Since 1963 there has a been a League of Women Voters in the area. Since its revitalization in 2019 with 15 members, the League of Women Voters of Catawba Valley (LWVCV) has grown its membership, it has both men and women members and they live in the counties of Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba. Here is a retrospective of the highlights during those 60 years.

Most Recently

The reorganization included these early, basic components:

  • By-laws, policies and leadership job descriptions developed

  • Officer and committee chair job descriptions established

  • Website created

  • Twitter and YouTube accounts begun; Facebook re-energized

And has expanded into these reoccurring activities:

  • Monitors the Catawba County Board of Elections and Board of Commissioners meetings.

  • Enjoys relationships with other community organizations such as the Hickory Chapter of the NAACP and Exodus Homes.

  • Produces and distributes to a monthly newsletter. Past editions available here.

Along the way, the League has:

  • Celebrated the Centennial anniversary of the right to vote for most women. Photo album here.

  • Held a wide range of voter registration and candidate events. This year’s photo album.

  • Initiated free student memberships.

  • Developed “League 101” for new member and continuing member education.

  • Made presentations to local civic and community organizations.

  • Highlighted during the impact of redistricting with “Learn About Lines.” Photo album here.

  • Made a massive effort to help inform citizens of voting options during the 2020 election amidst a pandemic with a 5-county “Make a Voting Plan.”

  • C0-hosted with the Hickory Daily Record a candidate forum for the City of Hickory Mayoral Primary and co-hosted a candidate forum for the Catawba County School Board election.

  • Facilitated a Carter Center Town Hall on election integrity for NC District 10.

  • Assisted with poll monitoring through Democracy NC in both the 2020 and 2022 elections.

  • Received a grant from the Southern Leadership for Voter Engagement (SOLVE) then:

    • Designed, displayed, and distributed materials promoting VOTE411.

    • Created eight 60-second video clips, four in English and four in Spanish, on topics that are reusable and relevant regarding municipal and general elections. . See them here.

    • Engaged with University Christian and Hickory High Schools on voter education topics too.

  • C0-hosted with Exodus Homes a program on voting opportunities for the formerly incarcerated

  • Is being guided by its first three-year strategic plan. Available here.

The Earliest Years 1963-2019

From its beginning in 1963 the Catawba County League of Women Voters (LWVCV) had the registration of new voters as its major goal. Providing clear and well researched information for voters on local, state, and national candidates and concerns affecting the people of our county has been its core objective.

Early on, education in the three school systems in the county was a priority. As recorded in newsletters from 1965-66, League members attended all school board meetings, invited school board members from each system to speak at general and unit meetings, and compiled and distributed a bibliography of pertinent reports and educational material. In 1967-68, the League studied the use of supplementary taxes for the school systems and explored the potential of consolidating the three school systems.

Statewide emphasis was on efforts to promote equitable representation in the general assembly with an emphasis on voter qualifications including laws about: voter’s age, literacy, and residence requirements, as well as absentee voting laws as they were locally administered. The local league did not advocate specifically but wrote to the lawmakers urging “the passage of equitable redistricting.”

In the 1970s the League studied and supported the $3 million Clean Water and Sewer Bond.

Throughout the last century, League members continued their commitment to attend the regular meetings of the Board of Commissioners, and the school boards. The local League members worked tirelessly but unsuccessfully with the state League to encourage the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment during the 1980s.

The League has also hosted or co-sponsored: 

  • candidates’ forums, 

  • an annual Coffee with the Legislators that allowed citizens to meet our representatives and share local concerns about pending legislation.

  • voter registration of high school students across the county. 

  • “Kids Voting” that allowed children to research candidates and practice voting.

Men were added to its membership in 1973. In 2003 the LWVCV obtained official permission to modify its name and to include Alexander, Burke, and Caldwell Counties thus becoming the League of Women Voters of Catawba Valley.