Key Portfolios provide the basis for all League activities and actions.
I. POLICY
A. Action at the State Government Level
Action to obtain support for League positions includes oral and/or written testimony to members of the General Assembly, committees of the Maryland General Assembly, the Governor, state agencies, state study commissions, state-level meetings and public hearings, and contacts with state officials.
1. Responsibility for Action & Advocacy. All action at the state governmental level in the name of the LWVMD is the responsibility of the LWVMD Board. Only the President, legislative action coordinator, or a director or other member designated by the President may speak for or take action on behalf of the LWVMD. LLs and MAL units may take action on state governmental issues only when authorized to do so by the state Board and only in conformity with, not contrary to, the position taken by the LWVMD. Individual members may act in the name of the League only when authorized to do so by the state Board. (See the LWVMD Bylaws, Article X, Section 5 and Section 6.)
Each LL and MAL unit president has a formal responsibility to send a letter from the LL or MAL unit, or take whatever other official action is requested, in response to every League Action Alert. The LWVMD may also request that LLs and MAL units ask their members to contact state officials and speak as individual citizens, but not as League members, on issues of concern to the LWVMD.
2. The Basis for LWVMD Action. Action at the state level must be based on LWVMD or LWVUS positions and/or principles, or in some instances, on LL, MAL or ILO unit positions. If there is some question about whether or not a contemplated action is authorized under a LWVUS position, clearance and clarification will be sought from the LWVUS.
3. LWVMD Action approved by Initiation of Action at the state level by LLs, MAL units and ILOs. Before a LL, MAL unit or ILO initiates action at the state governmental level based on national, state, ILO, LL or MAL unit positions, the LL, MAL unit or ILO board must obtain LWVMD Board approval. In considering whether to grant permission, the following criteria will be applied:
If all the answers to these questions are negative, the Board will probably grant permission, particularly if the legislation is clearly local. If the issue or legislation applies across the state, the Board also may grant approval in some cases. In cases where time for approval is too short for board review, and if approval seems routine, the President may grant approval for LL, MAL or ILO action.
Guidelines for LLs, MAL units and ILOs for action at the state level on local positions are described in Section III.
4. Guidelines for taking action at the State Government Level based on Local Positions
If the Board grants permission to a LL, MAL unit or ILO to contact state government officials to promote a LL or MAL unit position:
The LWVMD will maintain an action email list that will consist of members of local leagues, and others who choose to subscribe, that do not opt out of list membership where local and national Action Alerts and general noticies will be distributed on a timely basis for Action participation.
B. Action at the Federal Government Level
1. In response to Action Alerts issued by LWVUS
The LWVMD has the primary responsibility for contacting U.S. Senators and members of the House of Representatives from Maryland. LLs and MAL units should also contact the Maryland’s U.S. Senators and members of the U.S. House of Representative in response to LWVUS Action Alerts whenever possible.
LLs and MAL units must communicate to their non-email members LWVUS Action Alerts to contact their congressmen (both senators and the representatives) from their districts. The members should act as individuals and not in the name of the League.
2. Action Alerts on federal government level Initiated by the LWVMD, LLs or MAL units. With LWVUS approval, the League, LLs and MAL units may contact federal officials about proposed federal legislation that directly affects the State or a local area.
C. Public Responsibility Action and Advocacy, if no position:
LWVMD, LL, MAL unit and ILO leaders, (officers, board members or off-board directors) may not advocate in opposition to a LWVUS or LWVMD position. If the LWVUS or LWVMD has no position on the issue, they may testify as individuals.
A LWVMD spokesperson can speak if not a recognized spokesperson both for the LWVMD and another organization as long as they speak to the LWV positions and the positions of the 2 organizations are compatible..
II. PROCEDURES
Each year the Board canvasses LLs, MALs and MAL units for suggestions on legislative priorities for the next General Assembly session. The Board selects the priority issues based on input from the LLs, MAL units and state Board members. The priorities establish the framework for LWVMD action on legislation.
LWVMD’s formal Action Alerts or Calls to Action to LLs and MAL units generally pertain to proposed legislation related to the adopted priority issues but they include issues that arise during the legislative session or in the interim.
B. Contacting Legislators.
LLs, MALs and MAL units establish a procedure for contacting their members of the General Assembly when requested to do so by the LWVMD. The members of the networks are prepared to respond as quickly as possible by contacting their legislators. The members lobby their legislators as individuals.
LLs and LWVMD leaders should send copies of their letters to members of the U.S. Congress to the LWVMD President and the LWVUS Legislative Action Department. LL and LWVMD leaders should send copies of letters to state government officials to the LWVMD President or to the Legislative Action Coordinator.
"Program" includes LWVMD positions, development of new LWVMD positions through consensus or concurrence, and action (advocacy) based on those positions.
The LWVMD Program Chair, usually a Vice-President, is responsible for coordinating the program development process and consensus or concurrence process, and revision of Study and Action: A Leader's Guide to State Program.
Program Development
The Program Chair requests, four months before State Convention, that LLs and MAL Units review existing state positions, propose changes, and submit proposals for topics they believe require new or extensively updated LWVMD positions. The LLs and MAL Units also propose a new study either with consensus or concurrence as the appropriate method of developing new state positions.
The Board reviews the LL proposals and presents its recommendations to the LLs and MALs and MAL units at least two months before Convention.
Convention delegates consider the Board's recommendations and may adopt them by a majority vote. Delegates may also, by a majority vote, grant consideration to proposals that the Board did not recommend; they may adopt such proposals by a two-thirds vote.
Existing positions, ratified by the Convention, become the basis for Action (see pages 2-4); the consensus or concurrence process begins for topics adopted by the Convention which require new state positions.
Consensus and Concurrence
"Consensus" is agreement statewide among a substantial number of members, based upon the sense of meeting discussions, or other venues for expressing opinions. Consensus is not necessarily unanimous, nor is it a simple majority. Consensus is not achieved through a vote!
"Concurrence" is agreement statewide among a substantial number of members with an existing position of a LL or leagues. It may also mean agreement with positions developed by a resource committee appointed by the Board, or with positions of Leagues outside of Maryland. LLs may either accept or reject in total the positions proposed for concurrence: the wording cannot be changed.
Consensus and concurrence are valid only when two-thirds of the LLs take part in the process.
The Consensus and Concurrence Process
The Board appoints a committee chair who conducts the study or concurrence process, in coordination with the LWVMD Program Chair. The committee chair assembles a committee whose members are representatives of LLs, and sets time frames for the committee's work, including deadlines for LLs to submit Consensus or Concurrence Reports to the state Program Chair.
The LWVMD Board gives LLs and MAL units notice of the consensus or concurrence deadline just after its calendar meeting which is generally held each summer. The LLs and MAL units can then include these deadlines in their LL calendars.
The committee researches the topic, generates objective Fact Sheets and background data, develops Consensus Questions or Concurrence Statements which link back to the Fact Sheets, and a Reporting Form. These materials are sent to LLs who make the Fact Sheets available to their members, generally through LL newsletters. LL members may then meet to discuss the Consensus Questions or Concurrence Statements, or other means may be used (e.g., mail, email, telephone polling, email) with approval of the Board. LLs complete the Reporting form (one consolidated form for LLs which have more than one meeting group) and forward it to the LWVMD Program Chair by the deadline stated.
The LWVMD Program Chair convenes a committee to determine consensus and concurrence results. The committee includes the Program Chair, one additional Board member, the study committee chair (on or off-Board) and three members representing LLs of various sizes and geographic locations: they will analyze the Report Forms from each LL, report the results to the Board, and propose for the Board's approval the positions on which consensus was achieved. (Positions for concurrence were approved at the time materials were released to the LLs).
After LWVMD Board approval, the positions are released to members and the general public (where appropriate), and Action may be taken based on them. The new positions are ratified at the next LWVMD Convention, or occasionally at State Council. (in an emergency situation)
Revisions to Study and Action
The LWVMD Program and Action Chairs collaborate after the biennial state Convention to update Study and Action. The revision should, whenever possible, be completed by early fall of the Convention year.
Voter Service activities are designed to give factual unbiased information with no endorsement or recommendations. Activities to promote or oppose the passage of any ballot question or action on a League position are Program/Action, not Voters Service. This includes action on positions we have on voting rights, such as a change in the election laws.
Nonpartisanship: It is particularly important to keep the LWVMD's nonpartisanship policy in mind in Voter Service activities. Such activities must always be carried out in a professional, neutral way so that no favoritism or discrimination is shown any party, faction or candidate. The ground rules must be the same for all candidates in Voters’ Guides and in candidates meetings. (Please see Nonpartisanship section.)
Distinction between Voter Service and Program activities: These two types of activities must be handled separately and coordinated by different League members. Voter Service materials must not contain League positions and must be distributed separately from materials containing League positions. Informational meetings on ballot issues should not include presentations on League positions. In answer to questions on specific issues, the League position, if any, may be stated.
I. LWVMD RESPONSIBILITIES
The LWVMD will provide guidelines, information and training on how to
prepare and publish Voters’
Guides in print and online.
Questions
a. Questions for candidates for statewide office: Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, U.S. Senators, House of Representatives and Judges are determined by the LWVMD Board with input from LLs and questionnaires are prepared by the LWVMD.
b. Questions for General Assembly candidates: LWVMD Board will propound three mandatory questions to be asked of legislative candidates (State Senator, State Delegate). LWVMD Board will propound three non-mandatory questions to be asked of legislative candidates.
LLs may propound additional questions for legislative candidates. If LLs do not propound replacement questions for the non-mandatory questions, or if the LLs that share a district cannot as a group agree or decide upon replacement questions, they shall default to the LWVMD Board propounded questions.
A deadline for submission of replacement questions by LLs to LWVMD Board will be determined and publicized by the State Voter Service Chairperson. Replacement questions not received by the deadline will not be used; rather, non-mandatory, Board questions will be used.
Workshop
A workshop which includes current information which LLs need from the LWVMD is conducted early enough to help everyone plan for the Voters’ Guides in a timely fashion, i.e. about six months before the Primary. An additional workshop may be held later if needed. Copies of old guides and other related material will be available at the workshop.
A kit of materials available at the workshop may include:
a calendar of election-related dates;
a list of things to do - the LL responsibilities;
a
deadline schedule of what should be done when;
a brief fact sheet on the election process so the Voters’ Guide chairs and online Administrators will understand it and be confident in making decisions;
explanatory material to put in paper Guides and online such as descriptions of statewide offices, judicial elections, salaries, ballot questions, write-in information. (Some are mandatory, some used only if space permits);
LWVMD Mailings/E-mails:
Names of statewide candidates who have filed with the State Board of Elections (SBE), to LLs (or lead Leagues in some cases).
For the General Election, a copy and explanation of statewide ballot questions (constitutional amendments and statewide referenda) to each LL.
II. Lead League Responsibilities:
Definition: A Lead League is a LL which has agreed to handle all questionnaires for candidates in a shared state or congressional legislative district.
a. Send questionnaires to candidates in the shared district.
b. Get replies. Follow up with e-mail and phone calls as needed.
c. Immediately send copies of the original replies to the LLs in the shared district.
A list of local Voter Service chairs will be provided by the LWVMD.
III. LL Responsibilities:
IV. General Guidelines:
A. What candidates should be included in the Guide?
All candidates for the same office whose names have been certified to be on the ballot are included in the Guide and online. Candidates having no contest in the general election may be listed by name only, but it is preferable to include their biographies and answers. Candidates who are unopposed in the primary should be listed at least by name and their biographies and answers included if space permits. The check list of candidates should include the names of all the candidates who will be on the ballot. [Note: unopposed candidates DO appear on the ballot]
Third Party candidates who have filed with the appropriate Board of Elections AND who have qualified for the ballot should be included in online and in general election Voters’ Guides.
Write-in candidates who have filed with the appropriate Board of Elections by a date set by the Voters’ Guide Editor should be included in the General Election Voters’ Guide and identified by party as a write-in candidate. There should be a notice in the Voters’ Guide about the deadline and that other candidates may have filed [Example: "Write in candidates who filed with the SBE by this date and who provided the League of Women Voters with responses are included in this Guide. Information about other write-in candidates may be obtained at SBE website or on the LWV website."] Note: There are no write-in candidates for the Primary Election.
If space permits, candidates for all offices should be included in the Guide. It should be decided ahead of time which offices, if any, will be omitted if space is a problem, and all LLs involved should be included in the decision.
B. In order to treat all candidates throughout the state alike, a uniform policy should be established for:
Cutting off replies that exceed the word limit. Candidates' information is to be printed verbatim. If the word limit is exceeded, the LL should strike all words to the nearest appropriate place within the word limit.
All candidates should be notified in the cover letter that they must meet the same deadline as everyone else even if they do not have opposition in the primary.
If LLs are able to obtain candidate bio/replies after the LWVMD/LWVMDEF fails to do so, the information should be sent to the League to share with other LLs.
C. When multiple questions are prepared for an office, they should be listed in order of priority so that, if space in the Guide becomes a problem, the question having the lowest priority is omitted. ---
The LWVMDEF board decides on priorities. Three questions are used in the primary Guide and three questions in the general Guide.
D. Realistic word limits should be assigned to the questions. The limit need not be the same for all questions or categories of candidates.
E. Letters to candidates in shared districts will inform them that their replies will be shared with all other Leagues in the district for inclusion in their Guides.
F. Dealing with newspapers: The League must retain editorial control. Agreements with newspapers that print Guides must be worked out ahead of time and include all decisions that can be foreseen. Have a written memorandum of understanding signed by all parties involved. Non-negotiable points include the prohibition of advertising connected in any way with a candidate and a requirement that the League must be allowed to proofread final copy. Negotiable points would be the number of copies to be provided the League for distribution, the cost if any to LL, schedule of deadlines, printing and publication dates, offices to be included, exclusive material or not, format to be used. Photos may be used at the discretion of the LL and the newspaper. Do not request photos unless they are likely to be used.
G. Administration of online Guides will be in accordance with policies and guidelines established by LWVUS.
V. Future Considerations:
For many years, local Leagues were able to make arrangements for distributing their printed voters’ guides through local newspapers. Rising printing costs and changing priorities in the print media field have made this option of distribution prohibitively expensive for some League budgets. If distributing a voters’ guide through a local newspaper is the best solution, but the cost is prohibitive, Leagues may want to consider a special fundraising appeal for this singular purpose.
If a local League finds that it is unable to partner with a newspaper for distribution of a voters' guide, creative thinking can open new avenues for delivery that are convenient, inexpensive and effective. Each local League should have a printable (pdf) voters’ guide on its website, which offers to voters the opportunity to print out the guide at their convenience. The availability of the voters' guide on the website should be advertised extensively. (An advertisement in a local newspaper announcing the availability of a local voters’ guide is MUCH less expensive than printing a voters guide.) An email containing a link to the online guide should be distributed to local schools, libraries, organizations, political clubs, businesses, and local media outlets. In some jurisdictions, the local Board of Elections will put a link to the League’s local voters' guide on its website.
The LWVMDEF is responsible for organizing debates for statewide offices; namely, Governor and U.S. Senators.
It is the role of the LWVMD/LWVMDEF prior to the primary and/or general elections to initiate and manage League-sponsored debates for candidates for Governor and/or U.S. Senator. Debates affecting those offices should not be sponsored by LLs without LWVMD Board approval. LLs may hold forums for the U.S. House of Representatives, the State Senate and House of Delegates and local county or city offices. (Please see Nonpartisanship section.)
LWVMDEF may respond favorably to requests from other organizations to cosponsor additional gubernatorial and senatorial debates if they are nonpartisan and if candidates meet League standards for participation. Caution should be exercised when co-sponsorship with other organizations, especially single issue organizations, if proposed. Such co-sponsorship should not conflict with the League-managed debates called for in the previous paragraph. This same policy applies to requests for assistance, e.g., timekeeping, moderating or furnishing questions.
Implementation of the Policy when the League is the Sole Sponsor:
A decision will be made early in the election year whether LWVMDEF will sponsor debate(s). If so, the President will appoint a debate management committee.
The committee should estimate early in the year how much the debate(s) will cost so that money can be budgeted and donations can be solicited to cover costs.
The media should be informed early in the year that the LWVMDEF plans to sponsor and manage a debate. Effort should be made to obtain wide coverage throughout the state.
Criteria for Debates and Participating Candidates
Debates aim to serve the following purposes:
Educate the public about issues;
Allow face-to-face comparisons of the candidates and their positions;
Stimulate and increase voter interest and participation in the election.
To be invited to participate in an LWVMDEF debate a candidate must:
meet the requirements of the Maryland Constitution and/or the Constitution of the United States;
meet all requirements to be on the ballot according to Maryland's election laws;
demonstrate significant voter interest and support by being nominated by a major political party in Maryland, or by receiving 15% of public support in a recognized nonpartisan statewide public opinion poll;
show that a formal campaign is being waged by the existence of headquarters and campaign staff.
These criteria have been developed to comply with the requirements of the Federal Elections Commission and the Federal Communications Commission.
It is the policy of the League of Women Voters of Maryland that candidate debates and forums should be inclusive of all candidates who have qualified to be on the ballot, including third-party candidates, minor party candidates, independent candidates and write-in candidates. However, if the debate or candidates' forum is co-sponsored by a television or radio station and the station is not able to provide coverage if all candidates are included, the League may resort to the kinds of candidate qualifications set by LWVUS (e.g., polling figures, establishment of campaign office, etc.)