an amended budget must be brought before the Executive Committee.
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All telephone calls and faxes made from the office must be recorded and identified in a log as to committee, project or program.
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All personal expenditures for telephone, xeroxing and postage must be reimbursed to the LWVW.
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All sources of program and project fundraising must be approved by the president/executive director and development chair.
VI. BOARD PROCEDURES
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Five Member Board Approval: Should a decision or action normally requiring board approval be necessary before a regularly scheduled board meeting, approval by five members of the board must be secured. The five members must include the item chair and at least two officers.
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Executive Committee Meetings are open only to League members and invited guests. Board members should attend all board meetings. Off board directors are encouraged to participate in discussions, but may not vote at board meetings.
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Consensus Meetings: At consensus meetings, non-members may be present for the factual presentation, but may not remain for the consensus discussion.
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Communications: All official statements of the LWVW should be approved by the Executive Committee at one of their meetings. All official letters of LWVW should be approved and signed by the President. All League publicity should be channeled through the publicity chair and cleared by the President.
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Additional Board Responsibilities: Item chairs should bring the subjects of meetings to the board for approval. Board members should submit a brief written copy of their board reports to the secretary. Board members are responsible for writing their own fact sheets and bulletin articles.
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Communications: All official statements of the LWVW should be approved by the Executive.
VII. POLICIES GOVERNING LOCAL LEAGUES AND LWVW
A local League wanting to contact a Westchester County official on county matters should clear it through the LWVW’s office or contact the item chair directly.
Finance Sharing Policy – Corporations
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Local Leagues will receive 10% of gifts from corporations in their community unless funds are restricted.
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Local Leagues will then be prepared to service those corporations and cooperate with the LWVW during the solicitation process if so requested by LWVW.
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A local league may solicit gifts from a prospective corporation, in its community, only after checking with LWVW to make sure there is no duplication of effort. If the local League works with LWVW in soliciting these funds, 50% of the initial donation would be given to the local League. In subsequent years, 10% would be given to the local League.
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If the local or County League receives a restricted contribution, there will be no sharing.
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Local Leagues may solicit corporations outside their communities if permission is granted by the LWVW and the local League in that community if any.
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If a company is in two communities where there are local Leagues, each League will receive 5% of the corporate donation.
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If the company is in more than two communities where there are local Leagues, there will be no sharing of any donation made to the LWVW.
Finance Sharing Policy – Foundations
VIII. PUBLICITY POLICY FOR WESTCHESTER LEAGUES
The following policies were approved by the LWV Westchester Executive Committee to coordinate publicity releases by LWV Westchester and the 12 local Leagues within the county to the local media.
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The county League will be the sole distributor of state or national releases to countywide news media, such as the Journal-News, New York Times, Westchester Business Journal, and radio and TV stations. The exception is individualized letters on the issue by local Leagues with a local example, such as a land use problem.
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Local leagues are encouraged to distribute state or national publicity releases to their community papers, preferably with a locally signed note explaining the relevance of the issue to the community. A letter signed by the local president should indicate that the League is affirming and supporting a state or national position.
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No League is to take a public position contrary to the position reached by consensus by a higher level of League. Simply do not act on the position if you cannot support it.
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The County League faxes publicity releases on county issues to all media in Westchester. This does not preclude local Leagues contacting their community media on the issue also.
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