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Volume 27, Issue 12, october 28, 2004

News

League of Women Voters used to controversy

The Metropolitan

Support for Amendment 36, the controversial Electoral College reform proposal, pits the League of Women Voters of Colorado against the governor, every major paper in the state and both senatorial candidates.

A constitutional proposal to end the winner-takes-all of Colorado’s nine electoral votes in presidential elections, Amendment 36 would apportion the electoral votes according to a percentage of the popular vote. If President Bush won 51 percent of the popular vote in November’s election, he would get five of the nine votes, with Kerry getting four.

The LWV, a non-partisan voter advocacy organization, may support, oppose or take no position on state and local issues, said Mary Ann McCoy, past president of the Arapahoe LWV and member since 1976.

“We like one person, one vote,” McCoy said. The LWV believes the Electoral College should be abolished, she said.

Opponents of Amendment 36 say Colorado will lose its clout and become a “flyover state” if the winner gains only one additional vote.

There’s no reason for a candidate to campaign in Colorado, to talk with voters, and to listen to what Coloradoans want just to gain one additional electoral vote, said Kathie Finger, press liaison for Coloradoans Against A Really Stupid Idea.

The two-person political organization, headed by Republican political consultant Katie Atkinson, has raised more than $600,000 since August to fight Amendment 36.

“The effect of the amendment marginalizes Colorado influence in a presidential election,” Finger said.

“The League takes controversial positions on some things,” McCoy said. If the membership feels strongly about an issue such as the direct popular vote method or a woman’s right to choose, then they study the issue and decide by consensus to support or oppose. The LWV has supported the Amendment 36 issue for more than 30 years, McCoy said.

The primary purpose of the League of Women Voters is to educate and encourage participation in the democratic process.

Although the League is non-partisan and doesn’t endorse candidates of either party, it can and does take positions on issues. According to their Web site, the LWV of Colorado supports these issues:

  • Referendum B To remove obsolete constitutional provisions
  • Amendment 36 Apportion electoral votes
  • Amendment 37 Requires utilities to develop 10% of their electricity from renewable resources
  • Referendum 4A FasTracks
  • Referendum 4B Extend .1% tax of SCFD

The League takes no position on Referendum A, changes to the state personnel system, Amendment 34, right of property owners to sue contractors for faulty construction, or Amendment 35, the tobacco tax increase