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The League of Women Voters and Candidate Debates: A Changing Relationship

The League of Women Voters has a long history of sponsoring nonpartisan candidate debates at all levels of office. In 2008, we have provided voters nationwide with a wide range of voter information, including a Presidential Primary Voters’ Guide and state and local information. Visit www.VOTE411.org  for the latest, and sign up to stay informed!

Voter Information and State and Local League Debates

The League continues to provide election information to help guide you during the debates. www.VOTE411.org  provides information on how to watch debates with a critical eye, data on candidates as well as important dates and contact information for your election officials.

State and local Leagues across the country continue to host debates for candidates running at all levels of government, from U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to statewide offices, to city government and everything in between. The grassroots nature of the League enables us to engage communities in the process by hosting debates and other election activities. Find your local League and get involved this election season!

History of LWV Presidential Debate Sponsorship

After a sixteen year period in which there were no public presidential debates, the League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF) sponsored three presidential debates in 1976. These debates between Jimmy Carter (D), former governor of Georgia and Gerald Ford (R), President of the United States, were the first to be held since 1960. In 1976 the League also sponsored one vice presidential debate between Senator Walter Mondale (D-MN) and Senator Bob Dole (R-KS). The League continued to sponsor the presidential and vice presidential debates every four years through the 1984 elections. Visit our online presidential debates archive here.

Following that election cycle, the Democratic and Republican national parties came together in a decision to move sponsorship of the debates under the purview of the parties. Between 1985 and 1987 the League challenged this move and sparked widespread public debate on the matter. The LWVEF argued that a change in sponsorship that put control of the debate format in the hands of the two dominant parties would deprive voters of one of the only chances they have to see the candidates outside of their controlled campaign environment.

In 1987 the parties announced the creation of the Commission on Presidential Debates. The commission chose LWVEF to sponsor the last presidential debate of 1988, but placed so many rules and restrictions on the possible format of the debate that the LWVEF was finally unable to agree to participate. In a press release at the time, Nancy Neuman, then LWVUS President, stated that the League had “no intention of becoming an accessory to the hoodwinking of the American public.” Read more here. Today, the nonprofit Commission on Presidential Debates continues to sponsor all general election presidential debates.