Upcoming Changes Effective Week of February 3, 2025
Membership System for
National, State, and Local Leagues
What Is Changing & Why
What is Changing
The week of 2/3/2025, LWVUS will be implementing a new central membership system, LWV Membership.
Why is this Changing
• Expand and diversify membership by eliminating financial barriers to participation.
• Adjust division of dues among national, state, and local chapters to increase funding of state-level leagues where most voting rights advocacy takes place.
• Simplify the process of joining the League or renewing.
• Streamline administrative efforts at all levels.
What Parts of Membership are
Changing
• Currently, our annual dues are $65.
• In 2025, we will be moving to a variable dues amount with a LWVUS recommended annual rate of $75 or you can remain at $65 or Pay What You Can, which means any amount with the minimum amount of $20 annually.
• There will no longer be a distinct Student Membership designation.
• There will no longer be a distinct “Household Membership” designation.
• The percentage of dues distribution between national, state and local leagues will be changing.
• Credit Card/Debit Card and US Bank Account (ACH) will be the preferred forms of membership payment.
Current Membership
• When you join the league, you automatically become a member of the North Carolina League and the National League.
• With that membership, a portion of your $65 membership fee is paid to North Carolina League and National League.
• Currently our local league retains $21 of the $65. Our state league retains $12 and National league retains $32.
• With the new percentage rates our local league will retain $13 of the $65. Our state league will retain $30.55 and National league will retain $21.45.
What Steps Will Be Required
- All members will be required to have their own individual email address. This will be used as their user ID to sign in to the new LWV Membership system.
What Happens Next
• When the new membership system launches in February 2025, you will receive an email to log in to LWV Membership system and “activate your membership”.
• You can choose the link to “activate your membership” OR you can wait until you receive your renewal reminder and “activate your membership” at the time of your renewal by going to our website and selecting the join/renew button.
• The Join/Renew button will connect you to the LWV membership system. You will enter your email and you will be sent a code to log in to the LWV membership system. Follow the screen prompts to renew.
• Payment options are Credit Card/Debit Card or US Bank Account (ACH).
• After the payment screen you will be given an option to continue to the portal to answer a few demographic questions posed by LWVUS.
• NOTE: If you do not have access to a Credit Card/Debit Card or US Bank Account (ACH) and need to pay by paper check, DO NOT LOG IN TO THE LWV MEMBERSHIP SYSTEM.
• You will be required to download, print and mail the Join/Renew Form found on our website along with your check. Checks must be made out to LWVUS. Once received, your information will be manually entered into the LWV membership system and your check mailed to LWVUS.
Going Forward
• On a member level, we hope these changes will make managing your membership easier. On a League level, this is expected to increase membership around the country and increase our ability to empower voters and defend democracy.
• A team of League leaders will be available to assist members logging in to LWV Membership Portal to renew.
• Attached you will find written step by step instructions along with screen shots on how to renew your membership.
• We will continue to keep you updated as more information becomes available via eblasts, newsletter and our league website.
New Membership System FAQs
1/28/2025