League of Women Voters 
Federal and State Issues and Positions

From advancing health care to protecting the environment, voters care about many issues. At the federal, state, and local level, the League of Women Voters promotes social and economic justice as well as the health and safety of all Americans.

Both the LWV of the US and the State of Illinois study the issues and update their position statements regularly. The following page provides information about current positions. For more detailed reading, we have provided links to the US and state Leagues' websites.​

League of Women Voters of the United States

Since 1920, the League of Women Voters of the US (LWVUS) has been an activist, grassroots organization whose leaders believed that people should play a critical role in democracy. Throughout the years, the League has continued its dual purposes of education and advocacy by engaging in studies on representative government, international relations, natural resources, and social policy.

In April, 2023, the LWVUS released its guide to public policy positions for 2022-2024. The guide, Impact on Issues, is designed to help League members use LWVUS public policy positions effectively at the national, state, local, and regional levels. The intention is to inspire Leagues to use national positions to act in their own communities. Major themes are outlined here.

Representative Government

Promote an open governmental system that is representative, accountable, and responsive. 

The LWVUS has proposed policies regarding:

• Protecting and expanding voting rights  
• Election processes, Congressional and legislative apportionment, redistricting, and the Electoral System 
• Citizens' right to understand and participate in government decision-making
• Constitutional amendment proposals and Constitutional Conventions
• Accountability, effectiveness, transparency, and the balance of power between Congress and the Presidency
• Transfer of governmental services, assets, and functions to the private sector
• Digital access and equity

Natural
​Resources

Promote an environment beneficial to all life through the protection and wise management of natural resources, for present and future generations

In the area of resource management, we promote and support:

• Long-range planning of natural resources protection by local governments, businesses, and industrial entities 
• Water resource conservation programs, policies, and projects
• The wise use of energy resources sources, emphasizing energy conservation and exploration of sustainable energy technologies 
• Land-use planning that emphasizes conservation and protection of natural resources, historic and cultural sites, wildlife habitat, and significant geological sites
• Continued improvements in park and recreation administration, financing, programs, and facilities

In the area of environmental protection, we promote and support:

• Measures to reduce pollution, especially CO2 emissions, through both enforcement and incentives 
• Policies that ensure safe treatment, transport, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste
• Measures to encourage reuse and recycling of appropriate waste materials
• Public education of county-wide environmental issues and public participation in relevant decision-making

Local Government

Encourage local government entities to seek out, recognize, and endeavor to meet the needs of all members of the community

To promote quality and responsiveness of local government, we encourage:

• Elected officials to be accessible to all citizens
• Meetings of local government to be open and accessible to the public
• Public participation to be included as an agenda item at all public meetings
• Public hearings as an integral and well-published component of all planning processes
• The creation of neighborhood associations as a vehicle for expanding citizen involvement in local government
• Local governments to develop comprehensive and easy to use technology for public communication
• Programs and policies to prevent or reduce poverty and to promote self-sufficiency for individuals and families

We also encourage intergovernmental cooperation and the elimination or consolidation of services to reduce cost and make delivery of public services more efficient and accessible. 

Judicial
​System

Support initiatives to maintain and improve the judicial system in Champaign County

We promote and support:

• Courthouse facilities that meet Illinois Supreme Court standards, adequate security for the courthouse and individual courtrooms, and special and safe accommodations for children involved in judicial proceedings 
• Correctional and detention facility programs that meet state standards, including the screening and care of mentally ill detainees
• Participation in the jury selection process by all eligible citizens 
• Exploration and utilization of alternatives to imprisonment as warranted and the elimination of mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses
• Equity in the juvenile justice system

---

Past Issues

​County Governance Study:  In August 2022, after a period of study and discussion,   LWVCC completed a Consensus Study related to County governance. Follow these links to learn more.

• LWVCC discussion meeting, September 7, 2022  Watch the video on YouTube. 
•  Final Task Force Report

---