Delegate Representation for Conventions: How Many Delegates Can You Bring?

DELEGATE REPRESENTATION

LWVUS Bylaws Article IX, Section 2 provides the following:

Sec. 2. Composition. Official membership counts shall be determined by national office records of voting members as reported to the national office in the membership count in January of the year in which the convention is held. The convention shall consist of:

A. Delegates chosen by the members of local Leagues; each local League shall be entitled to at least one delegate; when local League membership reaches 50 voting members, the local League shall be entitled to one additional delegate; thereafter one additional delegate shall be authorized for each additional 50 voting members;

For example:

1–49 members = 1 delegate

50–99 members = 2 delegates

100–149 members = 3 delegates

B. Three delegates chosen by the board of each state League; when state member-at-large membership reaches 50 voting members, the state League shall be entitled to one additional delegate; thereafter one additional delegate shall be authorized for each additional 50 voting members-at-large;

C. One delegate chosen by the board of each recognized ILO; and

D. The members of the national board.

DELEGATES’ QUALIFICATIONS AND VOTING

The LWVUS Bylaws, Article IX, Section 3, states that:

“All delegates shall be voting members of the League. Each delegate representing a local or state League shall be entitled to vote only if that League has met its per member payment responsibilities. The national board may make an exception in the case of proven hardship. No delegate shall be entitled to more than one vote and absentee or proxy voting shall not be permitted.  Final determination of a delegate’s qualifications or credentials shall be made by the convention.”