LWVUS Comments on Open Government National Action Plan

The General Services Administration requested public comment on open government priorities for the 6th Open Government National Action Plan. LWVUS urged the GSA to prioritize full implementation of the Voting Access EO and collect disaggregated data on race, ethnicity, and sex and gender inequality.

Alexis Masterson
US Open Government Secretariat
Office of Government-wide Policy
1800 F St., NW
Washington, DC 20405

Re: Notice “Docket GSA-GSA-2024-0016

To Whom It May Concern: 

On behalf of the League of Women Voters of the United States (the League), I write to offer recommendations on commitments that should be included in the 6^th US Open Government National Action Plan. 

The League is a 104-year-old nonpartisan nonprofit committed to ensuring that everyone is represented in our democracy. We are a grassroots group comprised of over one million members and supporters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 700 local and state Leagues. The League focuses on advocacy, education, litigation, and organizing to achieve our mission to empower voters and defend democracy. We base our work on our policy positions developed out of multi-year studies and derived through consensus by League membership, to ensure our advocacy reflects best practices and a nationwide perspective.

Challenge: Public Participation

Under-Implementation of the Voting Access Executive Order

President Biden’s Voting Access Executive Order 14019 (EO) acknowledged the responsibility of the federal government to expand access to and education about voter registration to help ensure all Americans can participate in our democracy. The EO adopts a bold, whole-of-government approach to integrating voter registration opportunities through federal agency programs. It directs federal agencies to “consider ways to expand citizens’ opportunities to register to vote and to obtain information about, and participate in, the electoral process.” Access to voter registration is one way that the public sector serves and is accountable to its people and their ability to participate in our democracy.

With robust implementation, the Administration’s action under the Voting Access EO has the potential to make registration and voting more accessible for millions of Americans, including many communities historically excluded from the political process. Thus far, implementation of the EO has left something to be desired and there is still more work to be done. Agencies should revisit their opportunities to expand voter registration and ensure that they prioritize compliance with this Executive Order. More information about agency opportunities to align with the EO can be found in a report prepared by voting rights advocacy organizations entitled “Strengthening Democracy: A Progress Report on Federal Agency Action to Promote Access to Voting,” which assessed the responses of 10 federal agencies based on their potential for promoting access to voter registration, feasibility of voter registration, direct interaction with the public, and ability to reach marginalized communities in our political system.   

Challenge: Gender and Inclusion

Federal Standards for Collecting and Reporting Race and Ethnicity

Now that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has updated the Race and Ethnicity Statistical Standards, all agencies should prioritize their implementation. Agencies considering the timing of implementation should weigh the importance of quickly complying with the updated standards with the need for accurate data. Disaggregated data is necessary to understand the diverse experiences of all   American communities in contact with US government agencies. Some agencies have already started to roll out plans to incorporate the updated standards; remaining agencies should aim to have an implementation plan developed by September 2025 —18 months after the publication of the updated standards. 

Federal Standards for Collecting and Reporting Sex and Gender Inequality

The League supports equal rights for all regardless of sex and believes that the federal government shares the responsibility to provide equality of opportunity for education, employment, and housing for all persons in the United States. As federal data helps inform the design and implementation of policies, programs, and funding investments, the League recommends that all federal agencies prioritize disaggregated data collection of sex and gender, and analysis of metrics of sex and gender inequality. This includes but is not limited to educational attainment, employment status, occupation, annual income, housing, intimate partner victimization, gun-related deaths, and health outcomes.

The League of Women Voters of the United States appreciates the opportunity to submit recommendations on the 6^th US Open Government National Action Plan. We recognize the challenge of responding to a wide array of stakeholder priorities and welcome further discussion. For questions, please feel free to reach out to our staff via Kristen Kern, federal policy and advocacy manager for the League of Women Voters of the US, at [email protected]. 

Sincerely,

Jessica Jones Capparell 
Interim Senior Director, Advocacy and Litigation 
League of Women Voters of the US