HomeOur Positions

Our Positions

The League of Woman Voters of Palm Beach County (LWVPBC) supports the positions and programs of the League of Women Voters US and the League of Women Voters of Florida. LWVPBC thanks and credits the Florida League for the text of some of the following positions.

Voting

The League supports the right of citizens to vote, and denounces voter suppression laws and procedures that create obstacles to voting.

The League advocates for:
- Making voting easy and equitable.
- Ending gerrymandering.
- Fair and transparent redistricting.
- Changes that will cure existing vote-by-mail ballot problems.
- Automatic voter registration (opt-out system).
- Same-day voter registration.
- Improved online voter registration.
- Standardized ballot design.
- State funding for hardware and software to improve the recount process.
- Support of an open primary election system.
- Proper implementation of 2018’s Amendment 4, which restored voting rights to former felons who have completed their entire sentence, except for those convicted of murder or felony sex offenses.
- Support of home rule for counties and municipalities and opposition to any preemptive legislation to counter home rule.
- Extension of deadlines for signatures cures, recounts, and postmark delays caused by the postal service.

Reproductive Health & Justice

The League supports the right of every woman to have access to quality healthcare, including the right to abortion and birth control. This work is accomplished by collaborating with more than 50 organizations in the Floridians for Reproductive Freedom (FRF) coalition to oppose current and proposed restrictions on birth control and abortion, and by providing information and education to all citizens.

The League advocates for:
- The protection of reproductive health decisions, which are civil rights and human rights issues.
- Every woman’s right to access affordable, high-quality reproductive health care, including access to abortion services and birth control.
- Affirmation of the constitutional right to privacy, including the individuals right to make reproductive choices.
- Treating reproductive rights, including access to abortion, as a healthcare issue that should be decided by a woman and her qualified healthcare provider.
- Prevention of unintended pregnancy through comprehensive sex education in schools
- Increased access to publicly-funded family planning services and information on sexually transmitted diseases and birth control.

Public Schools with High Standards

The League supports a free public school system in Palm Beach County with high standards for student achievement and with equal educational opportunity for all. League members work to guarantee public schools are adequately financed by the state with equitable funding formulas.

The success of schools and students requires community support, accomplished educators, and a superintendent and school board that value collaboration, respect, and trust.

The League supports:
- Florida’s constitutional requirement to adequately provide all children with education that is ‘uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality.
- A free public-school system for Florida with high standards for student achievement.
- Not using public funded voucher programs for the expansion of private education.
- The increased oversight of charter school contracts, including administrative fees, facility contracts, teacher salaries and benefits, instructional innovation, independence of charter board members, and unmet needs in districts.
- A statewide assessment and accountability system to measure student progress for all students and schools that receive public funds directly and indirectly.
- High standards for early childhood education staff and programs.

National Popular Vote

The League supports the non-partisan National Popular Vote, which guarantees that every vote in a presidential election counts and that every vote counts equally. This work is supported through FloridiansForNPV and NationalPopularVote.com, as well as the Palm Beach County's National Popular Vote committee.

States choose how to award their electors. Under National Popular Vote, electors will be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes nationwide. National Popular Vote will take effect after it is enacted into law by states possessing 270 electoral votes, the number needed to elect the President.

Facts about National Popular Vote:

- Guarantees the presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes nationwide.

- Makes every voter relevant in every Presidential election.

- Honors the will of the American People.

- Works within the Constitution's framework as established by the Founders.

- Does NOT require an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Gun Violence Prevention

The League promotes gun safety and advocates for policies that will end gun violence. This includes educating residents and lobbying state representatives regarding gun safety issues. League members collaborate with grassroots organizations to create responsible gun ownership, with an emphasis on gun storage.

The League:
- Supports regulations on purchase, ownership, and use of handguns.
- Promotes social and economic justice and the health and safety of all Americans.
- Supports regulations on the purchase, ownership, and use of handguns, that balances individual constitutional rights with the general interest and welfare of the community.
- Supports licensing procedures for gun ownership by private citizens to include identity verification, gun safety education, and annual license renewal.
- Supports expansion of mandated background checks and three-day waiting periods for ALL gun sales or transfers, including at gun shows and unlicensed gun sales.