The national League of Women Voters organization, LWVUS, surveyed state and local Leagues which reported these Legislative Priorities. While some issues come and go, as in the just-completed Census, others, like the Equal Rights Amendment have been on both the front burner and the back burner through the decades.
- Election Administration Reforms
- Voter Protection
- Redistricting
- Money in Politics
- Census - now complete
For 2021, the National League dominant issues will focus on the Campaign for Making Democracy Work (R) and the People Powered Fair Maps (R). The elements follow.
Redistricting and Apportionment
Promote model redistricting criteria: Advocate for fair map drawing criteria. This includes maps that comply with the 1965 Voting Rights Act, districts drawn based on the population living there (see Census position on apportionment), and protections for language and racial minorities.
Strengthen protections for communities of color: Protect communities of interest by determining or assessing core values, needs, or desires of the relevant communities for inclusion in map drawing process.
Promote strong transparency requirements: Require hearing dates and times be accessible to the public to view in advance, held in a public setting and have viewer accessibility across multiple platforms, including virtual and in-person options. Implement a reporting requirement on map drawing process.
Defend existing systems: Protect the independent redistricting processes currently in place. Defend recent reforms that passed with voter support in recent and past elections.
Protect state constitutions: Provisions within state constitutions that promote free and fair elections and redistricting should be protected to ensure an avenue to protect maps through state courts. Leagues with these provisions should monitor activity around these provisions and move to protect any challenges that would roll back this language.
Protect apportionment criteria: Ensure that districts are drawn based on total population. Oppose efforts that change apportionment based on citizens or voters.
Support extension of redistricting timelines with data delivery adjustments: With the changes in operational timelines, the release of Census data to states will also be delayed. Leagues should remain proactive about supporting reforms in their states that ensure ample time to draw maps based on adjusted delivery timelines. The result of this scenario will vary by state but can include calling for special sessions, changing candidate filing deadlines to allow time to draw maps as allowable under state election laws, state constitutional changes, and legislative changes for statutory deadlines.
Note: We will continue to work on Redistricting reform through our People Powered Fair Maps (R).
Election Administration Reforms
Embrace voter registration reforms: This list includes reforms that make it easier for voters to register and maintain their voter registration, including permanent and portable options.
Strengthen online voter registration: Make online voter registration accessible to all. Allow voters to check their registration and update their information through a secure online portal.
Expand online absentee ballot tracking: Allow voters to track the status of their absentee ballots online upon request as well as after ballots are mailed.
Promote election day registration (same day registration): Allows voters to register or update their information on Election Day and cast a regular ballot.
Implement automatic voter registration: Automatically register voters at state assistance agencies including the DMV unless they opt out. Reforms should also include safeguards that address the accidental registration of non-citizens (e.g. must be showing of intent) and ensure that protections are in place due to clerical errors.
Protect early voting and absentee voting: Consider legislation or reforms that would expand early voting hours, especially weekend hours before Election Day, and provide voters with the opportunity to request an absentee ballot. Additionally, work to make absentee voting more accessible through removing notary requirements, witness signatures requirements, and mailing all active voters their ballot.
Other issues include Voter Protection, Money in Politics, Climate Change, the Equal Rights Amendment, Justice Reform, the National Popular Vote (NPV) and Reproductive Choice.
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