Where We Stand
The League adopts and acts on positions through a five step process:
Observe a problem;
Study a problem and discuss all sides of an issue;
Reach member consensus on what needs to be done followed by the board officially adopting a position;
Take action, which can include public information meetings, letters, phone calls and meeting with those making decisions about an issue;
Litigate if all else fails and citizens’ rights have been severely harmed.
“Where We Stand” is the official policy position of LWVPA. Click here to discover more.
2024 Policy One-Pager
Each year, LWVPA produces a policy one-pager to guide action and advocacy throughout legislative sessions. Committed to fostering a resilient and inclusive democracy, our focus revolves around critical policy areas that shape the foundation of our democracy. As we the upcoming election year, LWVPA will direct its attention towards key policies, encompassed broadly by:
Election Administration and Funding,
Voting Integrity,
Representation,
Social Policy,
Environmental Sustainability
This is intended to be a summary statement of the priorities we expect to focus on at this time. However, this list is not exhaustive, and does not disallow LWVPA from taking action on other issues. These priorities are a reflection of what LWVPA expects to be a focus of our time and effort.
Click here to view the 2024 Policy One-Pager.
Positions in Brief
Representative Government
Apportionment & Redistricting
LWVPA supports apportionment and redistricting based substantially on population of all voting districts, with additional consideration given to compact and contiguous territory and with respect given to municipal boundaries.
Election Laws
LWVPA supports effective election laws and uniform procedures.
Governmental Authorities
LWVPA supports measures to ensure that governmental authorities act in the public interest, that the powers of authorities are clearly defined, and that authorities are established only when the authority structure enhances the ability to provide a public service.
Initiative & Referendum
LWVPA supports adoption of popular initiative and referendum in Pennsylvania, with initiative permitted for both statutes and constitutional amendments.
Judiciary
LWVPA supports an efficient unified court system and a responsible, ethical judiciary that is free from political influence.
Legislature
LWVPA supports improvements to the structure and practices of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Municipal Government
LWVPA supports measures that enable local governments to operate more effectively.
Climate Change & Natural Resources
LWVPA supports the maximum protection of public health and the environment in all aspects of natural gas extraction/production, site restoration, and delivery to the customer by requiring the use of best practices and promoting comprehensive regulation, communication, and adequate staffing across government agencies. We support the prevention of burdening the taxpayer with costs of industrialization and unanticipated consequences. We support the 2006 Pennsylvania Property Rights Protection Act without amendment, the adoption of minimum spacing requirements for wells, and the pooling of properties between corporate entities to maximize efficiencies and reduce risk in the extraction process. We support the maximum protection of public health and the environment in all aspects of natural gas transmission operations through improved siting, regulation, inspection, and enforcement that is transparent and responsive to stakeholder input.
LWVPA supports the maximum protection of public health and the environment in all aspects of natural gas transmission operations through improved siting, regulation, inspection, and enforcement that is transparent and responsive to stakeholder input.
The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that natural resources should be managed as interrelated parts of life-supporting ecosystems. Resources should be conserved and protected to assure their future availability. Pollution of these resources should be controlled in order to preserve the physical, chemical and biological integrity of ecosystems and to protect public health.
Land Use
LWVPA supports more comprehensive statewide land use planning and adoption of a comprehensive land use policy; support a comprehensive program for the preservation of agricultural and open space lands for Pennsylvania; promote environmentally sound agricultural practices in Pennsylvania.
Pooling
LWVPA supports the 2006 Pennsylvania Property Rights Protection Act without amendment, the adoption of minimum spacing requirements, and the pooling of properties between corporate entities to maximize efficiencies and reduce risk.
Social Policy
LWVPA supports the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment and efforts to bring laws into compliance with the goals of the ERA.
LWVPA supports the constitutional right of privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices.
LWVPA supports an effective, efficient, data-driven system that is fair to all and that treats everyone with dignity, guaranteeing constitutional rights to all regardless of community or economic status, and facilitating successful reentry to society of former inmates.
LWVPA supports equal access to quality public education, to be achieved by participation of government and citizens at all levels and by adequate financing based on an equitable and flexible tax system.
Child Health And Welfare & Juvenile Justice
LWVPA supports promoting the health and welfare of children and youth and supports legal procedures, programs and facilities that enable Pennsylvania agencies and communities to meet the needs of children in the juvenile justice and child welfare system.
LWVPA supports gender neutral and equitable laws in marriage, divorce, property, child custody, and child support in Pennsylvania.
LWVPA supports an equitable and flexible tax system for state and local government in Pennsylvania.
LWVPA supports collective bargaining in the public sector that maintains the balance between the rights and obligations of employees and employers, with the goal of providing citizens with essential public services.
LWVPA opposes the legalization of additional forms of gambling in Pennsylvania.
LWVPA supports promoting energy-efficient and environmentally sound transportation systems that afford access to housing and jobs, relieve congestion and enhance the quality of life in communities of all sizes and supports predictable public funding that enables fiscally stable transportation systems to provide consistent levels of service.
The League of Women Voters of PA believes that the proliferation of handguns and semiautomatic assault weapons in the United States is a major health and safety threat to its citizens. The League supports strong federal and state measures to regulate the ownership of these weapons by private citizens. The League supports regulating firearms for consumer safety, specifically to reduce all incidents of gun violence.