About the League of Women Voters
Accomplishments
In 2009-2010, the League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus celebrated its 90th anniversary and fulfilled its mission in three critical areas:
Informing Voters and Educating Citizens
- Published the nonpartisan Voter Information Bulletin (VIB), helping voters learn about the candidates and issues in the 2009 General Election. More than 400,000 copies of the VIB were distributed on Sunday, Oct. 28 to households across central Ohio that subscribe to The Columbus Dispatch. The VIB was also distributed to area schools and United Way agencies and was available to the public in libraries and several businesses across central Ohio, as well as on the League website.
- Published a voter guide for the 2010 Primary Election, available online only.
- Provided voters with easy-to-understand explanations and pro/con arguments for the Columbus income tax issue in the run-up to the August 2009 Special Election and for the Franklin County Children Services levy in the run-up to the November 2009 General Election. The League cosponsored two nonpartisan issue forums on the income tax question.
- Hosted twelve Meet the Candidates Forums throughout central Ohio in the fall of 2009 in partnership with the Franklin County Consortium for Good Government.
- Staffed the WBNS-10TV Phone Bank during both the 2009 general and 2010 primary elections, providing information on polling locations and answering other voting-related questions.
- Provided voter registration materials and voter service information to groups and businesses across central Ohio.
- Conducted public meetings on a range of civic topics, including the 2009 state ballot issues, public transit in central Ohio, the City of Columbus financial crisis, the role of the news media, and “green” energy policy.
- Initiated a study of land use and regional planning in central Ohio.
- Cosponsored the Columbus Community Conversation "AmericaSpeaks: Our Budget, Our Economy" with the Council for Public Deliberation.
Taking Action
- Endorsed the City of Columbus income tax increase in the run-up to the August 2009 Special Election as well as the Franklin County Children Services levy in the run-up to the November 2009 General Election, both of which were passed by voters.
- Interviewed staff at the boards of elections in Franklin and Union counties as part of a statewide lawsuit settlement that reformed election administration in Ohio.
- Contacted central Ohio’s state senators and representatives as well as the region’s Congressional delegation on urgent legislative matters, including global climate change, health care reform, the international treaty on women’s rights, and state taxes and the budget crisis.
- Conducted a year-long study of public transit in central Ohio and adopted a new position on the issue.
Building Democracy
- Celebrated the 90th anniversary of the founding of the League of Women Voters, receiving proclamations and commendations from the City Council of Columbus, the Franklin County Commission, and the cities of Bexley, Gahanna, Pickerington, Westerville, and Worthington.
- Promoted public participation in the 2010 Census.
- Published the 2010 Central Ohio Civic Directory online, listing national, state, and local office holders and contact information.
- Offered a training workshop in March 2010 focused on helping participants become nonpartisan moderators for candidate forums and other events.
- Served as a sponsor of the Ohio Women’s Summit/Young Women’s Summit, “Momentum 2010.”
- Honored Terry and David McCoy with the League’s premier citizenship award, Democracy In Action.
Nonprofit Federal Returns (Form 990-EZ)
Annual Reports
- 2007-2008 (.pdf)
