Getting Involved

Become a part of the League of Women Voters! For more information on how to join, click here.

There are many possible ways for you to participate actively in the League's work. Once you join, you will learn of volunteer opportunities through the League's newsletter (the VOTER), by signing up to receive email announcements, by attending unit meetings, or by coming back to this website.

You can also email our Volunteer Coordinator

The League has a guilt-free policy for its members. You can join and participate as much or as little as you like. Many active members were inactive for years, then increased their participation as their lives changed.

Joining a local unit is a way to meet members in your neighborhood. Get answers to Frequently Asked Questions about units including meeting times and locations.

Much of the League's Work is done through committees.

VOTER SERVICE: Members of the Voter Service committee participate in poll watching, registering voters, monitoring election procedures, in addition to taking part in candidate forums, analyzing ballot measures, and speaking on state and local ballot measures.

ACTION: Action committee members may handle subject areas such as health care, full public financing, redistricting, Observer Corps.

PROGRAM: Members of the LWVLA Program committee may assist in organizing educational events, conferences and League program planning.

LWVLA Studies

A part of the League dedicated to research on issues, interviews, and reaching member consensus.

CITY FINANCE: Research and propose LWVLA position on the impact of city employee pension plans on the city budget. Committee Co-chairs, Jane Goichman and Elizabeth Ralston

HOUSING/HOMELESSNESS: League Day: Update LWVLA position. Consultant, Barbara Braunstein and Carlos Medina

LWV/LAC Studies

Soon to be updated!

LWVC Studies

INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM: Delegates to the recent state convention adopted this study to update and improve the Initiative and Referendum Process position.

CALIFORNIA'S FINANCING FOR EDUCATION: A study regarding State and Local Finances, including those for education.

LWVUS Studies

FEDERAL ROLE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION: This adopted study will focus on the role of the federal government in education policymaking, with possible consideration of funding, common standards and/or governance relationships among all levels of the government. The scope will be dependent on available resources, including committee and LWVUS staff time.

PRIVATIZATION: The policy agenda to transfer government functions, services and assets to the private sector.

CARBON REDUCTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE: The LWV of LA addresses climate change at the local level by educating the community about climate change and by advocating for actions by local agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Chair, Margie Engel

INSTANT RUNOFF VOTING: Educate and advocate on this LWVLA position. Chair, David Holtzman

RETIREMENT BENEFITS for the employees of the City of LA: Educate and advocate based on LWVLA poistion. Chair, Jo Anne Aplet

RUNNING AND WINNING: Running and winning is a multi-year project that connects high school students with elected officials on a personal basis. Students learn what is involved in running for office and that elected officials are real people to whom they can talk. Students then have an opportunity to form a mock campaign team, take a position on a focus issue, and prepare a campaign speech to share with peers.

ELECTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES: Members help manage elections and count ballots for community organization elections such as home owners associations and housing projects. For more information, contact the League office 213-368-1616.

REDISTRICTING: In 2011, California will redraw our state and congressional district lines which will be drawn by the new voter-approved Citizens Redistricting Commission. Learn more about the new commission and how to educate our community on the important issues regarding redistricting in California. Be an observer/reporter and work on our local redistricting. Completion of the City and County redistricting will follow the completion of the State redistricting.

VOTER NEWSLETTER: Members working on this project will submit relevant articles, edit monthly articles, and manage editorial policy and goals.

WWW.SMARTVOTER.org: Members will assist in maintaining and expanding the service of California's preeminent voter informing website.

INTERNS: Integrate intern and LWVLA needs

LEGISLATIVE INTERVIEWS: Interview Los Angeles members of the legislature on League issues.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH: LWVLA has been engaged in active outreach to many communities of the city. The purpose is to extend the League's mission of fostering an educated and active electorate, and to broaden the League's membership, making it not just a "mainstream organization" in Los Angeles, but a "mainstreaming organization" that can provide a valuable resource to leaders of all of the different communities that make up our area.

ELECTION MANAGEMENT: As one of the core projects that LWVLA engages in to further its mission of encouraging informed and active participation in the government, LWVLA manages the elections of the many different organizations. LWVLA has organized and overseen many types of elections such as ratification of residents' decisions about policies of their apartment buildings, election of officers for unions and Neighborhood Councils, election of officers for private organizations, elections of community committees as required by the Community Redevelopment Agency, and elections of representatives for housing developments.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: Assist with welcome calls, event planning, database maintenance, mailings.

EDUCATION FUND: Expand the use and distribution of book, Los Angeles: Structure of City Government, fundraise, event planning, planning for Awards Dinner and Civic Society Salons

COMMUNICATIONS: Expand LWVLA's use of PR tools, media database, media outreach planning, community outreach, social media, e-newsletter, and much more!

WEBSITES: Maintain, update and expand public website and Members Only website.

FINANCE COMMITTEE: Assist in asset investment strategy and oversight.

ARCHIVING: Develop office storage and archive protocol; expand current CSUN archive relationship

INTERNS: Manage requests and organizational needs.

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