LWVCC Chatham Candidates Forum.
The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (LWVMA) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization whose
mission is to empower voters and defend democracy. As a nonpartisan entity, the League of Women
Voters of Massachusetts, and any of its affiliated local leagues, do not support or endorse any political
party or candidates.
The League of Women Voters of the Cape Cod Area (LWVCCA) is an affiliate of the state League and is
beholden to our strict nonpartisanship policy, which can be viewed online at our website,
www.lwvma.org. It has come to the attention of both Leagues that during the planning and execution of a
candidate’s forum for the Chatham Select Board election, materials to advertise the event were created
and distributed with the LWVCCA logo without the League’s prior knowledge or permission and utilized
by candidates in the race. It is the opinion of LWVMA and LWVCCA that the distributed flyer, seen on a
candidate’s Facebook page, was created without the understanding or consideration of the League’s
nonpartisanship policy.
We seek to clarify that the League of Women Voters of the Cape Cod Area and the League of Women
Voters of Massachusetts do not endorse or support any candidate currently running for office in any
municipality in Massachusetts, including the Chatham Select Board race. Our Candidate’s Forums are
planned with much care and consideration of our nonpartisanship policy— to host a candidate’s forum, a
local league must invite all candidates that will appear on the ballot, include every candidate equally in
the publication and marketing of the event, and in the event a candidate declines the invitation or cannot
attend, a statement of absence is made on the candidate’s behalf. Further, moderators of LWV Candidates
Forums are highly trained, and no moderator is allowed to participate in a forum in the League or town in
which they vote, to maintain the highest level of neutrality and nonpartisanship.
The League of Women Voters stays committed to supporting the voters of Cape Cod and the
Commonwealth, and reaffirms our commitment to nonpartisanship and providing informative, quality
events and resources to help you cast your vote.
For more information, please visit www.lwvma.org, www.my.lwv.org/massachusetts/cape-cod-area, or
contact LWVMA Executive Director Celia Canavan, ccanavan@lwvma.org.
