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Issues Summaries

• Positions On Issues
• Priority Issues in 2026
• More Issues That Matter

End gerrymandering - fair maps - redistricting

League Principles

League Principles are the beliefs shared by League members everywhere about government. Principles are the basis upon which our national, state, and local program* is adopted.

*See League lingo below

Advocacy & Issues 2024 – 2026

The LWV of Hays County priorities for 2024 – 2026, voted on at the 2024 annual meeting were --

• Voting access: Elections, protection, polling places, the legislature

• Public education: School vouchers, book banning, school boards

• Women’s Health: Choice, Medicaid, mental health,

• Criminal justice: Law enforcement, indigent defendants, courts, and jails

• Water, climate change: Water crisis, legislation, regulatory boards, suppliers, educators, users

The League of Women Voters provides Impact On Issues: a Guide to League Program Issues. In fact, the publication contains all the positions of the League of Women Voters of Texas (LWVTX), including an "explanation and a history of all state advocacy since the adoption of the position."

LWVTX (and local Texas Leagues) may also take action at the state level using LWVUS positions. But the League may not take action if we do not have a position, not with the united voice of the League.

From the founding of the League of Women Voters, the League has placed equal emphasis on educating ourselves and others on the issues and on taking action. Action is our League effort to bring about governmental change based on the positions adopted through member study and consensus. Since the League is a multilevel organization with positions at each level, we coordinate our action efforts to speak with one voice.

The work of the League, including advocacy work,
is through the lens of
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

Advocacy & Issues 2024–2026

LWVUS and Issues

Voting Rights and Election Law

Protecting Votes During Redistricting

More Issues That Matter

Election Access for All

Expanded voter access for all citizens is a signature concern of the League of Women Voters, including the LWV of Hays County. We monitor decisions by the Elections Office and the Commissioners Court to ensure that all groups of Hays County voters have access to convenient Early Voting and Election Day Vote Centers.

The League is active in efforts to fight voter suppression as well. Actions our League has taken on behalf of voters include speaking at the Commissioners Court, writing our commissioners, requesting a public hearing and time for public comment that resulted in the Commissioners Court restoring the Texas State student and faculty Vote Center to the LBJ Student Center from the proposed Strahan Coliseum before the 2020 General Election.

During county redistricting following the 2020 census, the LWV of Hays County conducted several collaborative mapping efforts with various communities of interest which contributed to new and fairer boundary lines and better representation for those communities.

In addition, the League stays conversant with election law and works with civil rights partners to ensure that sufficient voting locations will be open for sufficient hours. In 2018, that resulted in additional days being added to early voting opportunities at Texas State University and an additional polling location in the Dripping Springs area required by the number of registered voters there.

Legal Efforts to Protect LGBTQIA+ Rights

In recent years the League has filed amicus briefs in cases involving key issues in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights. The League supports the Equality Act which would create federal protections for those in the LGBTQIA+ community. This comprehensive federal law would ensure that there are consistent legal protections across the country rather than the patchwork protections that are currently present.

Local Leagues are encouraged to educate themselves and others on LGBTQIA+ rights and history, encourage full inclusion and support of LGBTQIA rights and people in the local League and state League, and learn about proposed legislation in their community and state.

Voting Rights, Election Law & Redistricting

The League of Women Voters of Texas supports election laws that facilitate citizen participation and voter convenience. The League also supports a state redistricting process and standards that promote fair and effective representation with maximum opportunity for public scrutiny.

Women's Health & Reproductive Choice

The League of Women Voters of Texas believes that public policy in a pluralistic society must affirm the constitutional right of privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices.

Public Education

The LWV of Texas prioritizes efforts to promote adequate state funding for public schools to ensure that all Texas school children receive a high quality education.

Gun Safety

The League of Women Voters of Texas supports violence prevention programs in communities and protection of the health and safety of citizens through limiting the accessibility and regulating the ownership of handguns and semi-automatic weapons.

2025 LWVUS Federal Judiciary Position

The League of Women Voters of Hays County met to establish consensus on issues of the federal judiciary.

Based upon the consensus of Leagues throughout the United States, the LWVUS has adopted a position on the federal judiciary.

The policy revolves around:
Transparency, Accountability, Independence, Ethics, and Standards of Conduct

Other Issues in Texas

Criminal Justice

Hazardous Waste

Judicial Selection

Open Government

The League of Women Voters of Texas has many other issue chairs and working groups studying a wide variety of other key issues to inform the League and its members on positions and action to take to support the League’s mission.

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.

Program Planning

The word "program" in the League has a unique meaning. Program consists of governmental issues chosen for concerted study and action.

We encourage League members with an interest in advocating for local issues to complete our Local Program Planning Survey. Members must be logged into the website to complete the survey.

Understand League Lingo

Find out more about League Lingo here.

Direct link to the page: https://lwvhaysco.org/issues

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Issues Summaries

League Principles

Advocacy & Issues 2024 – 2026