November 2026 President's Update

Ten Conversations. One Powerful Habit: Let’s Make Every Ballot Count.

by Mark Kendall, LWVOR President

Mark Kendall, LWVOR President

We have only a few more days to make a difference in these important midterm elections! One conversation at a time is how we build a stronger democracy.  So, in one last push before November 3rd:

• Contact 10 people and remind them to submit and verify their ballots.

  
  

• Check your own ballot at OregonVotes.gov/Track.

  
  

• Connect with an ally organization to strengthen your League’s community partnerships.

Ten Conversations

With Election Day only a couple days away, (November 3rd - don't forget!), we still have time to reach out to at least 10 people - family, friends, neighbors, or colleagues - and remind them to submit their ballots and check their voting status. At this time all ballots should be placed directly into your county's official ballot boxes for them to be counted in this election. Official county ballot boxes can be found at OregonVotes.gov/counties. Don’t just deliver your ballot. Track it.

Tracking Your Ballot

BallotTrax is available statewide for the November general election. This free service provides updates by text, email, or phone as your ballot is mailed, received, and accepted for counting. Sign up to check your ballot status at OregonVotes.gov/Track. If BallotTrax reports a signature mismatch or another problem, contact your county elections office promptly. BallotTrax is currently supported by emergency funding only for the 2026 general election. The Secretary of State plans to seek ongoing funding. By using the service and sharing it with others, Oregonians can demonstrate its value for voter confidence, transparency, and accountability.

Connect With Others

Now that we’ve done the hard work to get the vote out, let’s leverage it.  Let’s be stronger together and continue to put collaboration into action.  The League of Women Voters of the United States’ Unite & Rise 8.5 initiative encourages Leagues and allied organizations to strengthen civic participation and democratic resilience through collaboration with allied organizations. 

The Power Playbook 6 for August through October mobilized over 700 Leagues nationwide to reach out to some 8.5 million new people to amplify participation in this midterm election.  It calls on us to continue to build resilient collaborations with other non-partisan, democracy defense organizations.  To carry these strategies forward into our everyday work we can: 

• Connect with at least one aligned community organization, listen to its priorities, and explore sustained collaboration with your League at the local level on local issues.

  
  

• Expand voter education. Share trusted, nonpartisan information, direct voters to VOTE411, and reach people who may not regularly encounter League resources. Invite non-members to one of our Communications Cafes.  

  
  

• Strengthen long-term engagement. Continue working together through civic education, youth engagement, public participation, and support for transparent government.

  
  

Potential partners include public libraries, educational organizations, Girl Scouts, the American Association of University Women, American Civil Liberties Union, League of United Latin American Citizens and other voting rights and community groups. Successful partnerships depend on listening, clear expectations, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to the League’s nonpartisan mission.

Democracy depends on participation, reliable information, and people working together. Thank you for helping Oregon’s voters participate with confidence and for carrying this spirit of collaboration into the year ahead.

Together, we empower voters, strengthen communities, and defend democracy.

In League,

Mark Kendall

LWVOR President