Local Positions on Issues
The League of Women of Syracuse Metropolitan Area discusses and votes on issues to support and monitor each year. View a pdf list of 2026-2027 issues.
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SYRACUSE METROPOLITAN AREA
2026 - 2027 LOCAL ISSUES/POSITIONS
MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK
** 1. Support the promotion of greater citizen participation in the political process.
• encourage individuals to become knowledgeable about issues
• encourage citizens to exercise their right to vote, especially among underrepresented populations and young people
• encourage active lobbying of elected officials
ACTION PLAN: educational meetings; Get Out The Vote events; promote VOTE411; voter registration at Naturalization Ceremonies, Justice Center, & Schools; send action alerts
** 2. Support measures that protect, extend, and encourage the right to vote, including Election Day registration, no-excuse absentee voting, and in-person early voting.
ACTION PLAN: encourage opposition to legislation and Executive Orders considered voter suppression by the LWVUS; monitor State and Federal legislation to determine community education; action alerts
3. Support for Ranked Choice Voting on all levels of government.
ACTION PLAN: on-going education to community and elected officials
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Support the study of and, where appropriate, advocacy for, legislation which promotes proposals to modernize local government.
Support efforts to promote environmentally sound, and inclusively planned, economic growth throughout Onondaga County and the City of Syracuse.
• monitor the progress of the Community Grid / I-81 Project
ACTION PLAN: observe local meetings; monitor proposed legislation and policies
SOCIAL POLICY
Support equal opportunity for all regardless of race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, or disability.
• Honor the Haudenosaunee on whole ancestral lands we live and work
ACTION PLAN: promote our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy
2. Support local and State measures to meet the need for affordable and accessible housing, adequate and appropriate food, and other critical needs of children and families in poverty.
ACTION PLAN: promote the legislative and advocacy initiatives of area nonpartisan organizations addressing these needs; monitor local planning and policies
3. Support due process for all immigrants, including the right to a fair hearing, right to counsel, and right to humane treatment.
ACTION PLAN: follow LWVUS Civic Action Toolkit; send action alerts; stand in solidarity with established community-based immigration advocacy organizations
4. Support continued availability of county-wide Wi Fi that guarantees high-speed, affordable internet access.
ACTION PLAN: monitor policies from County Legislature and Planning Board; lobby members
5. Support equitable access to quality health care.
• promote a single-payer healthcare system for all New Yorkers
ACTION PLAN: monitor local healthcare practices and initiatives; forward action alerts from State
6. Support investment in energy efficient and environmentally sound mass public transit routes to ensure that citizens living in city and county poverty areas have transportation to areas of employment, education, healthcare, food access, and voting.
ACTION PLAN: monitor CENTRO; monitor city and county legislation and policies; lobby elected officials
NATURAL RESOURCES
Support the protection and management of regional natural resources in the public interest.
• encourage policies that ensure a stable climate system for future generations
• encourage policies that promote the reduction of waste
ACTION PLAN: monitor local climate initiatives; follow the State Climate Committee work and send action alerts
2. Support efforts to protect regional wildlife, natural vegetation, and water resources.
• promote efforts for improvement projects for Onondaga Lake and its watershed
• monitor work being done by the Interstate League Coalition on the Great Lakes
ACTION PLAN: stand in solidarity with established regional environmental organizations; lobby elected officials; send action alerts; encourage a member of our League to join the LWVNY State Committee on Energy, Agriculture and the Environment
LOCAL SUPPORT FOR STATEWIDE ISSUES
Support continued recruitment of, and training for, poll workers.
• encourage adequate staffing at polling places
• encourage the use of split shifts for election workers
• monitor safety at polling places
ACTION PLAN: increase civic education on this through all media and at tabling events; work with the BOE; participate in LWVNY training on election safety
2. Support efforts to simplify the procedures and format for obtaining petition signatures for candidates and potential candidates.
ACTION PLAN: monitor local and State legislative and policy efforts
3.Support of other Statewide positions:
• encourage meaningful campaign finance reform
• promote the creation of citizen-led independent redistricting commissions
• promote the creation of an independent and enforcing ethics commission
• encourage meaningful oversight of public authorities
• promote additional legislative rules reform
• encourage meaningful property tax reform
ACTION PLAN: monitor legislation and policy decisions from State officials; forward action alerts