The Mission of the League of Humane Voters^® (LOHV) is to create, unite, and strengthen local political action committees, which work to enact animal-friendly legislation and elect candidates for public office who will use their votes and influence for animal protection.

The LOHV recognizes that animal protection requires laws and enforcement. Animal exploitation is a political issue and not just a moral one, and we intend to make animal protection a mainstream political issue by building support among citizens, activists, political parties, candidates and elected representatives.

Those who hold elective office can pass and enforce laws to protect animals. After careful interviews, the LOHV endorses candidates and then campaigns for their election to public office. We then get out the vote and deliver it for our candidates. Once in office, we lobby the office-holders we helped to get elected to help us enact animal protective legislation. LOHV Chapters are independently operating entities. Unlike many animal protection organizations, which are established with the IRS as 501(c3) organizations, contributions to the LOHV are not tax-deductible because of our work to influence the political process. For our existing chapters please visit our chapters page.

The LOHV believes that the animal protective movement needs to establish its political influence first by developing grassroots movements and influence at the local level. While we occasionally support the election of candidates for federal office, our primary focus is on the state, county and municipal levels of government. We believe that our methods can be replicated in throughout the country, and are interested in advising people all across the country in developing animal political advocacy groups.

The LOHV is a strictly non-partisan organization, and has endorsed candidates running on the Democratic, Republican, Green, and Working Families Party lines. We endorse candidates strictly on their expressed commitment to work with us on passing legislation to protect animals and on the strength of their electoral campaigns.