Issues and Positions

Issues and Positions

State Program & Action Agenda

 

Our Core Positions 

LWVSC supports policies that ensure fair and open elections through unbiased and equitable redistricting, encouraging voter registration and access to voting, open primaries, and use of voting equipment that ensures that voters can participate without any undue obstacle and produces election results that can be verified as accurately reflecting the intent of voters. Specific positions address redistricting, voter registration/voter access, and election management.
 
LWVSC supports the development and monitoring of government structures, processes, and procedures that are efficient, responsive, representative, transparent and accountable; providing citizen access to, and participation in, decision-making; and a system of state and local taxation that is equitable and provides adequate revenue for public purposes. Specific positions address transparency and accountability, the General Assembly, executive and regulatory, judiciary, constitutional revision, local government and home rule, and state and local taxation.
 
LWVSC supports the creation of a nurturing, protective, and supportive environment for all of its residents, regardless of race or gender. Important public services that contribute to that environment include education, health care, protection of children’s rights, and the criminal justice system. We support public state-supported education at all levels which is high quality, effective, equitable, fully funded, and accountable. We affirm the right of children to protective services, safe and affordable childcare, and fair and supportive treatment when in the juvenile justice system. We support policies that will reduce the prison population and provide better services to inmates that will help to rehabilitate them when they return to the community.
 
  • Racial and Gender Equity: LWVSC supports gender and racial equity, including ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment and the promotion of fairness in hiring, advancement, pay, and representation in public appointments.
  • EducationLWVSC supports public state-supported education at all levels that is high quality, effective, equitable, fully funded, and accountable.
  • Health CareLWVSC, in conformity with LWVUS policy, supports provision of a basic level of quality health care at an affordable cost for all South Carolina residents. Health Insurance should be expanded to cover all South Carolinians. The state should participate fully in federal programs to provide health care insurance and services. LWVSC strongly supports access to sexual and reproductive health care and autonomy of decision-making.
  • Protection of Children’s RightsLWVSC supports programs and policies that ensure quality services, personnel, financing, and training at all levels of government in order to meet the needs of children and families, and a juvenile justice system that has as its primary purpose the rehabilitation, safety, and well-being of the offender.
  • Criminal Justice: LWVSC supports improvements in function and oversight of the Department of Correction to promote the rehabilitation, safety, and well-being of inmates, with attention to offenders’ responsibility to the community and preparing them for their return to the community. 
LWVSC supports promoting an environment beneficial to life through the protection and wise management of natural resources in the public interest by recognizing the interrelationships of air quality, energy, land use, habitat preservation, waste management and water resources, sustainable agricultural programs and practices and a balanced approach to transportation and growth management planning. 
 
  • Natural Resources: LWVSC supports promotion of an environment that is beneficial to life through the protection and wise management of natural resources in the public interest by recognizing the interrelationships of air quality, energy, land use, habitat preservation, waste management and water resources and sustainable agricultural programs and practices.
  • Transportation: LWVSC supports local, regional, and coordinated multi-modal transportation services that efficiently and economically meet community needs and enhance planned growth, but do not adversely affect the environment.