MISSION:
The League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh,
a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active
participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding
of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through
education and advocacy.
The League of Women Voters is strictly nonpartisan;
it neither supports nor opposes candidates for office at any level of
government. At the same time, the League is wholeheartedly political
and works to influence policy through advocacy based on study of issues
by its members. It is the original grassroots citizen network, directed
by the consensus of its members at the local, state and national levels.
The League of Women Voters (LWV) is organized
at three levels: local, state and national. Read a
brief overview of League history and an announcement celebrating
the League's 90th birthday.
The national organization is the LWV
of the United States (LWVUS) and the LWV
of Pennsylvania (LWVPA) is the state-level organization.
League of Women Voters provides programs, activities
and information in voter service, citizen
eduaction and advocacy.
Voter
Service: Locally, the LWV of Greater Pittsburgh (LWVGP)
maintains a Community Information Center that
provides information to citizens about voting, elections, and government.
The League conducts candidate forums and publishes a voter guide both
in the New Pittsburgh
Courier and on this web site shortly before each election. LWVGP
also provides the Smart
Voter web site at which candidates can post information about their
candidacy free of charge and voters can compare candidates.
Citizen
Education: The League publishes Facts
for Citizens, a directory of public officials that includes United
States, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, and many local municipal and
school board officials. A hard copy version that includes only federal,
state, county and City of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Board of Education
offices is available through the Community Information
Center. Other League publications
are available online.
The League has presented forums on a variety
of topics including civil liberties, immigration and municipal consolidation.
Advocacy:
The League lobbies public officials on issues on the
basis of positions reached by a consensus of its members
after careful studies by League members. The League of Women
Voters never supports or opposes candidates or parties. Some
current advocacy priorities.
Good
Government Award: Each year the League presents Good
Government Awards to citizens, businesses and organizations that have
helped to better the relationships between government, citizens and
the community. The awards are presented at a gala dinner that is a major
League fund-raiser and is supported by many civic-minded
corporations and foundations. The League encourages the public to
nominate potential
awardees. Nominations are due in April.
