Action & Advocacy

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 the 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 pros and cons of each situation occurs. Prior to the results of the study being presented to the general membership, study committee members fashion consensus questions that are then 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.
It is the consensus statement -- the statement resulting from the consensus questions -- that becomes a position. Firm action or advocacy can then be taken on the particular issue addressed by the position. Without a position, action/advocacy cannot be taken.

Issues Important to the League

Help America Vote Act (HAVA)
Sweeping changes were made to the election process in 2004 and this issue is critical to the League of Women Voters of Virginia. See the State Board of Elections website for details about implementation of HAVA in our state.
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
Since the League's founding in 1920, we have worked for equal rights for women. This effort continues with work to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. For background history and a complete status of this amendment, please see douments written by the League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area:

The Equal Rights Amendment in Virginia
Ratification Status in the States and State ERAs

For more information on the issues the League of Women Voters of Virginia worked or will be working for during past sessions of the Virginia General Assembly, see our Legislative Newsletters.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This section of our website is UNDER CONSTRUCTION and this is NOT a complete list of all the issues for which the League of Women Voters of Virginia is advocating. Please check back as this list is expanded.

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: May 12, 2008 18:52 PDT.