Mission and Roles

League of Women Voters of Cape Ann- Established in 1920

Elizabeth Cady Stanton 1815-1902 and Susan B. Anthony 1820-1906

Welcome to the League of Women Voters of Cape Ann. Since 1920 the LWVCA’s mission has been to provide the Cape Ann Area with non-partisan voter services and citizen education, issue advocacy and citizen outreach. Together with the national and state Leagues our goal is to help create a participatory democracy – a democracy where the citizens are actively engaged in shaping government policies that affect their lives and where the government solicits and values citizen involvement.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging the informed and active participation of citizens in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. We never support or oppose any political party or candidate.

The League of Women Voters has two separate and distinct roles.

1. Voter Service: we present unbiased nonpartisan information about elections, the voting process, and issues.
2. Action and Advocacy: we are also nonpartisan, but, after study, we use our positions to advocate for or against particular policies in the public interest.

To conduct our voter service and citizen education activities, we use funds from the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts Education Fund, which is a 501(c)(3) corporation, a nonprofit educational organization. The League of Women Voters, a membership organization, conducts action and advocacy and is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) corporation.

Women got the right to vote on August 26, 1920. The LWV of Cape Ann organized its first candidates’ evening on November 26, 1920.

Our members are also members of League of Women Voters of Massachusetts and the League of Women Voters of the United States.