League of Women Voters of Massachusetts

LWVMA

Where We Stand

Content:

Government

LWVMA

WHERE WE STAND

Government: Elections and Voting Rights

Protect the right to vote of every citizen. (LWVUS) (1970) Voting rights are defined by the Voting Rights Acts of 1965 and 1970 and include all necessary action from registration though tabulating election results. LWVMA worked for lowering the voting age to 19 and then to 18. (1970-1971) LWVMA supported absentee voting for primaries (as was in effect for general elections). LWVMA worked for clarification of wording and summaries of ballot questions. LWVMA worked for extended and uniform polling hours.

The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that voting is a fundamental citizen’s right that must be guaranteed. (LWVUS) (1982) The 1986 LWVUS Convention affirmed an essential element for protecting the right to vote was encouraging participation in the political process. The 1990 convention affirmed that the LWVUS should continue emphasis on protecting the right to vote by working to increase voter participation. LWVMA reaffirmed that.

The LWVMA was active in pushing for passage of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) commonly called the Motor Voter Act. (1989-93) The League then pushed for passage in Massachusetts for effective enabling legislation to enact the law here. LWVMA has monitored the effectiveness of the Act.

LWVMA has supported efforts to increase the accessibility of registration and voting for people with disabilities. LWVMA has supported legislation and procedures to clarify and make more available voting registration, including mail-in registration. LWVMA, as well as local Leagues, has run registration drives. LWVMA promotes universal registration as well as high school registration drives. LWVMA consistently runs get out the vote drives. A sample of such a campaign slogan is: It's about your children's education, your taxes, your Social Security, your Medicare and your safe streets. It's about you and your family. Vote. LWVMA has supported legislation to remove administrative obstacles to voting and/or registration. LWVMA has two workshops aimed at increasing participation in voting and in the political process, especially among the underrepresented. One is titled, Empowering People through the Vote. The other is entitled, Empowering People through Advocacy.

Congressional districts and government legislative bodies should be apportioned substantially on population. The League is convinced that this standard, established by the Supreme Court, should be maintained and that the U.S. Constitution should not be amended to allow for consideration of factors other than population in apportionment. (LWVUS) (1966, 1982) Supported, and some monitoring, by LWVMA.

Campaign finance

Goal:

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 office, and promote citizen participation in the political process. (LWVUS) (1974, 1982)

League action

The state’s campaign financing act, enacted in 1975 with League support, established the Office of Campaign and Political Finance to monitor compliance with reporting rules. The act provided money for partial funding of campaigns to be raised by a voluntary $1 add-on to the income tax form, and set limits to individual contributions to candidates. In 1980, a League-supported bill to prevent private use of residual campaign funds was passed. The League continues to support legislation that would reduce the influences of Political Action Committees (PACs) and lobbyist-donors and would limit spending of campaign funds.

In 1991, following a similar decision by the national League, the LWVMA decided to oppose term limitations for state offices. The opposition was based on League positions and principles that promote: an open governmental system that is representative, accountable and responsible; an effective state government; and a strong and highly visible legislative branch.

Background

• 1972-73: LWVUS Convention and LWVUS Council put a League focus on campaign financing.

• 1973: Members participated in an accelerated study of campaign financing. The resulting position applies the League principles, supporting an open and representative governmental system, to political campaigns.

• 1988-91: Campaign finance reform was an LWVUS legislative priority.

• 1991-92: Campaign finance reform became an LWVMA priority.

VOTING SYSTEMS (2005) GOAL: Voting systems should be easy to use, administer and understand, encourage high voter turnout, encourage real discussion on issues, promote minority representation, and encourage candidates to run. When electing someone to a single executive office at the state level, such as governor or attorney general, including primary and general elections, the voting system should require the winner to obtain a majority of the votes. The League supports instant runoff voting. Cost and complexity make two-round runoff not acceptable.

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