2026 Program

Annual Meeting
Written By LWV Chicago

The League ‘Program’ determines which issues we prioritize for advocacy and education. The following materials have been prepared in advance of LWV Chicago’s Annual Meeting on June 6, 2026.

Strategic Program Suggestions

Continue to advocate and educate on the following issues:

  • Defending & Expanding Democracy

  • Protect the Freedom to Vote & Improve Elections

  • Ranked Choice Voting

  • Transparency in City Government

  • Environmental Action

  • Police Reform and Public Safety

  • Fight for Fair Redistricting

  • Election Protection

  • Reduce Money's Political Influence

2026/2027 Program Plans from LWV Chicago’s Advocacy Committees

City Government

The City Government Committee (CGC) will continue to follow the City Council and its committees. The CGC continues to promote efforts to ensure transparency so that Chicago residents have adequate knowledge of proposed Council actions and sufficient notice of proposed actions to allow residents to advocate. In following Council committees, the CGC will refer items of possible interest to other LWV Chicago committees and the Board. The CGC will continue to maintain and update, as appropriate, the Chicago government webpages on LWV Chicago's website.

Community Oversight of Public Safety 

The Community Oversight of Public Safety (COPS) Committee’s work complements that done by the state and county League of Women Voters criminal justice committees by focusing on efforts to ensure public safety through police accountability, community policing and what is required for community safety beyond policing. We follow the work of four organizations, and report back to the Chicago League suggestions for action: City Commission on Public Safety and Accountability, Justice 20/20 Network, Illinois Justice Project, and the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Oppression.

Education

The Schools Committee will continue to follow Chicago School Board meetings and financial problems, and to educate members and the public about school board elections and local school council elections.

Environmental Action

The Environmental Action Committee (EAC) will continue to educate LWV Chicago members on why our changing climate is a threat to democracy. The EAC will continue to promote individual responsibility and provide motivation for success through our Tips & Tricks for Sustainable Living and Waste Not Want Not blog. The EAC advocates for environmental policy at several levels of government:

Chicago

  • Continue to education on and advocate for:

    • Effective funding and enforcement authority for the Department of Environment

    • Clean indoor air quality standards with the Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance (O2024-0007305)

    • Reduction of single-use plastics

    • A clean, safe, effective and sustainable public transportation system

State

Inter League Organizations (ILOs)

  • Strengthen our relationship with the LWV Upper Mississippi River Region, Lake Michigan Region and Cook County to help protect our shared waterways and open lands

Ranked Choice Voting

LWV Chicago will continue to lobby Chicago alders to support Ranked Choice Voting.

Voter Service

For the 2026-2027 year, the Voter Service Committee will reorganize. The following activities will be considered:

  • Voter registration: High Schools, Colleges & Universities, Greater Chicago Food Depository locations, Naturalization Ceremonies, Cook County Jail and returning citizen events, Libraries, Resource Fairs & Community Events, Rallies & Festivals, and Senior Living Facilities

  • Provide voter education through presentations, handouts, and online guides such as VOTE411

  • Organize candidate forums and debates for the 2026 General Election and the 2027 municipal elections

  • Marshal observers for our Election Protection program and encourage members to be election judges

  • Attend and report on Chicago Board of Elections meetings

LWV Chicago
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