Positions

Information for 2026 LWVUS Program Planning Session on February 19 and for Delegates attending LWVUS Convention June 25-28, 2026

January-March is LWVUS Program Planning Survey time, that biannual opportunity to, among other things, get concurrences on the LWVUS Convention Program Planning agenda. 

NOTE: Concurrences must be considered as they are written. The wording cannot be amended. We have three proposed Concurrences to consider on February 19:

1. LWVUS Privatization Position Update Concurrence - League of Women Voters of Port Washington Manhasset (PWM) 

Background: Last June, LWV NYS concurred with PWM so that New York now has a far more useful privatization position for Albany advocacy — from deprivatizing Medicaid MLTC, to prohibiting for-profit hospices (signed in 2025), to NYS manufacturing generic and out-of-stock prescription drugs at cost for New Yorkers.

LWV PWM (with the support of the state Leagues of NY and VT, as well as the LWV Healthcare Reform Interest Group/HCR4US) is now seeking to have the PWM Update adopted by concurrence at LWVUS Convention 2026 in June.

Proposed Position:

The League believes that healthcare, like other programs that provide and protect basic human needs should be considered a public good. The League favors a system where fiduciary responsibility (for such programs) is to patients and the public. Because private for-profit corporations have a fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders rather than to patients or public health, the League believes the for-profit business model for healthcare is inappropriate for the common good or to meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable members of society. In sum, the League opposes further privatization of needed healthcare.Where private entities fail to deliver on programs that provide and protect basic human needs, the League supports de-privatizing them.

2. Protecting Immigration Position Concurrence - League of Women Voters of Washington State 

Background: The League of Women Voters adopted a national position on immigration in 2008. That position focuses primarily on the admission of immigrants and their right to due process. The position on immigration does not address many issues affecting the lives of immigrants and their families after entry into the United States. The LWVWA position fills that gap.

The LWVWA position on protecting the rights of immigrants in the U.S. is based on an objective and nonpartisan analysis of the situation of immigrants. The resulting report, Welcoming Immigrants to Washington State, was the culmination of two years of work and is fully supported by careful data and research, including dozens of interviews with immigrants and other stakeholders.

Proposed Position: 

The League of Women Voters believes that all residents, regardless of immigration status or citizenship, should be treated with dignity and respect. This means that residents, regardless of immigration status or citizenship, should have access to essential state-funded services, have the opportunity to avail themselves of legal representation in court and immigration proceedings, and have the opportunity to live and work in safety. The League encourages all elected officials and government leaders to take action to ensure these fundamental rights. It also means that political leaders have an obligation to condemn xenophobia, discrimination, and anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Specifically, the League believes

I-1: Xenophobia, racism, discrimination against immigrants, and anti-immigration rhetoric must be condemned at all levels of government, business, and civil society. Elected officials and government leaders should take clear and consistent actions to counter these threats to democracy. 

I-2: States should encourage federal policies that protect the rights of immigrants, including through litigation when necessary.

I-3: States should take leadership in ensuring access to legal services for all persons, regardless of immigration status. This is particularly important for immigrants in removal proceedings. 

I-4: State and local governments should seek to provide essential services to all residents, regardless of immigration status. 

I-5: States should take steps to ensure effective coordination among state agencies and other organizations that interact with immigrants and refugees, including funding to permit such coordination. 

I-6: States should ensure safe working conditions, fair pay and benefits, and the right to unionize for all workers, regardless of immigration status. 

I-7: States should urge the federal government to issue timely work authorization permits to immigrants and refugees.

Current Immigration Position, page 167, Impact on Issues 2024-2026

3. Religious Nationalism Position Concurrence - League of Women Voters of Colorado

Proposed Position: 

The League of Women Voters of Colorado stands for the separation of church and state and religious freedom founded upon individual conscience, free of social or political influence by any state or religious body; these fundamental civil rights are threatened by religious nationalism.

The First Amendment of the US Constitution reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The League of Women Voters of Colorado believes that the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment are cornerstones of our democracy.

Proposed Religious Nationalism Study Group Paper:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TSKbstk-1xwzveDvbFxtzEd9kenLQFH8/view?usp=sharing 

Study Groups Videos and Slides:

https://lwvcolorado.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=314195&module_id=676488

Current League Positions

Local League Studies

LOCAL LEAGUE STUDY

What type of County Legislative Body would best represent the people of Saratoga County?

June 2025: LWV of Saratoga County members adopted this local study (PDF) at the League’s Annual Meeting.

November 2025: Groundwork for the study was presented in a Zoom meeting on November 20, 2025. In this forum, the League explored the various types of County Legislative Bodies allowable under NYS Law, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and the way our County Board of Supervisors currently functions. Jeff Wice, Senior Fellow at the New York Law School and Director of New York Elections, Census, and Redistricting Institute presented alongside the Study Team. Review the slide deck and watch the recording on YouTube: Our County Government: Is it Fair?  

On January 27th, members will consider concurrence with a proposed position in support of a County Legislature as the most representative form of county government for Saratoga County. Read the full statement. All members are encouraged to participate as this statement, if adopted, will form the basis for future advocacy by the League.

State League Studies

The League’s study process is the way we develop positions on issues. Our recent state studies consensus results were announced at the State Convention June 20-22.

Both the Rank Choice Voting and Primary Systems statement of that study were approved and are now part of the LWVNYS positions on Election Law. 

Rank Choice Voting

  • The League of Women Voters of New York State supports the use of ranked-choice voting (a.k.a., instant runoff voting), in primary, general and/or special elections to elect federal, state and/or local officials. 

  • With the adoption of any electoral system, the League believes that education of the voting public is important, and funding for startup and voter education should be allocated. 

Primary Systems 

  • The League of Women Voters of New York State supports changing from a closed partisan primary system to a primary system, including a nonpartisan primary system, that allows all registered voters to participate, regardless of party affiliation or lack thereof. 

  • We support the use of nonpartisan primaries to elect federal, state, and local officials. 


For the Voting Systems Approval Process study, the first statement was approved, and the second statement did not reach the required 2/3 level of approval. 

Voting Systems Approval Proces

The League of Women Voters of New York State believes that a more transparent and open voting systems approval process would improve voter understanding of, and confidence in, our elections. 

  • Support for greater transparency and public input in the approval process, including increased demonstrations open to the public, followed by a comment period. 

  • Public demonstrations should be scheduled to provide public input earlier in the certification process. 

National League Studies

Federal Judiciary consensus reached

The League of Women Voters National Board announces the adoption of the new League position on the Federal Judiciary.

Member participation in studies matters!

Study Consensus process

The League chooses issues at the federal, state and local levels for its members to study. Through its consensus/concurrence process, the League examines all aspects of a selected subject and tries to reach agreement on which to base a position. The League's reputation for fairness rests on its practice of thorough and impartial study. Members discuss the issues; pros and cons are researched; and everyone has an opportunity to express an opinion. Once the League has a position on an issue, material is published to promote that position, always ensuring the distinction between League action on specific issues and the League’s nonpartisan voter information.