The following issues are being actively monitored for action opportunities. If you are interested in one of them, please read the full description in Where We Stand and contact the issue specialist. All issue specialists can be reached at issues@lwvil.org.

Action Foci

These eight issues were selected by our membership for focused advocacy and action in 2019-2021.

 
 

Other Issues

See Where We Stand for more information on any of these issues.

Campaign Finance Reform

Improve methods of financing political campaigns in order to ensure the public's right to know, combat corruption and undue influence, enable candidates to compete more equitably for public office and promote citizen participation in the political process.
Issue Specialists: Elizabeth Lindquist and Donna Limper

Criminal Justice/Juvenile Justice

The League has positions on the following aspects of criminal justice: Pretrial release, courtroom procedures, sentencing laws and procedures, alternatives to incarceration, jail standards, Illinois Department of Corrections, citizen involvement, and funding. (The Criminal Justice position is being updated; see the Criminal Justice section for information.)
Issue Specialist: Janet Kittlaus

Election Laws

The League of Women Voters supports uniformity of election laws and procedures throughout the state. Registration and voting methods should ensure the integrity of the election system, maximize voters' unencumbered access to the ballot, preserve the secrecy of the ballot and ensure accurate and timely vote tabulation. Citizens should have the right to file complaints and writs of mandamus to force compliance with election laws.
Issue Specialists: Sharon Alter and Barbara Laimins

Elimination of Discrimination Against Women / Equal Rights Amendment

Support equal rights for all regardless of sex and action to bring laws into compliance with the Equal Rights Amendment.
Issue Specialists: Sharon Alter and Allyson Haut

Equity and Inclusion

The League has strongly supported affirmative action programs for minorities and women through legislative and regulatory advocacy as well as litigation. League work on pay equity (equal pay for jobs of comparable worth) stemmed from member concern over the feminization of poverty.
Issue Specialist: Sheri Latash

Fiscal Policy

Support adequate, flexible funding of federal government programs through an equitable tax system that is progressive overall and that relies primarily on a broad-based income tax; promote responsible deficit policies; support a federal role in providing mandatory, universal, old-age, survivors, disability and health insurance.
Issue Specialist: Ann Courter

Government Consolidation

The League of Women Voters of Illinois supports the efficient and effective operation of government. Consolidation of governmental units and the sharing of major governmental services may be a way of promoting the efficient and effective operation of government. In achieving this goal, the League supports a cooperative and transparent process, in which citizens have sufficient and timely information with which to make informed decisions about proposed actions, and well-defined channels for citizen input and review. Administrative and fiscal efficiency should be included in the criteria by which local governments consider whether to consolidate or share major services.
Issue Specialist: Jane Ballengee

Health Care

Promote a health care system for the United States that provides access to a basic level of quality care for all U.S. residents and controls health care costs. The full position includes: Goals, Basic Level of Quality Care, Financing and Administration, Taxes, Cost Control Methods, and Allocation of Resources to Individuals.
Issue Specialists: Janet Craft and Margaret O’Hara

Mental Health

The League supports a comprehensive and coordinated system of services for mental/behavioral health that includes adequate and accessible community services for seriously mentally ill persons of all ages. The state should provide adequate funding for state facilities and should be the primary source of funding for community-based mental health services.
Issue Specialist: Lorri Grainawi

School Funding

The League believes that pre-kindergarten through 12th grade public schools should be provided stable, reliable and adequate revenue through a combination of federal, state and local sources; and state funding levels should be sufficient to enable districts to provide for all students an education that meets both standards established by the State Board of Education and legislated mandates.
Issue Specialists: Jean Pierce and Ann Courter

Social Policy

LWVIL has many social policy positions; see Where We Stand 2019-2021, Abridged version, starting on page 58.
Issue Specialist: Jan Kay