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Non-profit

League of Women Voters of New Jersey

Location:

Trenton, NJ
Tax ID:

22-1153223
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $308,699
Expenses: $259,125
Assets: $90,850
Founded:

1920 1

References

  1. “League of Women Voters New Jersey.” Cause IQ. Accessed March 17, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/league-of-women-voters-of-new-jersey,221153223/

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

The League of Women Voters of New Jersey is the New Jersey branch of the national League of Women Voters. The organization advocates for policies affecting voting and elections, such as same-day voter registration and campaign finance regulations. 1

The organization promotes abortion access, slavery reparations, a “green amendment” to the state constitution, and driving privileges for illegal immigrants, while opposing to the death penalty. 2

Background

The organization was originally known as the New Jersey League of Women Voters, founded in Newark in April 1920 after women gained the right to vote. By 1924, the League in New Jersey advocated for a bill to sterilize “the chronic feeble-minded, chronic insane or habitual criminals who are mentally defective.” The league played a significant role in the state’s political history by drafting a new state constitution adopted in 1947 that strengthened the office of governor, extended the terms served by legislators, and reorganized the justice system. 3

The League of Women Voters of New Jersey advocates for expanding mail-in voting and same-day voter registration, focuses on in-person early voting education, and informs the public about voting deadlines. 4

Non-Election Advocacy

Abortion

The League of Women Voters of New Jersey did not initially take a position on the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that nationalized abortion law and required liberal abortion access. In April 1982, the state chapter issued its position in favor of the individual right of a woman to get an abortion, but acknowledged the state had a role in regulating the procedure itself. 5

The group advocated for the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act, which was signed into law in January 2023 to establish a state constitutional right to an abortion. Still, the league advocates going a step further in guaranteeing taxpayer funding of abortion with the Reproductive Equity Act. 6 In 2022, League President Jennifer Howard wrote an op-ed supporting two bills respectively for taxpayer-funded abortion and same-day voter registration, arguing that they were needed to “protect our right to the ballot and our right to reproductive health.” She added, “These bills understand that without equitable access to the ballot and without allowing women and their medical providers the right to make shared decisions about pregnancy options, we continue to perpetuate a democracy that only works for some.” 7

In October 2020, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey held an “RBG Legacy Rally” in Plainfield, New Jersey as part of the 2020 national Women’s March to honor the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, considered a liberal icon on the high court. About 300 attended, and speakers included activists supporting pro-abortion policies, environmentalist policies, gun control measures, and LGBT-interest policies. 8

In March 2023, to mark Women’s History Month, the state league authorized the local chapter in Glen Rock, New Jersey to raise money for Just the Pill, a 501(c)(3) organization that helps women get abortion medications and abortion procedures. 9

Slavery Reparations

The League of Women Voters of New Jersey is a member of the Coalition for a New Jersey Reparations Task Force, supporting legislation for slavery reparations in New Jersey. 10

The league hosted a forum on reparations in February 2023 that was co-sponsored by New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Morristown Alumnae Chapter, and Black Lives Matter Morristown. 11

Environmentalism

The League of Women Voters of New Jersey supports a “Green Amendment” to the state constitution, granting every state resident the “right to pure water, clean air, a stable climate and healthy environment.” 12

The league has joined environmentalist organizations in the state to support anti-fossil fuel policies. In 2022, the organization opposed the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission Power Plant in Newark, the Williams Transco’ Regional Energy Access Expansion project, the Woodbridge Power Plant, and the Special Permit for the Gibbstown Liquid Natural Gas export terminal. 13

In an October 2018 statement, the organization said, “we should have a moratorium on all fossil fuel projects including pipelines, gas plants, and compressor stations.” It called for changing from diesel power trucks and trains to electric, implementing new solar panel technology, and stated that wind energy is achievable “within a few years.” 14

In 2020, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey supported a bill that would stop “environmental racism,” arguing that minorities bear a greater burden for pollution. The bill would require the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to review permit applications based on the cumulative impacts of toxic emissions from polluting facilities in a specific neighborhood. The league signed onto a July 2020 letter to state lawmakers advocating for the bill that argued: ”Let’s not just say Black Lives Matter, let’s mean it, justice delayed is justice denied.” 15

The group joined a coalition of various left-leaning and environmental groups called Empower NJ. The coalition’s slogan is “No Fossil Fuel Projects.” Empower NJ has pressured New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) to take more sweeping action to stop pending fossil fuel projects and greenhouse emissions. 16

Separately, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey joined with other groups such as Blue Wave NJ, Environment New Jersey, and the NJ Action Fund to demand that Gov. Murphy cut greenhouse gases in the state by 50 percent by 2030. 17

It pushed a ban on natural-gas fracking in the Delaware River Basin, joining forces with the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, the Catskill Mountainkeeper, the Sierra Club of New Jersey, Food and Water Watch, Clean Water Action and Damascus Citizens for Sustainability. 18

In 2022, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey helped to circulate a petition to the public calling on the Biden administration to reinstate the national ban on transporting liquid natural gas by rail. The league was supporting the effort led by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Berks Gas Truth, Food & Water Watch, and Rail Pollution Protection Pittsburgh. 19

Other Social Issues

The state league opposes the death penalty “under any circumstances and for any type of crime.” 20

The organization supports “driving certificates” for illegal immigrants in the state, granting an authorization to drive in the state short of a driver’s license. It also supports in-state tuition at state universities and colleges for illegal immigrants who graduated high school in New Jersey. 21

The league also wrote to Gov. Phil Murphy to call for new sex-ed curriculum standards in public schools. 22 The league has held forums public schools and public libraries that featured experts on sex education, and took questions from the public. 23 The organization opposes the use of public funds for school choice in non-public schools, but has supported public charter schools. 24

In June 2021, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey joined a lawsuit pushed by the “Abolish the Line” campaign led by the New Jersey Working Families Party to reform the New Jersey ballot design. The plaintiffs argued that the New Jersey primary ballots are designed in columns that prominently feature candidates favored by party officials, and note that no incumbents have lost a primary since 2009. The plaintiffs support removing the “line” and replacing it with a standardized template, which they claim would show no bias. 25

The league wants to restore voting rights to all parolees and probationers who are U.S. citizens in the state. 26

The group supports same-day voter registration in the state. It also opposed a 2022 measure that removed deceased voters from the voting rolls, asserting the election offices could make errors that could not be corrected in time for the election. 27

In 2020, the group intervened in the case of Trump v. Murphy. The case challenged Gov. Phil Murphy’s (D) executive order during that year’s election to automatically send out mail ballots to all registered voters. Jesse Burns, executive director of the league, called the legal challenge to the Murphy order “an attempt by outsiders to sow discord, undermine voters’ confidence, and disrupt safe voter access for New Jerseyans.” 28

The organization is largely dismissive of claims voter fraud. Shortly after state law enforcement charged a Paterson city councilman with election fraud in 2020, the New Jersey league’s executive director Jesse Burns said, “There is a huge myth about voter fraud in this country.” She stated that fraud cases are rare, and said, “This is not a voter fraud issue. It’s crimes being committed against voters.” 29

The League of Women Voters of New Jersey joined a coalition of left-leaning groups led by the New Jersey Working Families Party to organize a get-out-the-vote campaign ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. 30

Leadership

Jennifer M. Howard is president of the board of League of Women Voters of New Jersey. Howard is a practicing OB/GYN physician in New York City and has been a member of the League of Women Voters of the Princeton area since 2013. 31

Iveth Mosquera is the first vice president of the board. Mosquera is director of public relations and development at Matheny, Peapack, NJ, a nonprofit hospital, school, and social services organization. She is vice president of Latinas United for Political Empowerment Fund. 32

Deborah McComber is the second vice president of the board. McComber is a communications consultant for small nonprofits and local businesses. 33

Jesse Burns is the executive director of the league. 34

Natalie Harrington is the development manager of the group. 35

References

  1. “About Us.” League of Women Voters of New Jersey. Accessed April 6, 2023. https://www.lwvnj.org/about/about
  2. “2022 Impact Report.” League of Women Voters of New Jersey. Accessed March 17, 2023. https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/63a323fb022b4817fa20ebdc_2022%20Impact%20Report-r-compressed.pdf
  3. “History.” League of Women Voters of New Jersey. Accessed March 17, 2023. https://www.lwvnj.org/about/history
  4. “2022 Impact Report.” League of Women Voters of New Jersey. Accessed March 17, 2023. https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/63a323fb022b4817fa20ebdc_2022%20Impact%20Report-r-compressed.pdf
  5. Francis, Roberta. “The Pro-Choice League.” Ms. Magazine. January 21, 2022. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://msmagazine.com/2022/01/21/pro-choice-league-of-women-voters/
  6. “2022 Impact Report.” League of Women Voters of New Jersey. Accessed March 17, 2023. https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/63a323fb022b4817fa20ebdc_2022%20Impact%20Report-r-compressed.pdf
  7. Howard, Jennifer. “Women’s (In)Equality Day: The fight for the ballot, our bodies, and democracy.” New Jersey Monitor. August 26, 2022. Accessed March 22, 2023. https://newjerseymonitor.com/2022/08/26/womens-inequality-day-the-fight-for-the-ballot-our-bodies-and-democracy/
  8. Propper, Jennifer. “Advocacy Groups Speak at League of Women Voters “RBG’s Legacy Rally” in Plainfield.” Tap Into. October 18, 2020. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://www.tapinto.net/towns/plainfield/sections/government/articles/advocacy-groups-speak-at-league-of-women-voters-rbg-s-legacy-rally-in-plainfield-video
  9. Greene, Rebecca. “Glen Rock League of Women Voters Raises Funds for ‘Just the Pill’ in Honor of Women’s History Month.” Tap Into. March 21, 2023. Accessed March 22, 2023. https://www.tapinto.net/towns/fair-lawn-slash-glen-rock/sections/giving-back/articles/glen-rock-league-of-women-voters-raises-funds-for-just-the-pill-in-honor-of-women-s-history-month
  10. “2022 Impact Report.” League of Women Voters of New Jersey. Accessed March 17, 2023. https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/63a323fb022b4817fa20ebdc_2022%20Impact%20Report-r-compressed.pdf
  11. Cahill, Frank. “Reparations – What Is It and What Does It Mean For New Jersey?” Parsippany Focus. February 6, 2023. Accessed March 18, 2023. https://parsippanyfocus.com/2023/02/06/reparations-what-is-it-and-what-does-it-mean-for-new-jersey/
  12. “2022 Impact Report.” League of Women Voters of New Jersey. Accessed March 17, 2023. https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/63a323fb022b4817fa20ebdc_2022%20Impact%20Report-r-compressed.pdf
  13. “2022 Impact Report.” League of Women Voters of New Jersey. Accessed March 17, 2023. https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/63a323fb022b4817fa20ebdc_2022%20Impact%20Report-r-compressed.pdf
  14. “Comments on the 2019 Energy Master Plan to the Board of Public Utilities Submitted.” League of Women Voters of New Jersey. Accessed October 12, 2018. Accessed March 26, 2023. https://nj.gov/emp/pdf/general/comment2/Jesse%20Burns%20EMP-2019-comments.pdf
  15. Letter to New Jersey Legislators. Clean Water Action. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://cleanwateraction.org/sites/default/files/Stop%20Environmental%20Racism%20Letter%20%28S232%29%20Legislator%20Letter.pdf
  16. “Our Members.” Empower N.J. Accessed March 25, 2023. http://empowernewjersey.com/our-members/
  17. Morley, Hugh. “NJ Enviros Squeeze Governor on GHG Goals.” RTO Insider. July 25, 2021. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://www.rtoinsider.com/articles/28278-nj-enviros-squeeze-governor-on-ghg-goals
  18. Guerrero, Marisa and Ong, Kimberly. “Fracking Banned in the Delaware River Basin!” Natural Resources Defense Council. February 25, 2021. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://www.nrdc.org/bio/marisa-guerrero/fracking-banned-delaware-river-basin
  19. Press Release. “Petitions Delivered to Biden Administration to Reinstate the National Ban on Transporting LNG by Rail – Put the Public First.” May 18, 2022. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://www.delawareriverkeeper.org/sites/default/files/Petitions%20Delivered%20to%20Biden%20Administration%20to%20Reinstate%20the%20National%20Ban%20on%20Transporting%20LNG%20by%20Rail%20(2022-05-18).pdf
  20. “League of Women Voters of New Jersey STUDY & ACTION 2019 – 2021.” Accessed March 22, 2023. https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/5fce4741e3d939d9a86baa59_SA%202019-2021_Final.pdf
  21. “League of Women Voters of New Jersey STUDY & ACTION 2019 – 2021.” Accessed March 22, 2023. https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/5fce4741e3d939d9a86baa59_SA%202019-2021_Final.pdf
  22. “2022 Impact Report.” League of Women Voters of New Jersey. Accessed March 17, 2023. https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/63a323fb022b4817fa20ebdc_2022%20Impact%20Report-r-compressed.pdf
  23. Friedensohn, Brett. “Panelists discuss sex ed standards at League of Women Voters forum.” Hanover Eagle. March 21, 2023. Accessed March 22, 2023. https://www.newjerseyhills.com/hanover_eagle/news/panelists-discuss-sex-ed-standards-at-league-of-women-voters-forum/article_983f370c-c738-11ed-9d03-87cc9af553bf.html
  24. “League of Women Voters of New Jersey STUDY & ACTION 2019 – 2021.” Accessed March 22, 2023. https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/5fce4741e3d939d9a86baa59_SA%202019-2021_Final.pdf
  25. “Legal Timeline.” Abolish the Line. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://www.abolishtheline.org/legal-timeline
  26. “League of Women Voters of New Jersey STUDY & ACTION 2019 – 2021.” Accessed March 22, 2023. https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/5fce4741e3d939d9a86baa59_SA%202019-2021_Final.pdf
  27.  “2022 Impact Report.” League of Women Voters of New Jersey. Accessed March 17, 2023. https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/63a323fb022b4817fa20ebdc_2022%20Impact%20Report-r-compressed.pdf
  28. Press Release. “League of Women Voters of New Jersey Seeks to Intervene in Vote by Mail Case.” League of Women Voters. September 1, 2020. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/league-women-voters-new-jersey-seeks-intervene-vote-mail-case
  29. Hernandez, Joe. “N.J. Election Fraud Case Draws A Trump Tweet But Suggests Safeguards Are Working.” WGBH 89.7. July 1, 2020. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://www.wgbh.org/news/politics/2020/07/01/n-j-election-fraud-case-draws-a-trump-tweet-but-suggests-safeguards-are-working
  30. Press Release. “New Jersey Working Families Party partners with organizations serving underrepresented communities through the We the People democracy coalition.” Insider NJ. November 7, 2022. Accessed March 18, 2023. https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/new-jersey-working-families-party-partners-with-organizations-serving-underrepresented-communities-through-the-we-the-people-democracy-coalition/
  31. “Leadership and Staff.” League of Women Voters of New Jersey. Accessed March 17, 2023. https://www.lwvnj.org/about/leadership-and-staff
  32. “Leadership and Staff.” League of Women Voters of New Jersey. Accessed March 17, 2023. https://www.lwvnj.org/about/leadership-and-staff
  33. “Leadership and Staff.” League of Women Voters of New Jersey. Accessed March 17, 2023. https://www.lwvnj.org/about/leadership-and-staff
  34. “Leadership and Staff.” League of Women Voters of New Jersey. Accessed March 17, 2023. https://www.lwvnj.org/about/leadership-and-staff
  35.  “Leadership and Staff.” League of Women Voters of New Jersey. Accessed March 17, 2023. https://www.lwvnj.org/about/leadership-and-staff
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: June - May
  • Tax Exemption Received: September 1, 1969

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Jun Form 990 $308,699 $259,125 $90,850 $14,302 N $117,459 $42,159 $4 $75,991
    2019 Jun Form 990 $211,486 $241,678 $37,523 $9,063 N $39,250 $53,826 $12 $65,048 PDF
    2018 Jun Form 990 $178,466 $177,279 $70,328 $10,519 N $57,108 $35,899 $0 $62,241 PDF
    2017 Jun Form 990 $204,601 $180,484 $66,583 $7,961 N $39,756 $44,747 $0 $63,717
    2016 Jun Form 990 $206,480 $191,631 $44,686 $10,182 N $45,787 $32,014 $0 $74,424
    2015 Jun Form 990EZ $68,556 $67,833 $28,298 $8,643 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2014 Jun Form 990EZ $63,545 $81,694 $25,016 $6,086 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2013 Jun Form 990EZ $81,227 $104,534 $40,999 $3,920 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2012 Jun Form 990EZ $91,500 $89,229 $61,017 $631 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2011 Jun Form 990EZ $90,471 $95,674 $58,841 $726 $0 $0 $0 $0

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    League of Women Voters of New Jersey

    204 West State St.
    Trenton, NJ 08608