Part IV: Candidate Forums

Nonpartisanship in Event Planning

League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, unbiased political organization. LWV does not support or oppose candidates for office or political parties. As we execute events as part of our mission of educating voters, how do we ensure that our work truly is above reproach?

As individuals and as LWV members and leaders, we must operate in an open, transparent manner that ensures all candidates and parties continue to respect LWV for its nonpartisanship. Even tiny details matter!

A Visual Quiz: Are these images nonpartisan?

The answer is NO, for several reasons:

• sizes of logos vary

• parties aren’t shown in alphabetical order

• one is in black and white

• one is partially covered

• some are framed, others aren’t

• one is not the approved party logo and may constitute political commentary

The point is: all of these tiny details matter!

If you are a Voter Service Chair or League Program/Event Planner

DO...

Carefully consider how participating in any campaign event, even as a guest, would be perceived by the opponent, the party, or voters. Remember that LWV members attending any campaign or partisan event must not wear anything with an LWV logo or name on it.

• Take a leave of absence from your position if you become a candidate for political office, whether partisan or not, during the campaign, and make that leave of absence known in the community and among LWV membership.

• Be aware of who is part of your volunteer team. LWV members can participate in campaigns but cannot participate in planning, moderating, or volunteering at forums where their candidate is appearing. The same is true for LWV members who are highly visible in issue campaigns.

• Diffuse any perceived conflicts of interest by acknowledging family, business, or other close relationships between local LWV leaders and candidates in advance of or at the outset of the forum. This includes disclosing if a candidate is also an LWV member. These members must not play any part in organizing forums or serving in any capacity at the event.

• Secure a Moderator from outside the voting district to avoid conflicts of interest.

• Choose partners and co-sponsors who are nonpartisan and unbiased. If you are holding an issues forum, check LWV’s national and state Program for Action to determine if LWV has a position. (See information on co-sponsors in Part II of this handbook.)

• Encourage the public to vote, study candidates, attend forums, view recordings of forums, ask candidates questions, and become engaged in the political process. Encourage them to join LWV regardless of political beliefs or affiliations.

DO NOT...

• Chair a political campaign or administer fundraising for a political campaign, chair a campaign event, be a spokesperson, or work in any other significant and visible way in the campaign of a candidate for a partisan office at any level of government.

• Use your LWV membership in concert with political activities, including distributing campaign literature, using your LWV title, or making endorsements using an LWV title.

• Partner with organizations that support or oppose candidates before the forum. The ideal partner is one that does not support or oppose candidates. (See information on co-sponsors in Part II of this handbook.)

• Send campaign information, invitations, solicitations for donations or any other material to other LWV members, using your LWV name, title, or other identifying information. Remember that all LWV distribution lists are confidential and absolutely cannot be rented, sold, or shared with any campaign or political party.

• Indicate party affiliation or candidate preferences in the media, including social networking sites or other venues that prominently identify you as an LWV member.

• 
  Implementing nonpartisanship during your event

DO...

• Affirm nonpartisan policy with all members at your annual meeting, before forums are - cheduled and before filing opens. This provides a common understanding among all members. Think about providing a written copy to all members.

• Invite all candidates simultaneously and secure RSVPs. Include forum rules and our nonpartisan policy with the invitations.

• Communicate responses to questions by candidates about issues not covered in the rules to all candidates immediately so there is no perceived advantage.

• List all candidate names alphabetically when listing information, such as in a press release.

• Seat candidates alphabetically or by lot.

• Ensure that at the beginning of the forum, the Moderator announces that LWV does not support or oppose candidates and that views expressed are of the candidates and not LWV.

• Announce the LWVMN Candidate Forum Recording Policy, including that edited clips or excerpts may not be used for partisan or political purposes.

• Distribute the responsibility for screening questions to a neutral screening committee that may include LWV members, volunteers and community members familiar with the issues. These individuals should be introduced at the outset of the forum.

• Use the random candidate rotation grids (see Appendix). They are designed to prevent any candidate from having an advantage by always answering first or last or having to always follow a certain opponent with their response.

• Identify all LWV members attending a forum with LWV name tags and remind them that they must remain neutral during the forum in both conversation and body language.

• Send all candidates the same cordial thank you note, expressing appreciation for their participation but not commenting on their performance or views expressed.

DO NOT...

• Provide dates or forum information to one candidate/party before all candidates are known.

• Communicate verbally to some and in writing to others – keep all information consistent and in writing.

• Use graphics such as party logos or typefaces of different sizes, colors, etc. Make all identical.

• Treat candidates differently. All candidates should be treated respectfully and equally in words and actions, remaining carefully neutral. Greet all candidates and thank all candidates in the same cordial manner, keeping in mind that others are watching for any signs of favoritism.

• Place an American flag behind any one candidate. Its presence may be misconstrued in photographs.

• Reveal the identity of persons submitting written questions.

Remember, perceived conflict of interest can be seen in subtle ways too – allowing a candidate access to the room to practice their speech beforehand, telling them who has RSVP’d, even telling them where they are sitting. What LWV does for one, we must do for all, as we must refrain from straying beyond our nonpartisan policies.

Perhaps the best advice to share is to consider that everyone involved in the political process – the candidates, their spouses and family members, party officials, political activists, current office holders, lobbyists or special interest groups – is always watching and evaluating what LWV does.

Our goal is to be open with all voters about what we do and how we do it so that we can avoid criticism or negative publicity after an event.