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Port Washington-Manhasset

CANDIDATE FORUMS

Voter Service has made the League of Women Voters the foremost nonpartisan volunteer organization in the political arena today. Voter Service is at the heart of the League, core to our mission, and core to the public trust we engender.

PWM Voter Service includes candidate forums and the strictly nonpartisan voter information we offer for new voters and other special populations, for recently changed election information, and our voter guides.

Candidates are willing to appear on our platforms and provide information for our Voter Guides (once always on paper, now electronic Vote411.org/new-york) because candidates have confidence that they will be treated fairly and that the material will not be used for partisan purposes. This same reputation secures the confidence placed in our material by other organizations, newspapers and interested citizens.

Quick Links to content below

Where can I view past forums or learn about upcoming forums?

Our League is proud to have been among the first local Leagues in the nation to provide virtual forums that allow voters to submit questions to candidates both before and DURING virtual forums. In 2020, our League offered more virtual forums than any other NYS League.

Since then we try to record and post all our forums on our YouTube channel, which has a quick handle at

YouTube.com/@LWVofPWM

Playlists for 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 Forums are available.

Upcoming forums are listed on our Website Homepage (LWVofPWM.org) and on our Calendar  — and this page will be regularly updated.

How does PWM choose which Forums it organizes and moderates?

Our PWM League focuses its efforts on races where our members vote.  Every forum we sponsor requires candidates to agree to our League procedures and to appear on time and in person — whether virtual meetings or physical meetings (“in real life” at physical venues).

We seek to find venues and schedule forums soon after whichever election clerk certifies who will be on the ballot and then invite candidates to participate on that date. The proposed date is tentative until  at least two candidates for each seat agree.  If a candidate has a conflict with that date (religious or personal), we assume they will let us know ASAP so that we can attempt to find an available venue and date that works for everyone.

Only candidates who have been certified to have their names printed on the ballot may participate in a League forum, specifically, those certified by the

PWM will also organize and/or provider moderation services — when our capacity allows — for neighboring jurisdictions or sister Leagues when they agree to abide by our League policies and procedures.  A modest honorarium is sometimes requested. For more information, contact President@lwvofpwm.org

In all forums, our PWM League has a “No Empty Chair” policy — which means that for any contested seat, at least two candidates must appear for the forum or it will be canceled.  PWM policy aligns with the LWV of NYS and the LWV of US policies — as a matter of maintaining strict nonpartisanship.

The PWM Voter Services Team

Our team members strictly follow our Voter Services policies and procedures for candidate forums and maintaining nonpartisan processes.  There are many roles for volunteers, some require a handful of hours during forums, others 5-10 hours for a specific month. Moderators receive advanced training.

If you would consider helping serve our communities in this critical role, please email President@lwvofpwm.org

Upcoming & Recent Forums*

*(TBD around contested election and candidate agreement to procedures)

Library forums for Port Washington & Manhasset: April

Board of Education forums for Port Washington & Manhasset, North Shore, Carle Place, Great Neck — before 3rd Tuesday in May election/budget vote

General Election forums in October before first Tuesday after first Monday in November:

In years that can be divided by 4:

President/Vice President (4-yr terms)
US Senate (2 Senators in 6-yr terms)

In years divisible by 2:

US Congress (2-yr terms)
NY Senate (2-yr terms)
NY Assembly (2-yr terms)
NY Governor, Ltn Governor, Comptroller, Attorney General (4-yr terms)

In odd years

Nassau County Supervisor, District Attorney, Comptroller, Clerk (4-yr terms)
Nassau County Legislators (2-yr terms)
Town of N. Hempstead Supervisor & Council Members (2-yr terms)
City of Glen Cove Mayor and City Council Members (2-yr terms)

Special District forums for Port Washington & Manhasset: before 2nd Tuesday in December:   Garbage, Parks, Police, Sewer, Water

Who represents you? They Represent You.

ASK US, JOIN US

Whether you have a few hours during election season (or much more), whether you know voter engagement is something you care about (or you want to try it out), or whether whether you just want to be part of a team focused on building community in our PWM area and “Making Democracy Work” — we’d love to hear from you.

Ask Us, Join Us