Civility in League of Women Voter-sponsored candidate forums and other candidate events

Since its founding in 1921, the League of Women Voters has distinguished itself as a trusted organizer of civil and effective voter education events including nonpartisan candidate forums and debates at the local, state, and national level. Several events planned by local Leagues across Idaho this month are guided by standards of civil discourse as described below:

The foundation of a democracy is the willingness of community members to treat each other with courtesy and respect. It is in this spirit that candidates and audience members engage in a civilized discussion of important issues at League-sponsored candidate events.

The League of Women Voters of the United States defines a forum as “a place, meeting or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue are exchanged.” It is not a debate among candidates.

During forums, candidates engage with questions from the moderator and the audience. Candidates do not engage with each other.

Each candidate participating in a League-sponsored event receives rules of the event in advance and agrees to abide by these rules.

The moderator is responsible for maintaining a civil atmosphere in which candidates and audience members feel comfortable sharing their perspectives. If the moderator determines that civility cannot be maintained, they may pause or end the event.

LWVID’s online voter guide, Vote411.org, offers candidates an opportunity to continue this civil discussion. Standards of civility as noted above also govern Vote411.org.

Jean M. Henscheid, PhD

President