Advocacy Team – LWVAL Blog

2024Leg Civic Action

Advocating for Sales Tax Exemption on Hearing Aids in Alabama

The League of Women Voters of Alabama supports the removal of sales tax on hearing aids to ensure equitable access to health care and improve quality of life. Hearing aids are essential medical devices but can be financially burdensome. The Alabama Legislature recently passed HB51, amending Section 40-23-4 of the Code of Alabama 1975, to exempt sales tax on hearing aids at the state level effective October 1, 2024. However, local ordinances must be approved for this exemption to apply to county and municipal taxes. Removing the sales tax will make hearing aids more…

By Advocacy Team July 2, 20242024Leg, Civic Action

2022Leg Democracy Education Reproductive Rights

Let’s think more deeply about an important issue

All human life is valuable. That includes the life of the unborn, but it also includes the life of the mother, the lives of children already born, and even fathers and grandparents. There are many issues that have not been considered with respect to a broad ban on abortion. If women can’t effectively plan their own child-bearing, then are women being recognized as full human beings and citizens of our democracy? But these are concerns not only for women of child-bearing age. Men also share the responsibility of child-rearing. Even women who are…

By Advocacy Team September 22, 20222022Leg, Democracy, Education, Reproductive Rights

2022Leg Civic Action Democracy Education Transparency in Government

The League of Women Voters Commends the Alabama Legislature for Improvements in Government Transparency

As an organization dedicated to voter education and the widest possible voter engagement in our democracy, the League of Women Voters is very pleased to commend the Alabama Legislature for steps they have taken to improve government transparency. We would like to acknowledge that the work was spearheaded by the Legislative Computer Center and was a collaborative effort of the Senate, House, and Legislative Services Agency. By “transparency,” we mean that voters can easily see what is happening so that they can express their views on legislation to their own legislators. In particular, we…

By Advocacy Team March 15, 20222022Leg, Civic Action, Democracy, Education, Transparency in Government

2022Leg Civic Action Education

Thoughts on teaching history accurately

Article by Carol Prickett *** The League of Women Voters of Alabama, with members all across the state, has a deep and abiding commitment to educating Alabama citizens about current issues. We believe that an accurately informed population votes for the government that best serves the state. With this focus on urgent current matters, why do we take just as strong a stand about teaching history in our public schools? It is because the stories we tell about the past shape the decisions we make in the future. Students trust teachers to tell them,…

By Advocacy Team March 13, 20222022Leg, Civic Action, Education

Civic Action Democracy

Why should we care about voting rights?

As members of the League of Women Voters, we sometimes take for granted that voting rights are essential. Many Americans know the history of the struggle for the right to vote for ALL citizens and understand the importance of voting rights, but we still hear questions like the following: “What’s the big deal about voting rights?” or “Why should I care about voting rights?” The basic answer is that, in a democracy, your vote is your voice. As Americans, we all want our voices to be heard. Do you realize what we Americans accomplished…

By Advocacy Team April 14, 2021Civic Action, Democracy

2021Leg

Make Records Open, Accessible, and Affordable

Without SB165 we can’t check on what our government is up to easily and in a timely manner and we are left without a way to hold officials accountable and cannot be assured that our government is working for us and not for monied interests who can afford pricey lobbyists.

By Advocacy Team April 7, 20212021Leg

Civic Action Democracy

Democracy is not a spectator sport

Democracy is not a spectator sport; all citizens are needed to Make Democracy Work! The League of Women Voters is here to provide you with information to help you successfully influence federal, state, and local governments in ways that improve Alabamians’ quality of life. You can make a difference! Governing in a democracy is both an amazing privilege and a serious responsibility. Successfully holding our leaders accountable to their solemn responsibility requires continuously active and engaged citizens who demand transparency and accountability. We all must educate ourselves about important challenges that we face (as…

By Advocacy Team March 15, 2021Civic Action, Democracy

2021Leg

HB129 ensures fewer residents lose their license for non-driving offenses

For many people, a driver’s license is not only the only legal way to be able to drive, but it is also their only form of legal ID. What if you suddenly didn’t have a license? You would not be able to legally drive your child to see a doctor if your child became sick. You could not go to a school to meet with a teacher about your child’s special needs. You would not be able to present an ID to vote. You would not be able to drive to work, nor operate equipment on the job (for example, construction equipment) required by your employer. You could lose your job.

By Advocacy Team March 7, 20212021Leg

2021Leg

Drop the excuses, support absentee voting for all

The absentee ballot application is cluttered with irrelevant and confusing excuses that are useless for ensuring election integrity. This complicates clear communication of what a person must submit to receive an absentee ballot.

By Advocacy Team March 3, 20212021Leg

2021Leg

HB396 makes absentee voting accessible to all AL voters

During the 2020 General Election, Alabama Voters demonstrated their commitment to democracy by voting in record-breaking numbers during the tumultuous conditions of the worst pandemic in 100 years. The total number of ballots cast in the November 2020 General Election was 2,329,114, the largest total number of votes ever cast during an election in Alabama! In 2020, Absentee Voting became a very popular method of voting for the elderly and immunocompromised, as well as people who didn’t want to expose themselves to the deadly coronavirus at their polling place. Out of the total ballots…

By Advocacy Team February 25, 20212021Leg