General Election Candidate Forums Planned for Public Benefit

Upholding its long tradition, the League of Women Voters of Bucks County (LWVBC) has begun work on nonpartisan candidate forums ahead of the General Election on November 6. Six forums are currently planned in October for voters of Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District, the 6th and 10th Pennsylvania State Senate Districts and the 143rd and 144th Pennsylvania House of Representatives Districts. Candidates running in those districts have received invitations and many have already committed to participate. As details become final, information will be posted on the League’s website at http://www.lwvbucks.org.

Judith Clarke, who recently stepped down after 15 years of coordinating candidate forums for LWVBC and who has moderated forums for 12 of those years, noted that “The League of Women Voters never supports nor opposes any candidate and insures that its’ forums are conducted civilly. All candidates are given exactly the same questions and amount of time to present their positions on the issues so that voters are able to choose candidates they feel would best represent them.” Trained League members living outside the legislative district in question moderate the League forums, adding another measure of impartiality. LWVBC member Connie Borichevsky, who has served as a moderator for more than fifteen years said, “Our candidate forums and debates are always nonpartisan. Questions are never given to candidates ahead of time and questions submitted by the audience are screened by League members for relevance, duplication and propriety.” Other forum rules that encourage civility and nonpartisanship include requiring the audience to refrain from applause and outbursts and not allowing campaign or partisan material, posters, etc. to be displayed during the forum. Videotaping by the audience is not allowed, to reduce the risk of candidates’ comments being taken out of context and misused.

Currently the LWVBC, one of more than 700 state and local leagues, is the second largest chapter in Pennsylvania. While working locally, the LWVBC is a chapter of the state and national League of Women Voters. Several members of the local League are headed to Chicago for the League of Women Voters’ 53rd National Convention to be held June 28 to July 1. Men and women in Bucks County over the age of sixteen are welcome to join the League.