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Where the League Stands

LWVCO Position on Issues

The League takes action on public policy issues, supporting or opposing issues. Action may include workshops for members, lobbying government officials, petition drives, publishing information for the general public and the news media, and holding public forums.

The program books listed below provide the official statements of position for each program area, the guides briefly trace significant past actions and achievements and indicate links among positions. A clear understanding of LWV positions, how they interrelate and how they can complement and reinforce state, local and Inter-League Organization (ILO) positions, will strengthen the League’s “Impact on Issues” at all levels of government.

Following the program books are brief position statements. The entire statement for each position and historical context are found in the program books.

NOTE: For information on how to take action that the League supports or opposes, please visit our Taking Action page.

LWVCO 2022 Ballot Issues Positions

The 2022 Ballot Issues LWVCO Positions outlines LWVCO positions on each of the amendments and propositions on the November 2021 Colorado ballot. For each, the League has taken a "SUPPORT," "OPPOSE" or "NO POSITION" stance based on LWVCO Positions For Action.

LWVCO Positions For Action

The 2022-23 LWVCO Positions for Action is a summary of the positions that Colorado League Members has adopted and the advocacy work based on them and is designed to help League leaders use LWVCO public policy positions effectively at the state and local levels. The League of Women Voters takes action only after members have studied an issue and agreed on a position. Some of our past studies and important links are collected on the Resources: Study Issues page.

National Impact on Issues

The Impact on Issues is designed to help League leaders use LWVUS public policy positions effectively at the state and local levels. The LWVUS public policy positions “in brief” listed on pages 2-4 reflect the program adopted by the 2016 Convention of the League of Women Voters of the United States. This listing summarizes the official full statements of position, presented in bold type in the relevant sections of this guide.

Positions

Making Democracy Work

Voting Methods

Support authorizing and implementing alternatives to plurality voting that allow people to express their preference more effectively.

Redistricting

Support of measures to establish an agency other than the General Assembly to redistrict the Colorado General Assembly and the Colorado Congressional Districts. Support of redrawing the districts of both houses of the state legislature and the Colorado U.S. congressional districts based on specific criteria.

For further resources and redistricting activities, visit the University of Colorado Colorado Springs GeoCivics department.

Amending the Colorado Constitution
Support for clarity of language and suitability of topic and detail in proposed constitutional amendments.

Campaign Finance

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.

Amending the Colorado Constitution

Support for clarity of language and suitability of topic and detail in proposed constitutional amendments.

Fiscal Policy

Support adequate and flexible funding of state government programs through an equitable tax system that is progressive and which incorporates social, environmental and economic goals. Oppose earmarking of funds and sales tax on food.

General Assembly

Support responsive legislative processes characterized by accountability, representativeness, decision making capability and effective performance. Promote a dynamic balance of power between the executive and legislative branches within the framework set by the Constitution.

Individual Liberties

Support for the individual liberties guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States.

Initiative Process

Support for more stringent requirements for the passage of constitutional amendments than for initiated statutes and protection from legislative change for initiated statutes for a minimum of two years.

Justice System

Support of non-partisan selection of judges on an appointive-retentive basis; measures which facilitate efficient administration of justice rather than incarceration for nonviolent offenders; sentencing measures that protect the community, compensate victims and the community for the crimes of adult offenders, rehabilitate offenders, and emphasize the use of community-based sanctions. LWVUS position: Support abolition of the death penalty.

Juvenile Justice

Support of a juvenile justice system that has as its primary purpose the rehabilitation, safety and well being of the offender. Support of a system that promotes the juvenile’s understanding of the harm done and his/her responsibility to make amends to the victim and the community, emphasizes alternatives to detention or commitment, and promotes the protection of the community and the juvenile’s successful reentry into the community.

Local Government

Local governments should be accountable, responsive, flexible, efficient, effective, able to raise sufficient revenues to perform their duties, and have adequate constitutional and statutory powers to cope effectively.

National Popular Vote
The League of Women Voters of Colorado supports the direct popular vote method for electing the president and vice-president.

Natural Resources

Air Quality

Promote measures to reduce pollution from mobile and stationary sources.

Energy

Support environmentally sound policies that reduce energy growth rates, emphasize energy conservation and encourage the use of renewable resources.

Environmental Planning and Management (Includes Hydraulic Fracturing)

Support of measures to improve the coordination, effectiveness and efficiency of governmental units within the state of Colorado and measures which promote integrated planning for environmental management, wise use of Colorado’s natural resources, comprehensive statewide planning for land use, and a balanced transportation system. Support policies that enhance public participation in the permitting and monitoring of oil and gas operations in the state.

Hazardous Materials

Support for adequate safeguards in the production, transportation, use, treatment, disposal and storage of hazardous and radioactive materials.

Land Use

LWVCO supports responsible land use planning by all levels of government. LWVCO supports the creation of regional boards and commissions to address regional concerns.

Waste Management

Promote policies to reduce the generation and promote the reuse and recycling of solid and hazardous wastes.

Water

Support of measures that promote the wise and balanced use of water in Colorado.

Social Policy

Child Care

Support state licensing and continued oversight by an adequate number of trained staff, and ensure availability of affordable quality child care to all children who need it.

Children's Support Systems

Support measures to encourage public responsibility for the protection, care and training of children, recognizing the primary importance of parental responsibility.

Education

Support of a pre-K through 12 public education system in which a balanced curriculum of humanities, arts and sciences leads to life-long learning for all students. Support of a stronger leadership role for the Colorado Department of Education to promote educational improvements and standards for early childhood education.

School Finance (Pre-K-12)

Support for a state finance system that would equalize opportunity and relieve the property tax.

Equality of Opportunity

Support of equality of opportunity for education, employment and housing for all persons in the United States regardless of their race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation or disability.

Gun Safety

Protect the health and safety of citizens through limiting the accessibility and regulating the ownership of handguns and semi-automatic weapons. Support regulation of firearms for consumer safety.

Health Care

Support access to adequate health care with funding by state and federal monies where necessary. LWVCO supports access to affordable, quality in- and out-patient behavioral health care, including needed medications and supportive services, for all people. LWVCO supports access to behavioral health care that is integrated with, and achieves parity with, physical health care. (NOTE: LWVUS adopted the LWVCO Behavioral Health position in 2016.)

Higher Education

Higher education is a primary educational, research, cultural and economic force in Colorado. The State of Colorado has a responsibility to support its public institutions of higher education and to assist the people of Colorado in attaining a postsecondary education.

Housing

Support policies to provide a decent home and a suitable living environment for every American family.

Human Trafficking

Oppose all forms of domestic and international human trafficking of adults and children, including sex trafficking and labor trafficking.

Immigration

Promote reunification of immediate families; meet the economic, business and employment needs of the United States; be responsive to those facing political persecution or humanitarian crises; and provide for student visas.

Income Assistance

Support income assistance programs, based on need, that provide decent, adequate standards for food, clothing and shelter.

Reproductive Choice

Protect the constitutional right of privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices.

Transportation

Support for a state Department of Transportation to plan and coordinate all transportation modes in order to provide a balanced transportation system in Colorado which gives consideration to the needs of regional, county and local governments. Funding for transportation should come from federal, state and local sources.