Making Democracy Work® engages Leagues nationwide in advancing core democracy issues. The campaign includes ensuring a free, fair, and accessible electoral system for all eligible voters.

Voting Rights

Voting is a fundamental right and all eligible voters should have the equal opportunity to exercise that right. The League is dedicated to ensuring that every eligible voter has the freedom to vote.

Voter Protection and Service

The League has worked to foster civic engagement and enhance access to the vote since our organization was founded in 1920. We protect voters by battling legislation that challenges democracy for all and impedes access to the ballot. We serve voters through education with unbiased information about the voting process, candidates and ballot measures.

Election Reform

Election reform is a vital issue in today’s political climate so it is essential that we work toward expanding the electorate and ensuring that every voice is heard. We work on legislation and ballot measures designed to make our electoral system more accessible, fair, and representative for all citizens.

Money in Politics

• Elections should be about the voters, not big money interests. It’s time to limit SuperPACs and secret donors to protect representative democracy.
• Reducing the influence of big money in our politics makes our elections fairer. Voters have the right to know who is raising money for which political candidates, how much money they are raising, and how that money is being spent. Our elections should be free from corruption and undue influence. They should work so that everyday Americans can run for office, even if they aren’t well connected to wealthy special interests. 
• We fight to reform money in politics in Congress, with state legislatures, the executive branch, and, where appropriate, the courts. We are deeply committed to reforming our nation’s campaign finance system to ensure the public’s right to know, combat corruption and undue influence, enable candidates to compete more equitably in public office, and allow maximum citizen participation in the political process.

Redistricting

• We oppose partisan and racial gerrymandering that strips rights away from voters. We promote transparent and accountable redistricting processes and work to end hyper-partisan practices that don’t benefit constituents. We believe responsibility for fair redistricting should be vested in an independent special commission, with a membership that reflects the diversity of the unit of government.
• The League of Women Voters of California were leaders in the movement to create California’s independent Citizens Redistricting Commission in order to ensure that the process is transparent, the players are accountable, partisanship is minimized, and our election district maps are drawn fairly. Furthermore, we built in rules to guarantee that Commission members reflect California’s diversity. We continue to work to promote independent redistricting commissions and fair map criteria in local jurisdictions across California.