The only leadership position that the state organizations must have is a state coordinator, also referred to as the state president. But often there are other officials who, along with the president, are elected at state conferences. Officials at the state level are usually volunteers, although a state organization might hire a lobbyist. In some cases, the paid lobbyist and the president are one and the same. State organizations are run by a board made up of a handful of local chapter representatives, and the state president and other officials.
States have their own bylaws, none of which can conflict with the national ones .
There are also nine regional segments of NOW, but, unlike other levels, the regional offices don't do much in the way of initiating protests or lobbying. Their main purpose is to elect members to the national board and ease communication among the states in a particular region. The number of members within each region determines the maximum number of board members allowed from an individual state and the minimum number of board seats that must be filled by women of color. Regions do not solicit members. National The 42-member national board of directors is comprised of NOW members from the group's nine regions.