ACTION AND ADVOCACY
We are truly a grass roots organization!
The League of Women Voters takes action on an issue or advocates for a cause when there is an existing League position that supports the issue or speaks to its cause.
Positions result from a process of study. Any given study, whether it be National, State or Local, is thorough in its pursuit of facts and details. As the study progresses, a continuing discussion of the pros and cons of each situation occurs. Prior to the results of the study’s presentation to the membership, study committee members fashion consensus questions that are addressed by the membership.
Additional discussion, pro and con, takes place as members (not part of the study committee) learn the scope of the study. After the members reach consensus, the board forms positions based on that consensus.
LEAGUE SUPPORTED LEGISLATIONS AND POSITIONS
PRIORITY: THE VOTES ACT
The VOTES ACT was signed into law by Governor Baker on June 22, 2022. This law will allow:
- Vote by mail without an excuse
- Expanded early voting options
- Eligible incarcerated voters are now able to request a mail ballot and vote
- The Commonwealth will join the 30 -state Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) to keep other registration data bases up to date
- Voter registration deadline reduced to ten days (from twenty)
FOR MORE INFORMATION READ THIS SUMMARY BY COMMON CAUSE HERE
GO TO THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS – MASSACHUSETTS website HERE to learn more.
PRIORITY: CLIMATE EMERGENCY
Climate Action Depends on State Action……And state action depends on your action at this critical time! With the fate of the federal Build Back Better Act in question, action on climate and energy at the state level is critically important. After enactment of a groundbreaking climate and energy bill March 2021, implementation has been painfully slow. You may read the MA League’s position on addressing climate change HERE. This page from the LWV-MA website advocates for addressing Climate Change through clean energy.
See what a local climate advocacy group, Island Climate Action Network , is doing to address climate and environmental issues on Matha’s Vineyard : ICAN
PRIORITY: LWV – MV ADVOCACY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
adopted June 1996
“The League of Women Voters of Martha’s Vineyard recognizes the urgent need for year-round affordable housing in our community. We realize that solutions to the housing problem on the Vineyard will need to be creative and diverse in order to respond to the unique dynamics of our community.“
The local League has joined the efforts to inform the Vineyard voter about the upcoming warrant article sponsored by the CCMVHB – Coalition to Create the Martha’s Vineyard Housing Bank. The article outlines a revenue source for funding the critical need for affordable housing on the Vineyard. The League support’s for this measure remains consistent with the local League’s position on Affordable Housing adopted in 1996.
For more information visit – CCMVHB
Page Updated 11/16/2022