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Focus on Current Issues

LWVJoCo closely follows current events and issues at the local, state and national levels.
The League of Women Voters Johnson County does not take positions on candidates as a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501c3 organization but provides the following resources for your own research.


Read about the merit-based judicial selection process that has been in place since 1958 here: Kansas Judicial Branch
The Johnson County Bar Association conducts a judicial evaluation survey as a service to the community: Judicial Evaluations

Elections

We suggest the following changes to current laws that would help protect the rights of all voters in Kansas.
  • People Powered Fair Maps.
  • Enact Election Day Registration.
  • Expand the early voting period.
  • Allow for permanent or semi-permanent advance voting by mail.
  • Repeal proof-of-citizenship requirement for new voter registration.
  • Election of US President by Popular Vote: The National popular Vote Interstate Compact.

Medicaid Expansion

More than 150,000 Kansans lack health insurance. Expansion needs to be done in th emost effective way, avoiding work requirements and other features shown to be ineffective.

Kansas Medicaid Expansion Resources

Government Transparency

  • Disallow anonymous bills.
  • Require legislators’ committee votes be recorded.
  • Reduce “Gut and Go.”
  • Change House and Senate Committee Rules.

Other priorities based on LWVK Position Statements
  • Create a broad-based state tax system; reduce sales tax on food.
  • Support Sentencing Reform to reduce prison populations.
  • Support mental health and foster care services.
  • Abolition of the Death Penalty.
  • Support women’s rights to reproductive choice.
  • Support current merit-based system of appointing Kansas Supreme Court Justices.

Local news

KCUR (89.3 FM)  Up to Date with host Steve Kraske features issues that impact our local, regional, and nation. click here
Kansas Reflector provides reporting on state government and politics. click here 
Johnson County Post is a local government news source.  click here

Kansas news

Civil rights: Kansas Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights issues report about voting rights and the SAFE Act. The report urges the Kansas legislature to reconsider voting requirements in the context of these findings.

LWVK State Council included a presentation, “Effect on Schools by State Education Funding” by Salina School Superintendent William Hall.

National news

LWVUS suggests Ten Ways You Can Help Defend Our Democracy