Proposed Program 2021-2023

Program Positions in Brief

Proposed Issues for Emphasis 2021-2023

Summary

The LWVC Board-recommended Program for 2021-2023 is:

  • Retain all existing LWVC positions 
  • No new study or update study for 2021-2023
  • Adopt the following as Issues for Emphasis for 2021-2023
  • Making Democracy Work in California, with a focus on election reform, voting rights, expanding the electorate, redistricting, money in politics and civic education.
  • Climate Change/Sustainability, including a focus on Water.
  • Housing and Homelessness
  • Criminal Justice Reform, expanding our education and advocacy on policing and criminal justice reform.

Descriptions of these recommended Issues for Emphasis, and details on our current work related to them, are provided below. LWVC engages in a broad portfolio of work within the issue areas of Government, Social Policy, and Natural Resources. Check out these related resources:

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Racial Justice Lenses

The League’s emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and racial justice is an overarching priority that we intentionally weave into all our work. The state League applies an “equity lens” by analyzing what we do from the perspective of how it impacts underrepresented individuals and communities. We look for opportunities to develop representative League leadership and add rich, diverse perspectives to our work by proactively engaging both League members and community partners who are young, Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, have disabilities, are in the LGBTQI+ community, or are otherwise underrepresented.

Program Positions in Brief

Government

CAMPAIGN FINANCING: adopted 1973; updated 1976
Support state campaign finance practices for candidates and advocates of ballot measure positions that will ensure full disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures and enable candidates to compete more equitably for public office.

CONSTITUTION: adopted 1957; updated 1965-67
Support measures to secure an orderly and simplified State Constitution; provisions that enable the legislature to deal with state problems efficiently, flexibly, and with responsibility clearly fixed; and constitutional guarantee of equal representation of all citizens in both houses of the state legislature.

ELECTORAL PROCESS: adopted 2019
Support electoral systems at each level of government that encourage participation, are verifiable and auditable and enhance representation for all voters.

INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM PROCESS: adopted 1984; updated 1999 and 2013
Support citizens’ right of direct legislation through the initiative and referendum process.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS: adopted 1981
Support an efficient, effective, and equitable balance of responsibility and authority among the levels of government with accountability to the public.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES: adopted 1998
Support a public library system as a basic community service with a long-term, assured, stable and adequate funding source.

Support access by all persons to public library services as a major source of knowledge and information necessary for informed, active participation in a democratic society.

REDISTRICTING: adopted 1988; amended 2007
Support a state redistricting process and standards that promote fair and effective representation in the state legislature and in the House of Representatives with maximum opportunity for public scrutiny.

Support an independent commission as the preferred redistricting body.

STATE AND LOCAL FINANCES: adopted 1969; updated 1975; new positions 1976, 1977, 1981, 1995
Support measures to ensure revenues both sufficient and flexible enough to meet changing needs for state and local government services; that contribute to a system of public finance that emphasizes equity and fair sharing of the tax burden as well as adequacy; that include long range finance methods that meet current and future needs while taking into account the cumulative impact of public debt.

Support a process that maintains statutory authority over tax sources, rates and tax expenditures; that makes limited use of direct voting by the public on revenue measures; and that allows adoption of revenue and finance measures by a simple majority vote.

Support the distribution of revenue sources between state and local governments in a manner to ensure adequate, equitable and flexible funding of public programs based on the responsibilities and requirements of each and that emphasizes accountability.

Support an equitable, broad-based local property tax, easy and economical to administer, producing adequate revenue, with limitations on the types of services it funds.

Support assessment practices and policies that are equitable, accurate, easy to understand and well publicized, with like properties treated uniformly.

VOTING RIGHTS: adopted 1972; reviewed 1986
Support measures that will protect every citizen’s right to vote and ensure government’s responsibility to protect this right through regulations and procedures that encourage an informed and active electorate.

Natural Resources

AGRICULTURE: adopted 1983; amended 2015
Support policies that recognize agricultural land as a limited resource that must be preserved for the economic and physical well-being of California and the nation. Appropriate agricultural land should be identified and its long-term protection should be based on regulatory and incentive programs that include comprehensive planning, zoning measures, and other preservation techniques. State policy that affects agriculture should ensure the conservation of soil and water resources through incentives coupled with penalties for noncompliance.

AIR QUALITY: adopted 1971; updated 1973
Support measures to establish air quality standards that will protect the public health and welfare, and the development of effective enforcement and implementation procedures at each level of government to attain these standards.

ENERGY: adopted 1978; updated 1980 and 2006, amended 2007
Support development of a state energy policy that will ensure reliability of energy resources and protection of the environment and public health and safety, at reasonable customer rates, giving primary consideration to conservation and energy efficiency. State government should provide an efficient, coordinated energy administrative structure with open transparent procedures.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS: adopted 1986 and 1987
Support comprehensive measures to provide maximum protection to human health and the environment from the adverse effects of hazardous materials, including pesticides. An integrated approach should be taken to prevent harmful exposures through soil, surface and groundwater contamination, bio-accumulation, air pollution and direct contact. Hazardous materials planning should promote pollution prevention. All levels of government share responsibility for preventing exposures.

LAND USE: adopted 1975
Support state land use planning that recognizes land as a resource as well as a commodity. The state should establish guidelines and standards for land areas of more than local concern. Decisions for these areas should be made at the lowest level of government feasible, but should be subject to state review. Citizens must have a meaningful participation in land use planning and regulation.

SOLID WASTE: adopted 1973
Support measures to assure environmentally sound and efficient solid waste management, to reduce the generations of wastes, to encourage resource recovery, and to increase the demand for secondary materials.

TRANSPORTATION: adopted 1981; revised 1985; new position 1991
Support a transportation system to move people and goods that: includes a variety of transportation modes, with emphasis on increased public transportation services and other viable alternatives to reduce vehicle miles traveled; is efficient, convenient, and cost-effective; is safe and secure; serves all segments of the population and diverse geographic needs; minimizes harmful effects on the environment; is integrated with land use; and is supported by extensive public education.

WATER: adopted 1959; updated 1961, 1967, 1971, 1979
Support measures that promote the management and development of water resources in ways that are beneficial to the environment with emphasis on conservation and high standards of water quality that are appropriate for the intended use.

Social Policy

CHILDREN AND FAMILY ISSUES: adopted 1995
Support for the principles that all children are entitled to safe, nurturing care and that caring for children is a societal as well as a family responsibility.

Support programs and policies that would effectively coordinate and integrate services that meet basic human needs, prevent or reduce poverty and promote self-sufficiency for individuals and families.

CHILD CARE: adopted 1989
Support state and local policies, legislation and programs that meet the need for accessible, affordable, and quality childcare.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM: adopted 2003
Support a statewide community college system with sufficient resources to fulfill its overall goal: to offer all Californians access to a quality higher education.

Resources should be stable, accommodate all enrolling students, be fairly distributed among the college districts, and provide opportunities for long-range planning.

Governance should allow greater authority within the system itself with local districts making key decisions about mission priorities to meet community needs.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE: adopted 2019

The LWV California supports:

  • a criminal justice system that is just, effective, equitable, transparent, and that fosters public trust at all stages, including policing practices, pre-trial procedures, sentencing, incarceration, and re-entry; 
  • the elimination of systemic bias, including the disproportionate policing and incarceration of marginalized communities;
  • policing practices that promote safety for both law enforcement officers and the communities they serve;
  • collaboration between government and community throughout every stage of the criminal justice system;
  • a focus on humane treatment and rehabilitation with the goal of promoting the successful re-entry into communities of those who have been incarcerated; and
  • reliance on evidence-based research in decision-making about law-enforcement programs and policies (including scheduled, periodic audits of program and policy effectiveness).

EDUCATION: PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12: adopted 1973; updated 1985 and 2005
Support a comprehensive pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade public education system that meets the needs of each individual student; challenges all students to reach their highest potential; and develops patterns of lifelong learning and responsible citizenship.

Support improvements in public education, based on access with both equitable and sufficient opportunities to learn for all students.

Support a system of public education funding that is adequate, flexible, equitable, reliable and sustainable; derived from a combination of revenue sources; and distributed fairly to support access and equitable opportunities for all students.

Support formulating broad general guidelines at the state level, with flexibility at the local level for developing and implementing program.

HOUSING: adopted 1970; updated 1973, 1993
Support equal opportunity in housing.

Support measures to provide state programs to increase the supply of safe, decent, and adequate housing for all Californians.

Support action at all levels of government for the provision of affordable housing for all Californians.

JUVENILE JUSTICE/DEPENDENCY: adopted 1997 and 1999; amended 2011
Support a juvenile justice/dependency system that works to prevent child abuse and neglect and juvenile delinquency, that serves foster children and their families and status offenders, and that rehabilitates juvenile offenders, by promoting the safety and well-being of children and helping to prepare them for productive participation in society.

Support early identification of at-risk children and families followed by appropriate referrals to services that work with children, youth, families and schools.

Support community efforts to provide safe supportive environments for children and their families and institutions that respect them and promote non-violent solutions to problems.

Support the rights and best interests of the child in preference to those of any other individual.

LEGAL AID: adopted 1971; revised 1983
Support measures that will enable the judicial system of the state to provide for all citizens adequate access to legal services. Support adequately funded, government supported legal assistance programs that provide legal aid to those unable to pay.

MENTAL HEALTH CARE: adopted 1998
Support an adequately funded mental health care system that provides comprehensive services to the acutely, chronically and seriously mentally ill of all ages; maintains optimal mental health services for all clients; places emphasis on meeting the needs of children; offers mental health services for the homeless; seeks additional funds for preventive services; implements a master plan to integrate services; raises awareness of critical unmet needs; and emphasizes case management.

PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION: adopted 2016
Support a comprehensive system of public higher education that serves the personal, professional, and occupational goals of all adult Californians and advances the social, economic, and civic needs of the state. To achieve these objectives, public higher education must prioritize access, affordability, equity, and excellence. These priorities require state funding, including student financial aid, that is stable, predictable, sustainable, and timely.

Proposed Issues for Emphasis 2021-2023: Descriptions and Recent Action

Making Democracy Work in California

This is a broad area that aligns with national priorities and includes core issues for the League at all levels. It includes League priorities such as election reform, voting rights, expanding the electorate, money in politics, and redistricting. For this biennium, we are adding work on civics education. Making Democracy Work highlights are as follows.

Voting Rights, Expanding the Electorate, and Election Reform

While Californians are not threatened by the voter suppression tactics seen in other states, continued voter participation gaps in California mean that critical issues of local and statewide importance are being made by a predominantly whiter, older, and wealthier electorate that does not represent this state’s demographics.[1] Much of our work is done with an eye toward reducing participation gaps and expanding representative democracy. Major changes in elections continue to be made in California, and local Leagues will have many opportunities for community outreach and education, and to monitor the implementation of new systems. 

Election Day registration, and further improvements to voter registration at the DMV and other agencies, promise to continue expansion of our voter rolls. Universal mailing of ballots to all voters this year, and possibly permanently, along with expanded implementation of the Voter’s Choice Act model,[2] will require vigilance at the local and state League levels to provide robust education and advocate for equitable implementation. While we welcome many of the enlightened changes to California elections, we are always mindful that it will take careful, thoughtful work to ensure that reforms successfully narrow the participation gap for underrepresented voters.

There are many opportunities at the local League level to help make California’s electorate more representative. For example, in 2020, the LWVC was a proponent of Proposition 17, which restored voting rights to people on parole – a disproportionate number of whom are Black or Latino. Our work must continue with grassroots efforts to inform and assist people serving time in county jails or on parole or probation, who often believe they are disenfranchised and are unaware that they have the right to register and vote. To this end, the League partnered with the ACLU to create Voting in California Jails: A Community Toolkit. Published in 2020, this guide is jam-packed with resources and best practices to guide local Leagues and other groups as they help people in jails participate in our democracy.

While the Future of California Elections (FOCE) is no longer a stand-alone organization, the former members – election administrators, civil rights organizations, and election reform advocates – continue to collaborate to improve California elections. The LWVC has undertaken a leadership role in convening meetings of the newly constituted “Future of California Elections Network” and the helpful materials are still hosted on the website.

Money in Politics

This continues to be a high priority for League members. In 2019 we successfully advocated for a default limit of $4,700 for contributions to candidates running for local elected city and county offices in jurisdictions that have not adopted their own contribution limits. Local Leagues can encourage their cities, counties, and districts to establish limits appropriate to their communities. We continue to support legislation requiring campaign finance transparency, and this year we have extended that work to lobbying transparency. We also watch-dog the implementation of the state’s Cal-Access replacement system (CARS) for online disclosure. Finally League volunteers monitor the work of the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) and represent us as members of its Digital Transparency Task Force.

Redistricting

We are now immersed in redistricting across California. We vigilantly monitor the work of the state Citizens Redistricting Commission and advocate to ensure that opportunities for public comment are robust and equitable. This task has been complicated by delays in the release of federal census data. We also support local redistricting efforts at the city, county and school district levels. We keep an eye on local efforts and speak out as needed to urge compliance with the 2019 Fair Maps Act, co-sponsored by the LWVC with partners California Common Cause, Mi Familia Vota and Asian Americans Advancing Justice. This new state law, signed by Governor Newsom in 2019, requires local jurisdictions to redistrict and adopt new boundaries based on new federal census data and establishes criteria and timelines for doing so. This is important work for the League to help ensure an open and transparent process. Leagues can use the FairMaps California Local Redistricting Toolkit to learn more about the process and how to get involved. 

Civics Education Related to Making Democracy Work

While the League’s founding principles are based on the belief that democratic government depends on both informed and engaged participation, we have to acknowledge that California is not an easy place to either engage in the process or be a voter. It is difficult to understand complex public policy issues and to access the corridors of power to engage in meaningful public participation. And when it comes to voting, our ballots are very long and hard to comprehend – according to a Public Policy Institute of California October 2020 report, 82 percent of likely voters reported confusion due to complicated ballot language. Studies have also shown that people are often confused about who or what to vote for. 

Local Leagues play a key role in Making Democracy Work through Voter Service and by providing basic, accessible, plain language civics education regarding how democratic government works. This includes explaining voting rights, the voting process (like highlighting the availability of online registration, Same Day Registration, pre-registration for youth 16 and 17 years old, and how to vote by mail), and how to make an impact with public participation. The state League offers tools to support local Leagues with civics education. Among them are the cavotes.org website, the voting information section of Voter’s Edge, and the Easy Voter Guide project. Local Leagues can also encourage expanded voter use of our multilingual online election guides – Voter’s Edge and the Easy Voter Guide. 

Climate Change and Sustainability, including a focus on Water Resources

Climate change impacts nearly everything – threatening agriculture, infrastructure, public health, forests, and indeed, our democracy. Climate change is a key focus for Leagues across our state. Nearly all of our local Leagues are participating in the LWVC Climate Change Task Force, which helps connect Leagues working on similar climate efforts. Prior to the pandemic the Task Force conducted regional forums to combine League efforts. They continue to hold events virtually, advocate for climate legislation, and provide resources and ideas to local Leagues. Connect by emailing climatechange@lwvc.org.

We include a focus on water resources because it is an area that was singled out in the Program Planning responses, and where we have a dedicated forum for California League members to discuss regional and inter-regional water issues. Connect by joining the lwvc-water Google group.

Housing and Homelessness

The need for housing, of different types and to meet different needs, continues to be highly rated in many Program Planning responses. From Meeting Basic Human Needs (everyone should have a safe place to live) to Land Use, Transportation, and Climate Change, this is an issue that is covered by a large number of our positions and affects all parts of the state. Needs are different in different areas. Some communities may have a greater need for permanent supportive housing for the formerly homeless while others need homelessness prevention, more family housing. or senior housing. Most areas need some level of state (and federal) support to address unmet needs. This is recommended as an area for education as well as advocacy during the next biennium. 

In 2020, the LWVC Board voted to adopt a new Homelessness Action Policy, which helps local Leagues understand how our existing positions can be used to address homelessness. The policy, developed by a state Task Force on Homelessness, will be discussed at a Convention workshop. In addition, a state-level Housing and Homelessness Committee has been newly formed, and its members are developing toolkits for local League use. These resources will help further increased League education and advocacy in the area.

Criminal Justice Reform

For almost 100 years the League has remained vital and relevant by striving for an equitable society, studying its profound injustices, and advocating for effective remedies. One of the most compelling issues of our time is criminal justice reform. 

Policing, sentencing, and incarceration are too often failing to serve justice or improve public safety. We currently spend billions of dollars at a state, county, and local level on a system that sustains significant inequalities by victimizing, overpolicing, and disproportionately incarcerating the poor and Black, Latino, Indigenous, and other people of color.

Using the new Criminal Justice position adopted at the 2019 state convention, the LWVC was well positioned to act on a number of bills and ballot measures. During the 2020 session, the LWVC co-sponsored the Racial Justice Act and supported a number of important criminal justice reform bills, many of which were signed into law. We continue that work and are currently co-sponsoring the Racial Justice for All Act, a follow-on to last year’s bill.

Local Leagues are encouraged to use the Criminal Justice position to engage in education and advocacy in their local communities on issues related to policing, pre-trial diversion, sentencing, incarceration, and re-entry to make our criminal justice system more equitable. To support local Leagues and to continue to focus on seek equity in our justice system, a statewide Criminal Justice Committee brings together League members to work on this important issue. For more information, visit the LWVC Criminal Justice page. The committee has also developed resources and a toolkit for local action. 

How to Engage 

There are three different ways to engage with each of the issues recommended for education and advocacy in the 2021-2023 biennium.

  • Advocate: Each of the issues is based on positions adopted after League study and member agreement. Unlike many single-issue organizations, the League brings a balanced view to the table. Instead of focusing on a special constituency, we base our positions and action on the overall public good. Advocacy can be at the local and regional levels as well as at the state legislature and state agencies.
  • Educate: One of the League’s strengths is providing nonpartisan information and helping people understand public policy and electoral issues, decisions that need to be made, and the consequences of these decisions. We empower our fellow Californians to comprehend the issues and their options, engage in civil discourse, and participate with confidence.
  • Promote Community Leadership: Along with educating community members about decisions we make as communities and as a society at large, we provide tools to help people make their voices heard, offer an understanding as to how the decisions being made will affect lives, and lend insight into how to access venues to provide meaningful public input. The League partners with other community-based organizations and works on solutions to public policy problems that will foster equity.

For more information on how to engage, check out the Speaking with One Voice: LWVC Advocacy Policy Explainer.

[1] U.S. Census, Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2018 (Tables 4b, 4c, 6, and 7), available at bit.ly/CensusVRData; Romero, Mindy S., Center for Inclusive Democracy, USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, November 2020 General Election: Latino and Asian-American Vote, available at bit.ly/USCPriceReportNov2020; Romero, Mindy S., Center for Inclusive Democracy, USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, California’s Youth Vote: November 2020 Election, available at bit.ly/USCPriceYouthNov2020.

[2] Under the Voter’s Choice Act ballots are mailed to all registered voters before an election. Traditional polling places are replaced by a smaller number of full-service Vote Centers. Voters may choose to return ballots through the mail, at a ballot dropbox, or in-person at any Vote Center during an 11-day voting period. Services at Vote Centers include: voting, getting a replacement mail ballot, Same Day Voter Registration, accessible voting machines, and language support. Diverse community engagement in planning, especially related to locations, outreach, and education, is critical to the success of the new election system. Check out the Voter’s Choice Act Toolkit for Local Leagues to learn more.