# Missouri League of Women Voters

Elections in Missouri :
Federal government
Presidential elections
1820
1824
1828
1832
1836
1840
1844
1848
1852
1856
1860
1864
1868
1872
1876
1880
1884
1888
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Missouri bellwether
Presidential primaries
Democratic
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Republican
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
U.S. Senate
1821
1825
1827
1830
1833
1836
1839
1842
1843 sp
1845
1849
1851
1857
1857 sp
1861
1863
1863 sp
1868
1871 sp
1874
1879
1879 sp
1881
1885
1887
1891
1893
1897
1899
1903
1905
1909
1911
1911
1914
1916
1918 sp
1920
1922
1926
1926 sp
1928
1932
1934
1938
1940
1944
1946
1950
1952
1956
1958
1960 sp
1962
1964
1968
1970
1974
1976
1980
1982
1986
1988
1992
1994
1998
2000
2002 sp
2004
2006
2010
2012
2016
2018
2022
2024
2028
U.S. House of Representatives
1820
1822
1824
1826
1828
1831
1832–33
1835
1836
1838
1839
AL sp
1840
1842
1844
1846
AL sp
1848
1850
1852
1854
1856
1858
1860
1st sp
1862
1864
1866
1867
3rd sp
1868
5th sp
1870
1872
1874
1876
1878
1880
7th sp
1882
2nd sp
1884
1886
1888
1889
4th sp
1890
14th sp
1892
1894
1896
1897
1st sp
1898
1899
8th sp
1900
1902
12th sp
1904
1906
1908
1910
6th sp
1912
1914
1916
1918
10th sp
1920
1921
4th sp
1922
1924
1926
11th sp
1928
1929
4th sp
1930
1931
7th sp
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1943
6th sp
1944
1946
1948
10th sp
1950
1951
11th sp
1952
1954
1956
1958
1959
4th sp
1960
1962
1964
9th sp
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
6th sp
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
8th sp
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2013
8th sp
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
State government
State elections
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
Gubernatorial elections
1820
1824
1825 sp
1828
1832
1836
1840
1844
1848
1852
1856
1857 sp
1860
1864
1868
1870
1872
1874
1876
1880
1884
1888
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Lieutenant gubernatorial elections
1820
1824
1828
1832
1836
1840
1844
1848
1852
1856
1860
1864
1868
1870
1872
1874
1876
1880
1884
1888
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Secretary of State elections
2012
2016
2020
2024
Attorney General elections
2012
2016
2020
2024
State Treasurer elections
2012
2016
2020
2024
State Auditor elections
2010
2014
2018
2022
Senate elections
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
House of Representatives elections
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
Ballot measures
1999
Proposition B
2004
Amendment 2
2006
Amendment 2
2018
Proposition A
2020
Amendment 2
2022
Amendment 3
2024
Amendment 3 :
Columbia
Mayoral elections
2016
2019
2022 :
Jefferson City
Mayoral elections
2016
2019
2022 :
Joplin
Mayoral elections
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023 :
Kansas City
Mayoral elections
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023 :
Springfield
Mayoral elections
2021 :
St. Louis
Mayoral elections
1973
1977
1981
1985
1989
1993
1997
2001
2005
2009
2013
2017
2021
2025
Board of Aldermen elections
2023 :
vte :
The Missouri League of Women Voters (LWV Missouri) is a nonpartisan organization to inform women voters in the American state of Missouri and encourage their participation in the political process. It was founded in 1919 as a successor to the Equal Suffrage League, a campaign for women's suffrage in the state, and appointed Edna Gellhorn as its first president. It is affiliated to the U.S.-wide League of Women Voters and organizes local branches in different parts of the state.

## History

The Missouri League of Women Voters was organized at the Golden Jubilee Convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association in St. Louis, Missouri in March, 1919. Missouri had just passed a bill allowing women to vote, but the Equal Suffrage League was initially not allowed to change its name to reflect the new legislation. Later, the National President of the League of Women Voters, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, called a state convention and allowed the League to change its name. On October 16, 17, and 18, 1919, the Missouri Suffrage Association held a convention and the old League became the Missouri League of Women Voters.
At the convention, 122 delegates from active Missouri suffrage leagues were present and the Statler Hotel ballroom was filled to capacity. A new constitution, written by Miss Laura Runyon of Warrensburg, Miss Myrtle Wood of St. Louis, and Mrs. Elmer McKay of Springfield, was adopted. Article II of the constitution read " The aims of this League shall be to increase the effectiveness of women's vote in furthering better government. The League, as an organization, shall be strictly non-partisan. Its officers and members are free to join the party of their choice." Initially, both major political parties were suspicious of the League of Women Voters, as they were worried it would interfere with their own plans for organizing women.
Edna Gellhorn was the first president of the Missouri League of Women Voters. She held classes for first time voters across Missouri, often traveling in the caboose of a milk train. She served as president of the St. Louis League of Women Voters three times and served on the national board.

## Policies

At the time of its founding, the Missouri League of Women Voters were described as a group of enfranchised women who want not just to vote, but to vote for something. As women were given the right to vote in 1919, suffragists turned their attention from the effort to secure the vote towards using their vote to build a better world. Members were identified as political, but not partisan.
LWV Missouri encourages informed and active participation in government. The organization is nonpartisan and does not endorse or oppose any political party or candidate. LWV educates voters, encourages citizens to register to vote, and communicates policy priorities to government officials. They also provide training on voting procedures, candidate, issues, lobbying, and campaigning. In order to project a nonpartisan stance, visible leaders of LWV refrain from political activity, partisan support, or running for office.