History of the League
Ozaukee & Washington Counties
The formation of the League of Women Voters of Ozaukee County began in February 1954 with a group of active and dedicated Ozaukee County women. With support and encouragement from the Milwaukee League of Women Voters, “Provisional League” status was granted on March 17, 1957.
To achieve full-league status, certain conditions were required: researching a “Know Your Town” study; conducting a finance drive; completing a voters’ service project; and facilitating a program study, with the first topic being a discussion of civil liberties. The League of Women Voters of Ozaukee County was granted full League status on March 18, 1958.
In June of 2023, our local League officially expanded into Washington County. We continue to grow quickly with our actively dedicated members.
State and Regional
The League of Women Voters Wisconsin (LWVWI) operates on the state level with leadership from the League of Women Voters United States (LWVUS) and grassroots support from the 20 local Leagues in Wisconsin.
In some areas, local Leagues have formed Inter-League organizations to address regional concerns. The League of Women Voters Ozaukee (LWVOZ) Inter-League affiliation is the League of Women Voters Lake Michigan Region (LWVLMR).
National
The League of Women Voters was founded in 1920 to help 20 million women carry out their new responsibilities as voters. From the beginning, the League was an activist, grassroots organization whose leaders fought to improve our systems of government and to impact public policy through education and advocacy.
It was then, and is now, a nonpartisan organization. League founders believed that maintaining a nonpartisan stance would protect the fledgling organization from becoming mired in the party politics of the day.
The League of Women Voters is organized to parallel the three levels of government: local, state, and national. At each level, the League is governed by a volunteer president and board of directors.
For a more complete history of the LWV, go to lwv.org/about-us/history.