Our issues

2022-2023 LWV of Utah Program 

“Program” is the term used by the League of Women Voters of Utah to define those state governmental issues chosen each year for action and advocacy.   This Program was adopted at the May 14, 2022 State Convention.


  Support the LWVUS Campaign for Making Democracy Work

  • Voting Rights

  • Improving Elections

  • Campaign Finance / Money in Politics

  • Redistricting

Promote League Positions with Utah State Legislative Representatives

  • Advocate for equitable, quality public education funding, ensuring access to high quality teaching, in-school health care and nutritional food.

  • Promote a tax system that is fair, transparent and sufficient.

  • Promote transparency in government.

Promote social and economic justice, secure equal rights for all, and combat discrimination and poverty.

  • Monitor and promote justice reinvestment including sentencing reform, drug courts to reduce incarceration rates, programs to prepare inmates to successfully return to society, expanding mental health treatment and parole refor

  • Continue advocacy for the Equal Rights Ammendment

Promote a sustainable lifestyle to preserve a Utah environment beneficial to life, emphasizing air quality, energy issues, transportation, public land, water, seismic issues and climate change.

  • Educate the public and legislators on environmental issues.

  • Continue to support citizen advocacy and further develop skills for effective advocacy.

Studies

  • Update to Water Use in Utah 2009 Study, incorporating the 2015 Water Use in Weber Basin Study.

  • Modern Firearms Study (Continue Study in Process)

  • State and Local Governments’ Rights and Responsibilities (Study in Process)

Monitor as needed

  • Utah’s election laws to ensure election integrity.

  • Campaign finance laws, focusing on state campaign contribution limits.

  • Processes for selecting candidates for state offices.

  • Activity of Inland Port Authority.

  • Authorities and commissions overseeing Utah’s water sources.

  • Processes for selecting federal senators and representatives when office holders leave office.

  • Utah’s citizen initiative process.

  • Utah Boards and Commissions work in the legislature.

  • Promotion of community awareness of healthcare with focus on Medicaid’s expansion.

  • Utah Federalism Commission.

equal rights amendment

The League of Women Voters has long been at the forefront in the battle to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. We were visible and active as supporters lobbied, marched, rallied, petitioned, picketed, went on hunger strikes, and committed acts of civil disobedience between 1972 and 1982.

Now, the E.R.A. has returned with 38 of the required states ratifying the amendment to add a guarantee in the Constitution for equal legal rights for all Americans regardless of sex.

Read more about the League and the ERA.

Ranked Choice Voting

RCV promotes majority support, discourages negative campaigning, provides more choices for the voters, saves money when replacing preliminaries or runoffs, promotes reflective representation, minimizes strategic voting and more. Read about Utah’s experience and why RCV is so important.

Natural ResouRces

Our Natural Resources Committee supports League positions on environmental issues at state and national levels, while concentrating on a wide range of local issues from air and water quality to preserving fragile ecosystems from the effects of climate change and growth. Our volunteers work in tandem with community allies to support legislation that promotes wise and sustainable management of our resources while providing pathways to economic prosperity in rural Utah. Read more about the Natural Resources committee and join us in making a difference.

legislative action

Our Legislative Action Committee works tirelessly at the Capitol during both interim and general sessions. Our volunteers lobby only on positions the League has taken after exhaustive study. You may see our Studies & Positions on this website. Read more about the Legislative Action Committee here.

redistricting

Fair political boundaries have long been a priority for the League of Women Voters. Utah now has an independent advisory commission on redistricting, commonly called gerrymandering. Read more about this important issue here.