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About our candidate forums and statements
Educated and informed voters are the key to our democracy. Our nonpartisan candidate forums and statements are longstanding, trusted sources of information for San Franciscans to learn who’s on their ballot, use their power, and vote!
Being nonpartisan is our strength
LWVSF is nonpartisan, which means we do not support or oppose candidates or political parties. We are political and take positions on issues. Our nonpartisan stance is why so many people rely on and trust us when an election is approaching.
Our candidate forums and statements are sometimes a voter’s only chance to hear directly from candidates in a way that goes beyond sound bites and campaign mailers.
If you’re interested in partnering, email us or donate to support our voter education. Media should email our Communications Committee.
About the candidate forums
LWVSF's candidate forums are events where people running for local office answer voters' questions about policy and issues.
Our forums are for everyone. We never charge money to attend a forum, though people are welcome to make a donation to support our voter education.
Due to space constraints, we may limit the number of in-person attendees. Whenever possible, we livestream and share closed captioned recordings so everyone can hear from the candidates.
We do a lot to keep bias out of our forums and avoid favoring or contributing to any candidate. Here are some highlights:
- All candidates that meet the League's qualification criteria are invited. Not all candidates choose to participate.
- We do not hold a forum when only one candidate for that office agrees to participate.
- We're volunteer-led and sometimes do not have the resources to hold a forum for a particular office.
- Generally, every candidate gets asked the same questions and has the same time to respond. For races with a lot of candidates, we may alternate who answers which questions.
- We select the questions from those submitted in advance by attendees.
- Every candidate gets the same time for opening and closing statements.
- LWVSF holds forums, not debates. Candidates are asked to focus on their stances and policies, not their opponents. Personal attacks are not allowed.
- We post unedited recordings of candidate forums. Candidates must promise to not use video snippets of the forum to disparage another candidate.
- Campaign banners, signs, literature, handouts, buttons, clothing, or other campaign paraphernalia are not allowed in the venue until after the forum.
- The views expressed at the forum are those of the candidates, not LWVSF.
Why we don’t do forums with only one candidate
The public trusts the League of Women Voter's reputation for providing unbiased, neutral election information. When a candidate decides not to participate in one of our nonpartisan forums, it is a loss for all voters.
LWVSF does not hold a forum if only one candidate for that office agrees to participate — no matter the reason the other candidates don't participate.
A one-candidate or “empty chair” event could be perceived as a partisan endorsement of or contribution to the candidate who participates. Forums with only one candidate are prohibited by federal laws and regulations, and also by the national League's policies.
About our candidate statements
LWVSF's candidate statements are short videos where people running for local office share their platforms and qualifications.
We produce candidate statements in partnership with SFGovTV, the San Francisco government access television station.
The two-minute videos are broadcast on a SFGovTV cable channel and shared on SFGovTV’s YouTube channel and LWVSF’s YouTube channel.
We've designed the candidate statements to ensure fairness, neutrality, nonpartisanship, and civility. Here are some highlights:
- All candidates that meet the League's qualification criteria are invited. Not all candidates choose to participate.
- Candidates register for a twenty-minute slot in the recording studio. Slots are first come, first served.
- Each candidate has the same two minutes for their statement. Longer statements are truncated.
- Candidates may record multiple takes and select which take to air. The take is not edited.
- Candidates are recorded on the same background with the same shot composition.
- Props and visual aids are not allowed, and candidates may not wear clothing or items that promote a candidate or issue position.
- Candidates are asked to focus on their stances and policies, not their opponent's. Personal attacks are not allowed. They cannot mention other candidates, elected officials, or propositions by name.
- The views expressed in the statements are those of the candidates, not LWVSF.
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