As approved by LWVMA Board, July 20, 2010, with additional revisions

The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts is nonpartisan; it neither supports nor opposes candidates

for office. When planning and running candidates debates and forums, the board of directors of the

League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (the board) bears the responsibility of safeguarding this

nonpartisan policy and the organization’s nonpartisan reputation.

Both the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts and the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts

Education Fund can sponsor debates and forums. The LWVMA, like the LWVMAEF, is required to

comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including those promulgated by the Federal Elections

Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Internal Revenue Service. Any conflict

between applicable law and the policy contained in this document must be resolved in favor of applicable

law.

This policy includes only general principles and rules and is not intended to address all specific

determinations to be made in the process of organizing and running debates and forums. For additional

information, see LWVMA’s “Guidelines on Debates and Forums” and the LWVUS publications on

debates and forums.

For the purposes of this policy, “debates” are defined as in the Federal Election Commission regulations:

as an event that includes at least two candidates, is staged in a way that does not promote or advance one candidate over

another, and allows the candidates to appear concurrently, in face-to-face confrontations, with opportunities to respond to each

other.  “Forums” in this policy mean any League-sponsored candidate event in any format other than that described above which

 is designed to meet the goals listed below.

LWVMA may sponsor or co-sponsor debates and forums for statewide offices, which may include

Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Auditor, Treasurer, Secretary of the Commonwealth, and U.S.

Senator. LWVMA and local Leagues may together co-sponsor debates/forums involving candidates for

these offices; local Leagues may sponsor or co-sponsor debates/forums for the above offices only with the

consent of LWVMA.

Goals for LWVMA-sponsored Candidates Debates and Forums

The goals of an LWVMA-sponsored debate or forum should be to:

issues, communication skills, sense of humor, and ability to think on their feet

Criteria for Candidate Participation

The board will determine which candidates will be invited to participate in an LWVMA-sponsored

debate/forum. When deciding whom to invite to participate in an LWVMA-sponsored candidates

debate/forum, LWVMA will adhere to all applicable federal (including the FEC, FCC and IRS) laws and

regulations. In addition, the following criteria should be used.

1. All candidates whose names will appear on the ballot for the contested office(s) covered by the debate/forum, ,and who meet at least one of the following criteria, will be invited to participate. In addition, all candidates whose names will not appear on the ballot but who have announced a write-in campaign for the contested office(s) covered by the debate/forum, and who meet at least one of the following criteria, will also be invited to participate.

   • There is evidence that a formal campaign is being waged, for example, presence of campaign headquarters, campaign staff, issuance of position papers, campaign appearances, campaign ads including literature, bumper stickers, signs, etc., evidence of a significant level of financial support, or receipt of contributions from a significant number of contributors.

   • The candidate demonstrates significant voter support and interest, defined as 15% of support in generally recognized and independent polls or the same level of voter support as that received by a major party candidate in those polls, whichever is lower.

   • The candidate is eligible for matching funds, where public financing is available.

2. Candidates must meet all the legal qualifications for the office.

3. Stand-ins for candidates will not be allowed.

Empty Chair Debates/Forums

LWVMA will follow federal (including FEC, FCC and IRS) laws and regulations that govern the legality

of having a debate/forum with only one participant, often called an “empty chair” debate.

In addition, the following policies will apply.

Co-sponsoring a Debate or Forum

The board must approve any co-sponsorship of a debate/forum. In doing so, it should consider carefully

potential effects on the LWVMA’s nonpartisan status or the public’s perception of its nonpartisanship.

LWVMA cannot waive its nonpartisan policy, its general debate/forum policies, or any procedures that

ensure fair treatment of candidates. The LWVMA Policy for Participating in Coalitions should be

followed.

In addition, the following policies will apply.

1. Co-sponsors cannot have endorsed or be affiliated with a candidate prior to the debate/forum.

2. If possible, LWVMA should take the lead in contacting the candidates, negotiating disputes, and controlling the format for a debate/forum that is co-sponsored. If at any time during the planning of the debate/forum the LWVMA believes co-sponsorship of the debate/forum will jeopardize its nonpartisanship, the LWVMA must withdraw from its co-sponsorship.

3. LWVMA will provide the moderator and timekeeper or will approve of them in advance. In noevent shall the moderator be identified as a member of a political party or campaign committee or have any relationship with any of the candidates.

Broadcasting Debates and Forums

1. Any broadcast must comply with all FCC requirements.

2. The debate/forum must include at least two candidates for any one office (FCC requirement).

3. The broadcaster cannot edit the debate/forum and it must be broadcast in its entirety, either live or reasonably soon after the debate. The exception is news media reporting on the event.

4. Candidates cannot use or edit the footage in whole or in part for campaign purposes.

5. The moderator should announce that unauthorized broadcasts are not allowed, except by media reporting on events.

6. The content of the tape/recording belongs to LWVMA and any use of these requires the approval of LWVMA with the caveat that it must be broadcast in its entirety. The footage can be posted in written or streaming audio/video on the League’s website and the website of the broadcaster. The LWVMA may agree to requests by other websites if such a broadcast would not conflict with or might appear to conflict with the LWVMA nonpartisan policy.

The board will review and vote on this policy annually.