New Policies: Absentee Ballots, Action on Issues, Candidate Support
|
|
|
NEW POLICIES NEW ABSENTEE BALLOT POLICYBecause of changes in the state’s absentee ballot application process, the Board has decided that Leagues will not distribute applications for absentee ballots during their registration drives, and will provide information only as to where absentee ballot applications can be obtained, such as town clerks’ offices. (If you want to see the new restrictions on volunteers to provide such service, look up Public Act 05-235.) LWVCT POLICY ON TAKING ACTION ON ISSUES DURING ELECTION SEASON Based on criteria established at the December 1992 Board meeting and re-affirmed at the January 1994 Board meeting; modified and reaffirmed at the September 2005 Board meeting. To maintain its nonpartisan nature during election season, LWVCT will exercise caution when communicating with constitutional officers, state legislators, candidates for the state legislature, and members of and candidates for the U.S. Congress. These guidelines will be followed: 1. The election season is defined as July 1 to election day. (The state Board recommends that local Leagues adopt such a policy and consider a later start date.) 2. During election season, discussions and communications about League positions should be with all candidates for an office, and should be sensitively constructed to remove any semblance of partisanship. 3. Communication or discussion with legislators about issues on which action is expected during their current term of office can take place without involving other candidates to that office. 4. If action on state positions by local Leagues is sought, local Leagues will be cautioned to evaluate the degree to which the issue is viewed as partisan in their communities. 5. Any questions about the nonpartisan nature of any LWVCT communication, i.e. press release, letter or meeting agenda on a legislative issue, should be resolved by the LWVCT President, Communications/Citizen Information Vice President and Public Issues Vice President. POLICY AGAINST CANDIDATE SUPPORT Olivia Thorne, LWVUS Board Although the League is pro-choice, the League does not support or oppose candidates and appointees, which means that, as frustrating as it may be for some, the League can NOT comment on the Supreme Court nominees. That does not mean you can’t write or call Senators expressing your own opinions and concerns, but please do NOT mention that you are a League member or speak as a League member or representative of your League. |
|
