League of Women Voters of Northern Valley to Present Democracy in the Balance

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ, September 04, 2012 (Press-News.org) The League of Women Voters of Northern Valley (LWVNV) in Bergen County, New Jersey will hold a discussion, "Democracy in the Balance. The Affects of Money on Elections and Its Impact on Democracy." The public is invited to attend this open meeting that will be held first on Tuesday, September 11 at 12:30 p.m. at the Leonia Public Library, 227 Fort Lee Road, in Leonia, New Jersey. The same program will be repeated that day at the Closter Public Library, located at 280 High Street, in Closter, New Jersey at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.

Campaign Finance

"Since the League of Women Voter's (League) beginning in 1920, when women gained the vote, working for voters' rights has been a cornerstone of the organization. Campaign finance has been a major focus of the League since the 1970s. Our current position on the issue of campaign finance calls for the full disclosure of campaign contributions and a fair, open and accessible electoral process. The goal of these meetings in Bergen County is to explore briefly the topic of how money affects our elections and how this impacts our democracy," said Lucy Heller, president of the League of Women Voters of Bergen County and a member of the board of directors of the LWVNV.

A facilitator will guide the discussion using background material provided by the League of Women Voters of Concord-Carlisle, as well as Amherst and Sudbury in Massachusetts. The meetings will educate and inform the electorate. Information provided or discussed should not be viewed as an endorsement or opposition of any candidate or political party by the League of Women Voters.

The League of Women Voters of Northern Valley draws members from Alpine, Bergenfield, Cliffside Park, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, Edgewater, Emerson, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Fort Lee, Hackensack, Harrington Park, Haworth, Hillsdale, Leonia, Montvale, New Milford, Northvale, Norwood, Old Tappan, Park Ridge, River Vale, Tenafly, Washington Township, Woodcliff Lake and the surrounding area.

For more information about the League of Women Voters of Northern Valley, visit the organization's web site or contact (201) 947-0756.

The League was an outgrowth of the 19th amendment passed in 1920 giving women the right to vote. With 800 local Leagues throughout the country, the organization gained prestige by maintaining its nonpartisanship; sponsoring candidates' forums for local, state and national elections; holding registration drives; disseminating nonpartisan information on candidates; and holding public meetings to discuss current issues. League membership is open to both men and women of voting age who support its mission.

The League of Women Voters of Northern Valley draws members from Alpine, Bergenfield, Cliffside Park, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, Edgewater, Emerson, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Fort Lee, Hackensack, Harrington Park, Haworth, Hillsdale, Leonia, Montvale, New Milford, Northvale, Norwood, Old Tappan, Park Ridge, River Vale, Tenafly, Washington Township and Woodcliff Lake.