# League of Women Voters of California

Elections in California :
Federal government
U.S. President
1852
1856
1860
1864
1868
1872
1876
1880
1884
1888
1892
1896
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Rep
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Dem
Rep
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Dem
Rep
2008
Dem
Rep
2012
Dem
Rep
2016
Dem
Rep
2020
Dem
Rep
2024
Dem
Rep
U.S. Senate
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1850
1852 sp
1856
1857 sp
1860
1860 sp
1868
1872
1873
1873 sp
1878
1880
1885
1886 sp
1887
1891
1891 sp
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1897
1900 sp
1903
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1911
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1926
1928
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1946 sp
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1976
1980
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1988
1992
1992 sp
1994
1998
2000
2004
2006
2010
2012
2016
2018
2022
2022 sp
2024
2024 sp
2028
U.S. House of Representatives
1849
1851
1852
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1859
1861
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1864
1867
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1875
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1879
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1890
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12th
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1972
1974
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1984
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1987
5th sp
1988
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1994
1996
1998
2000
2001
32nd sp
2002
2004
2005
5th sp
48th sp
2006
50th sp
2007
36th sp
2008
12th sp
2009
10th sp
32nd sp
2010
2011
36th sp
2012
2014
2016
2017
34th sp
2018
2020
25th sp
2022
22nd sp
2024
16th
20th sp
30th
45th
47th
vte :
State government
Executive Governor
1849
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1910
1914
1918
1922
1926
1930
1934
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1946
1950
1954
1958
1962
1966
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1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2003 (recall)
2006
2010
2014
2018
2021 (recall)
2022
2026
Lieutenant governor
1950
1954
1958
1962
1966
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
2026
Attorney general
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
Secretary of state
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
Treasurer
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
Controller
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
Insurance commissioner
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
Superintendent
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
Board of equalization
2018
2022
Legislature Senate
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Special
Assembly
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2021 (79th sp)
2022 (17th sp)
2024
Special
Judiciary Court of appeals
1994
1998
2002
2006
Elections by year
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2005
2006
2008
Feb
Jun
Nov
2009
2010
Jun
Nov
2012
Jun
Nov
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
vte :
State propositions
1910–1919
1911
4
7
8
1960–1969
1964
14
1970–1979
1978
6
8
13
1980–1989
1982
8
1986
64
65
1988
98
99
1990–1999
1994
187
1996
196
209
215
218
1998
6
10
227
2000–2009
2000
21
22
36
39
2003
53
54
2004
1A
55
56
57
58
59
60
60A
61
62
63
64
65
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69
71
2005
73
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2006
81
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2008
91
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93
94, 95, 96, and 97
98 and 99
1A
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
2009
1A
1B
1C
1D
1E
1F
2010–2019
2010
13
14
15
16
17
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
2012
29
30
32
34
37
38
39
2014
1
2
41
42
45
46
47
48
2016
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
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61
62
63
64
65
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67
2018
68
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72
6
7
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9
10
11
12
2020–2029
2020
13
14
15
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17
18
19
20
21
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25
2022
1
26
27
28
29
30
31
2024
1
2
3
4
5
6
32
33
34
35
36
Full listvte :
Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County Board of supervisors
1980
1996
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Ballot measures
1980
A
2008
R
2012
B
J
2016
M
Elections
2020
2022
2024
Los Angeles Mayor
1896
1898
1900
1902
1904
1906
1909 (sp)
1909
1911
1913
1915
1917
1919
1921
1923
1925
1929
1933
1937
1938
1941
1945
1949
1953
1957
1961
1965
1969
1973
1977
1981
1985
1989
1993
1997
2001
2005
2009
2013
2017
2022
City attorney
2009
Ballot measures
1986
U
2017
S
Elections
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
2019 (sp)
2020
2022
2023 (sp)
2024
Long Beach Mayor
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
vte :
Orange County
Orange County Board of supervisors
2018
2020
2022
2024
District attorney
2018
Anaheim Mayor
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
Irvine Mayor
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Costa Mesa Municipal
1947
1953
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1968
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1972
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2018
2020
2022
2024
vte :
Sacramento
Mayor
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
vte :
San Diego County
San Diego County Board of supervisors
2020
San Diego Mayor
1887
1889
1891
1893
1895
1897
1899
1901
1903
1905
1907
1909
1911
1913
1915
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1927
1929
1931
1932
1935
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1971
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1983 (sp)
1984
1986 (sp)
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2005 (sp)
2008
2012
2013–14 (sp)
2016
2020
2024
City attorney
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
City council
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Special
vte :
San Francisco
Mayor
1901
1903
1905
1907
1909
1911
1931
1935
1939
1943
1947
1951
1955
1959
1963
1967
1971
1975
1979
1983 (recall)
1983
1987
1991
1995
1999
2003
2007
2011
2015
2018 (sp)
2019
2024
District attorney
2019
2022 (recall)
2022 (sp)
2024
Board of supervisors
1977
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Board of education
2018
2022 (recall)
Elections
2004
Mar
Nov
2005
2006
Jun
Nov
2007
2008
Feb
Jun
Nov
2009
2010
Jun
Nov
2011
2012
Jun
Nov
2013
2022
Feb
vte :
San Jose
Mayor
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
2024
vte :
Other localities
Bakersfield
Mayoral elections:
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Fresno
Mayoral elections:
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Oakland
Mayoral elections:
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
Riverside
Mayoral elections:
1997
2001
2005
2009
2012
2016
2020
2024
San Bernardino
Mayoral elections:
2005
2009
2014
2018
2022
Stockton
Mayoral elections:
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
vte :
vte :
The League of Women Voters of California is a non-partisan organization that is part of the national League of Women Voters. Founded by Carrie Chapman Catt in the 1920s, The league was formed from the National American Women's Suffrage Association. Their stated goals are to encourage "informed and active participation in government," "increase understanding of major public policy issues," and influence "public policy through education and advocacy." The league has over 65 county groups within the state.

## History

The League of Women Voters of California was first established in the 1920s, to further the movement of women voting and in politics after the 19th amendment was passed. Many were confident that women in California would get the vote and with this brought many organizations to California, the League of Women Voters being on a national level. A group called the California Civic League was a huge contributor to getting the vote. This group was helping to advocate for women in the California and national, to get the vote for them. Then in 1911, the vote for women was officially granted in California after a couple years of work. Astonished by the accomplishment, Carrie Chapmen Catt wanted the California Civic League to join forces with her league. In 1921, the California Civic League officially became a part of the League of Women Voters, forming the California Civic League of Women Voters. Eventually changing their name to the League of Women Voters of California in 1946. The League of Women Voters of California was guided by wanting to bring women together with equality in representatives and to give more education on issues in America. At the first League meeting they voted for principle, legislation, and issues to focus on, which included child welfare, education, women in occupations and many more.
The beginning of their work started during the major wars. The league wanted to keep as a nonpartisan group in order to help new women voters during the difficult these difficult times. The league members believed that keeping it this way would help in the success of a democratic government. One major item they started was a class on political education to give women more knowledge of the political system and a sense of activism. With the league not being as radical as early women's groups, they helped to educate women politically. In the 1940s, the League started to become larger and well organized, so they started to come together as a group to reach a common census of specific issue and refer to it as the continuing responsibility. As well during this time, the league had many committees that covered specific issues, like health, housing, jury selection, public schools, state government, and homes for children, that were voted on to make these responsibilities.

### Early accomplishments

The League of Women Voters of California had many legislative successes. One of the first achievements was allowing child labor laws to be ratified in 1923, which would limit the labor of children under the age of eighteen. As well as the helping to get California schools to be reorganized in 1937 to help get better education for all the children in California, they were a part of the fight to get women on the juries. They even were active in the efforts to get the Department of Mental Hygiene established in 1945. They are still active many issues on local, state and national levels.

### Purpose

The main purpose of the League of Women Voters is to provide voter services, give education on voting and political issues while staying nonpartisan, and to provide advocacy for women, as well as others in their communities. The league wants to promote public policy problems through education and advocacy. They aim to help improve welfare for those in America and try to teach political responsibility through being an informed and involved citizen. The biggest causes for the League of Women Voters in California is inclusion, equality and diversity. They want to help include and educate about voting and different issues in America. The League of Women Voters of California work to give all Americans a voice and opportunity to be heard.

## Today

The League of Women Voters still advocates for women's rights. They continue to advocate for issues such as abortion rights, abolishment of exclusionary zoning, criminal justice reform, racial justice, etc. Although their original goal of the women's right to vote has already been accomplished they always take a stand for justice for all people. Their tools of action include networking, legislative work, advocacy, and voting registration. The League members meet together annually to discuss what issues should be specifically targeted. The three modern day focuses on the League of Women Voters of California are government, natural resources, and social policy. The League of Women Voters of California has kept its integrity and has continued to strive for equity and equality for all people breaking boundaries of sexism and racism. They strive to change policies from local and regional to state and federal levels. Compared to the original movement there have been some changes to include all people, for example in 1973 male members were allowed to join the cause. Although the name of this group sounds exclusive it promotes inclusivity for everyone and fights to change the future. As political uprisings have caused an epidemic of injustice, moving forward the organization's goal is to educate, engage and protect future voters.

### Accomplishments

This organization took a lot of local and regional action for hydraulic fracking, criminal justice reform, gun control, political reform, education, etc. They have advocated for bills and have taken legislative action. For example, for gun control, the League of Women Voters in California supported SB 683, this bill would require all firearm purchasers to hold a valid Firearm Safety Certificate. The league had written to Governor Edmund Brown Junior urging him to sign the bill to limit the ownership of handguns and assault weapons in order to limit gun violence. The governor had signed, chaptering the bill. The League also supported SB 844 about Election ballots, which meant that the public would be provided with accessible, and easy to read information about those who are funding campaigns. This would impact voters, and help them understand more about the different campaigns and their supporters/financers. The League not only wrote a letter to the governor but also Assembly Election and Redistricting Committee members and Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee members. There are countless other bills that the organization has advocated for by contacting government officials and local leaders, these bills would be beneficial to all residents of California.

### Goals

The League of Women Voters of California sees an opportunity to change the future by making sure the next generation's voices are heard. Not only is educating people on how to vote is important but also providing insights and factual information about important topics is also just as essential as well. An important part of this organization is also not promoting any specific candidate or political party, but rather approaching these issues as human issues, not just liberal and conservative issues. Doing so contributes to the overall goal diminishing the boundaries between different groups of women. Yet they do provide ballot recommendations with non-biased details of the impacts of certain acts and bills, because their goal is to have more people vote from younger generations. Other priorities of the organization are redistricting, elections, referendum and initiative process, voting rights, educating minority communities, making voting accessible for all, and campaigning for certain reforms. Other primary goals of the League of Women Voters in California include striving for a greener and better environment, defending women's reproductive rights, fair redistricting, improving government and access for affordable and quality healthcare for all Americans. Currently the main fight for these members is to preserve the right to an abortion for cis-women, genderfluid people, trans-men, etc. because of the recent overturn of Roe vs. Wade.

## Future

In the future the League of Women Voters in California strives to act with integrity, trust, and professionalism. They want to create a workspace that meets the needs of and serves the community, members, and public. Their organization wants to welcome all genders, races, ethnicities no matter their race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. They also seek to address and acknowledge the original movement and honor the founding principles. They hope to include people of all backgrounds to create a diverse community that represents their goal. They will continue to fight for the women's right of abortion, gun control, environmental and racial justice, and political and criminal justice reform.