Adopted April 8. 2025
The League of Women Voters of Vermont (LWVVT) does not oppose or support any political party or candidate at any level of government. The League also encourages informed and active government participation.
The League of Women Voters of Vermont (LWVVT) believes that board members should be encouraged to seek and accept non-League positions with organizations that advance leadership skills, except for organizations whose positions oppose the League’s. At the same time, the board recognizes the necessity of imposing a few basic limitations on board members’ political activity to protect the nonpartisan reputation of the League.
With this objective in mind, the LWVVT board adopts the following guidelines:
ELECTED OFFICE
The President, officers, Communications Chair, and Voting Services Chair may not run for, nor hold any elective office. Other officers and board members shall not run for, nor hold federal or state elective office but may run for municipal office, regardless of party designation, after consultation with the LWVVT board.
POLITICAL PARTY OFFICE
The President and officers as well as the Communications Chair and Voting Services Chair shall not serve in any position in a political party. Other board members shall not serve in political party positions at the federal or state level and shall abide by the LWVVT political activity policy regarding holding municipal office positions.
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
The President and officers as well as the Communications Chair and Voting Services Chair may not attend political party fundraising events or make campaign contributions to federal or state candidates. Other board members may attend such fundraising events and make campaign contributions to candidates at any level.
POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS
The President and officers as well as the Communications Chair and Voting Services Chair shall not chair or administer political party fundraising or political campaigns, chair a campaign event, be a spokesperson, or work in a significant way in the campaign of a candidate for partisan office at any level. Other board members may not undertake any political party organizing positions and activities for candidates for federal or state office but may do so for candidates for municipal office after consultation with and approval by the LWVVT board. The board shall consider visibility of the board member’s role in the campaign when making its determination.
SOCIAL AND OTHER MEDIA
League board members shall not indicate their political affiliations or candidate preferences at any level of government in the media, including on social networking sites or other public venues. See LWVVT Communications Policy.
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES
The LWVVT board may encourage League members to secure appointments with government boards, commissions, and committees. If the seat is for the League, the board shall appoint a new representative when the board member’s term of office has ended, which shall be no longer than eight years.
EXCLUSION
These policies do not apply to a board member’s family.
ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION
Board members shall present questions about specific situations to the LWVVT board where the foregoing policies do not resolve the question.
This policy shall be reviewed and readopted by the LWVVT board at the beginning of each new biennium.
