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Oregon Democracy Update: September 26, 2025

Updated: Sep 26

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Dear League members,


In the first three weeks of my tenure as President of the League of Women Voters of Oregon (LWVOR), there have been no fewer than four legitimate concerns which call for a timely, accurate, clear and principled response which conforms with our state and the national League of Women Voters’ (LWVUS) adopted positions. 


Amicus Brief: Measure 114 for Gun Safety


Last week, I authorized signing on to an amicus brief on Oregon Ballot Measure114, pending before the Oregon Supreme Court, expressing our strong interest.  This summer the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld the constitutionality of Ballot Measure 114, a gun safety measure approved by Oregon voters in the November 2024 general election.  That decision is being appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court.  LWVOR published an amicus brief in the first challenge in the Appeals Court.  The Brief submitted this week, with the exception of the court to which it's addressed, is identical to its predecessor and supports Oregon voters’ initiative petition rights.  In this case, time is of the essence to respond  to the Court, and to maintain solidarity with allies protecting Oregonians’ voting rights. 


Defending Voter Rights in Oregon


The three federal matters include a voter’s right to privacy, legal authority of the executive branch to deploy military on US soil, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s (USCIS) denying the League of Women Voters and other non-governmental civic organizations the right to register and inform new citizens of their voting rights at administrative naturalization ceremonies on USCIS properties.  In this case, LWVOR worked with LWVUS to determine that the policy does not restrict our ability to register newly-naturalized citizens at other locations. 


Oregon’s Governor, Hon. Tina Kotek, and our Secretary of State, Tobias Read, were sued on September 16 by the US Department of Justice to compel them to submit to the federal government detailed voter registration records which the State has no authority to release and the Federal government has no Constitutional basis to request.  Voters in Oregon and across the nation have a constitutional right to privacy. Protection from such an inquiry in violation of the Constitution is a national issue that deserves our full attention.  The Action Committee has formed an issue statement and, with my approval, sought advice on next steps from LWVUS Litigation.  


Letters to State Leaders: National Guard Deployment


In addition, the Executive Branch of the federal government has deployed the US military in the form of several states' National Guard units to police Los Angeles, the District of Columbia, and Memphis.  The Executive Branch is allowed such deployment decisions under specific legal authority.  The Executive Branch has targeted a number of cities across the nation in which a similar deployment is being considered, including Portland, Oregon.  In this case, states’ rights appear to be abridged by the violation of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878.  This is a matter both of states’ rights and also possibly of military suppression of free speech. LWVOR has asked the Governor and the Attorney General to ensure that the state has strong guardrails regarding the deployment of the National Guard.      


It is the League’s right and obligation to challenge any and all insults to civil and voting rights in this country.  Voting rights are a cornerstone, if not a pillar, of democracy for which the League of Women Voters is uniquely positioned to be a non-partisan voice of citizens in support of our constitutional democracy.  


In League,


Mark W. Kendall

LWVOR President



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