The League of Women Voters of Illinois encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

The League of Women Voters of Illinois works to register voters and provide voters with election information through voter guides as well as candidate forums and debates.

Mission: Empowering voters. Defending democracy.

Vision: We envision a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge and the confidence to participate.

What does the League do?

  • Advocate for changes in legislation that will result in equitable solutions and civil rights protections.

  • Activate voters through voter registration and issue education.

  • Protect voter rights by working for equitable access.

  • Create opportunities for communities to come together to discuss issues and shape solutions for the future.

  • Promote civic engagement by teaching people how to access the tools they need to make a difference.

LWV is …

  • Nonpartisan but political - The League does not support or oppose candidates or political parties.  The League does work to influence public policy through education and advocacy.

  • Grassroots - League members themselves choose which public policy issues will be targeted for study and action.

  • Multi-Issue - The League takes action on a broad range of issues-from violence prevention to pollution control, campaign finance reform and local school referenda.

  • Informative - The League registers voters, sponsors candidate debates, publishes voters guides and public policy research, and holds conferences on key issues.

  • Influential - The League lobbies elected officials and works in coalition with others to press its agenda in Washington, Springfield, and local communities.

  • Interconnected - When you join, you become a member of a local League in your community, the Illinois League and the League of Women Voters of the U.S.

League membership is local

There are 41 local Leagues with almost 4,000 members in Illinois. Local Leagues hold public meetings on issues, host candidate forums, monitor local government activities, and act to ensure better communities. Recently, Illinois Leagues have successfully campaigned to reduce the size of county boards and pass local referendums for schools and libraries.

 League membership is open to any gender, age 16 and older.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

LWVIL is an organization fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in practice. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the organization’s current and future success in engaging all individuals, households, communities, and policy makers in creating a more perfect democracy.

There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, gender identity, ethnicity, race, native or indigenous origin, age, generation, sexual orientation, culture, religion, belief system, marital status, parental status, socioeconomic status, language, accent, ability status, mental health, educational level or background, geography, nationality, work style, work experience, job role function, thinking style, personality type, physical appearance, political perspective or affiliation and/or any other characteristic that can be identified as recognizing or illustrating diversity.

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LWVIL es una organización totalmente comprometida con la diversidad, la equidad y la inclusión en principio y en la práctica. La diversidad, la equidad y la inclusión son fundamentales para el presente y futuro éxito de la organización en la participación de todas las personas, hogares, comunidades y políticos en la creación de una democracia más perfecta.

No habrá barreras para la participación plena en esta organización por razón de género, identidad de género, etnia, raza, origen nativo o indígena, edad, generación, orientación sexual, cultura, religión, sistema de creencias, estado civil, estado parental, estatus socioeconómico, idioma, acento, habilidad, salud mental, nivel educativo o antecedentes, geografía, nacionalidad, estilo de trabajo, experiencia laboral, función del rol laboral, estilo de pensamiento, tipo de personalidad, apariencia física, perspectiva política o afiliación y / o cualquier otra característica que identifique, reconozca, o ilustre diversidad.