Nonpartisanship Questions

Key Defensible Points for Our Participation:

  1. Our Role is Issue-Based, Not Partisan

    • We are joining to oppose specific policies (e.g., attacks on voting rights, reproductive freedom, or LGBTQ+ protections), not to criticize a political party in its entirety. The League has always held all elected officials accountable when their actions threaten democracy, regardless of party.

  2. Controlled Messaging: What We Say & Do

    • In all League-branded materials, statements, and speeches, we will use precise, policy-focused language, such as:

      • “We oppose recent legislative efforts to restrict freedoms…”

      • “These harmful policies, advanced by [specific lawmakers or offices], undermine our democracy…”

      • “We stand with communities impacted by these decisions, no matter the party behind them.”

    • We will avoid echoing the coalition’s broad partisan framing, even if we share its policy goals.

  3. 501(c)(3) Compliance is About Our Actions

    • The IRS permits 501(c)(3) organizations to critique policies and lawmakers’ votes—so long as we do not endorse/oppose candidates or parties. Our participation focuses solely on policy advocacy, which falls squarely within permissible activity.

  4. Precedent for Coalition Engagement

    • LWVUS and other nonpartisan groups routinely join coalitions where partner messaging may differ from their own. Our compliance depends on our adherence to nonpartisan standards, not others’ language.

  5. Emphasizing Universal Values

    • We will anchor our stance in shared principles:
      “Protecting freedoms is not a partisan issue—it’s an American one. We urge all lawmakers, regardless of party, to reject these harmful policies.”

 

We appreciate your vigilance in safeguarding our nonpartisan status.

Updated 2025-03-31