The League of Women Voters of Carrollton-Carroll County, formerly the Carrollton League of Women Voters, began organizational meetings in November 1960, became a provisional League in 1961, and received its charter from the national League in 1962. In 1974, the League’s bylaws were changed to allow men to join with full voting member status. The League became a county-wide organization in 1975. Articles of Incorporation were filed in March 1982. Projects have included examining and educating the public regarding representation in Georgia’s legislature, water conservation, state redistricting, school improvements, political forums for candidates, an increase in sales tax, city and county elections, increasing voter turnout, local election laws and voting procedures, a county land use plan, the Equal Rights Amendment, campaign finance reform, sexual assault laws, and coastal zone management. The League has been instrumental in helping to change county government from the single commissioner form to a multi-commissioner form, opening a recycling center, and establishing a scholarship fund for graduate and undergraduate students in political science at West Georgia College.

The League works to affect the legislative process in two ways. The first is to study issues and to oppose or support items of legislation as a result of their study, taking action (publishing studies and conclusions, letter writing, lobbying, etc.) to pass or defeat legislation. The second way is through voter services, which includes presentation of candidate forums, the publication of information explaining issues of the day, and assistance with voter registration. The League maintains a strict nonpartisanship stance with regard to candidates and political parties, neither supporting nor opposing any candidate for public office.

Work of this chapter includes monitoring voter registration events in the mid-1980s under the Voting Rights Act Monitoring and Litigation Project, and a Water Study conducted in the late 1990s to discover what the Carroll County Water Authority was doing to ensure a long-term water supply for the county. The chapter also regularly presents voter guides, educational events (such as the Floyd Hoskins “Great Decisions” program), and forums for political candidates.