The League of Women Voters takes action on an issue only when we have a position addressing it. If the members have not studied and come to consensus on it, the League has no position and therefore cannot take action. Studies (whether national, state, or local) are a defined process lasting one to three years, during which we undertake thorough pursuit of facts and details, both positive and negative, and come to consensus about policy.
What Studies Are There?
Studies from across the nation are in our League of Women Voters Education Fund Clearinghouse for studies.
What Is The Study Process?
- Study Committee members fashion consensus questions that are then asked of the membership as part of a study kit. Kits often include articles, books, data in the form of charts and graphs, videos, suggested speakers, discussion questions, and other resources. Members use the study kit internally and often with their community to better understand the issue.
- Consensus is the overall decision-making process by which substantial agreement among members is reached on an issue. Often this happens over the course of several meetings, but may include surveys and other methods. If the members reach consensus, the board forms recommended positions based on that consensus. Those recommendations are submitted to the Study Committee.
- The Study Committee then reviews all the submissions. It works to form a consensus statement - the statement resulting from the consensus questions - that becomes a recommended position.
- That recommended position is then reviewed and voted on by our members (usually by delegates at our Convention). The proposal may be approved, amended, or be rejected at that time.
- If a position is adopted, firm action can then be taken on the particular issue addressed by the position. Without a position, action can not be taken on that issue.
Read the national Guidelines for LWVUS Studies.
The members at their annual meeting on 4/16/26 have approved a new study
Waste to Syngas Study
Background and Scope of the Study
At the January 13, 2026 Council meeting, Mozart Devco LLC presented its plan to build a waste-to-energy plant in North Central New Mexico. The company wants Los Alamos to be a partner through diversion of municipal solid waste via what is called a feedstock agreement.
The scope of the study is to learn how waste can be converted to energy through gasification.
What is the process?
What are the limitations- Can all waste be used?
What are the products?
What waste remains? How is it disposed of?
The purpose of the study is to determine if this is a method of dealing with our waste that we believe the County should adopt.