Policies & Guidance
Candidate Participation
Candidate forums for primary, special, and general elections are part of League of Women Voters Minnesota’s respected, century-long tradition of empowering voters by helping them obtain information about candidates’ background, qualifications, and positions on issues. LWV Minnesota’s Candidate Participation Policy for all state and local League candidate forums is:
The League is proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government, and is always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public. Together with our co-sponsors and partners, LWV Minnesota and our local Leagues conduct candidate forums (including debates), meet-and-greet gatherings, video recordings, town hall meetings and other candidate events. Candidate forums will be conducted in a way to reflect the policy interests and concerns of the local community in order to maximize participation and engagement by candidates and voters.
This policy addresses the following:
Inviting or including candidates for office including candidates of state-designated major party and write-in candidates;
Forums when a candidate is unable to attend due to personal conflicts or emergent personal issues (e.g. family or personal illness);
When one candidate in a two-candidate race is unable or unwilling to participate;
Candidate participation in debates for federal office where Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or Federal Elections Commission (FEC) regulations apply.
Implementation:
All candidates will be invited at the same time and in the same manner by USPS mail and/or email. If an email address is not available from either the candidate or the Secretary of State, USPS mail should be used for that candidate. Invitations will include this policy.
For non-partisan races, Leagues will invite candidates registered with the Secretary of State for the office in question to participate in our events.
For partisan races, candidates representing the major political parties identified by the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office in accordance with Minnesota Statute 200.02 subd. 7 will be invited.
Leagues may include write-in or non-major party candidates if they have:
Publicly announced their intention to run;
Be eligible to hold the office and be qualified to be on the ballot;
Have demonstrated that their candidacy is credible. This could include any or all of the following: campaign speeches, distribution of literature, press releases, issue papers, a campaign committee, website and/or headquarters;
Write-in candidates who have been eliminated in a primary will not be included in a general election forum.
If an invited candidate is unable or decides not to appear at a scheduled legislative or local election event, the event may still be held. This is the case even if only one candidate appears, except when FCC or FEC rules apply. Unopposed candidates may appear alone.
Debates for federal elections will not be held if only one candidate invited in accordance with “Selection Criteria for Candidates in State Constitutional Officer or Congressional Races” will appear. Before conducting a debate for a federal office with 3 or more candidates, determine whether the debate will be held if any of the invited candidates will not appear.
No substitutes or stand-ins for the candidates will be allowed.
To ensure fairness and transparency, candidates must be present for the opening statements and commit to be available for the entire event, including the closing statements, in order to participate.
The moderator will announce at the beginning of the event that all candidates were invited to participate in accordance with LWVMN policy. In announcing that a candidate is not participating, the moderator will only present a brief statement that a candidate either did not respond, or declined to participate, without any other editorial comment.
The candidate or candidates who attend will have an opportunity to make opening and closing statements and express their positions on issues in response to questions submitted by the audience. When a schedule conflict preventing a candidate from participating cannot be resolved, and at the discretion of the local League, a candidate may submit a written statement, equal in length to the opening statement of the candidate or candidates present, to be read by the moderator or other League representative approved by the moderator.
All media outlets that typically cover LWVMN events will be notified of this policy in the press releases, media interviews, social media and other communications prior to the events.
LWVMN events will be conducted in accordance with other event rules as provided to candidates with their invitations.