Action & Advocacy

Where We Stand

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
The League of Women Voters takes action on issues only after the membership has identified an issue for study, formally studied all sides of the issue, and come to a consensus (member agreement )on the issue under consideration. The consensus report is published as a League public policy position and is the basis for League action. Such positions are the result of studies at the local, state or national levels of government.

How We Reach Our Positions

League positions are a result of research and study, discussion and eventually, member agreement.
A study committee of League members researches the subject, interviewing experts and reading background material.
The study committee educates members, sharing information that covers all sides of the issue.
An in-depth discussion among members may result in member agreement by consensus. The board of directors must approve the consensus agreement. This becomes the League’s position on that issue. (If no consensus is reached, no new position is created.)

What do we mean by League ‘Program’?

In the League of Women Voters, public policy positions are adopted at our organization’s national, state and local levels.  These positions are developed by careful and deliberate study and adopted by members through consensus.

Taken together, these positions constitute what is commonly called the League’s “Program.”  In the League of Women Voters, Program consists of the body of public policy issues chosen for study, education and action at local, state and national levels. Our Program guides both our voter education and our advocacy work.

National Positions: The positions of the League of Women Voters of the United States are found in Impact on Issues.

State Positions:  The positions of the League of Women Voters of Missouri are found in the Guide to State Action.

Local Leagues can use these state and national positions, along with their local positions, to act in their own communities.   Local public policy positions are specifically related to the local League’s service area. For the LWV of Southwest Missouri, the counties of Greene, Christian and Webster constitute our service area.

Our local positions on government policies are found using the Quick Links on this page.

Read more about positions on local government issues adopted by the League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri.

Quick Links

Jessica Balisle March for our Lives “Every vote is important.” League member Jess Balisle speaks to a rally in downtown Springfield.Lorraine Sandstrom Former League President Lorraine Sandstrom, left, meets with Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller.