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This article was originally published on OregonLive. As the November election approaches, in the tense atmosphere of a national pandemic, wildfires and civic unrest, Oregon’s decades of experience with mail-in ballots and online voter registration mean we could equal or exceed the voter participation rates of previous elections. Just one question remains: will we? The League of Women Voters has conducted voter registration drives for a century at public meetings, citizenship ceremonies, schools and street fairs. Those opportunities are not available now; yet we persevere. We just need to ask, in a grocery line or in online classes and throughout the community, “Are you registered to vote? Can I help you with that?” Then, masked and at a six-foot distance, we can direct future voters to the state’s online registration site  Oregonvotes.gov  or to the League’s national website  VOTE411.org , which also offers nonpartisan election information. (Voters can also use these sites to check that they are registered or to update the address on their registrations.) With government-issued ID, like a driver’s license, one can register to vote online in minutes. Lacking that ID, aspiring voters must deliver or mail a printed application to the county elections office by the registration deadline, October 13. Every vote is a voice. When you help someone register, you are saying “I believe you have a right to be heard.” That is a powerful message to send each other right now. Debbie Kaye and Katie Pool Kaye is president of the League of Women Voters of Portland and Pool is the organization’s voter registration coordinator.

Date: September 21, 2020 To: All League Members From: Rebecca Gladstone, LWVOR President Claudia Keith, Climate Portfolio Support the Congress4Juliana Climate Press Conference Register Today! Join League members all over the country to support a virtual press conference to introduce the Children’s Fundamental Rights and Climate Recovery Congressional Resolution! This congressional resolution for Our Children’s Trust, #Congress4Juliana, recognizes the rights of children, the disproportionate impacts from climate change on youth, and the need for national climate recovery planning. Register today at http://bit.ly/StandwithJuliana and help support #Congress4Juliana and this resolution! #youthvgov For more info, contact: Claudia Keith , Climate Portfolio

Download the President's Message using the link below.

Download the President's Message using the link below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7/27/2020 CONTACT Rebecca Gladstone, President 503.581.5722 www.lwvor.org lwvor@lwvor.org [Salem, Oregon] – The League of Women Voters of Oregon (LWVOR) calls for civil discourse amid Portland’s ongoing protests. We reaffirm Americans’ First Amendment right to peaceful protest. Our 100 year-old League defends every American’s constitutional rights for racial justice, voting rights, and equal opportunity. Courthouses should be havens of justice and safety for all but attention to structural vandalism is obscuring racial justice efforts. Pandemic defense and recovery funds fall short while federal spending to “dominate” frightens citizens. This unconstitutional approach is failing as more citizens become enraged. The federal help we desperately need is clear response to the protest issues: centuries of racial injustice, discrimination, and continued racial inequality. Governments at all levels need to promote economic opportunity, improve voting rights for all, combat police brutality, and honor our constitutional rights to free speech and to “peaceably assemble and petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” “Unrequested federal intervention is obstructing legitimate public demands. The Portland protesters are mostly peaceful, from all backgrounds, ages, and professions. Our Leagues, LWVUS, LWVPDX, and LWVOR, call for racial justice and police reform. Unconstitutional and criminal actions must stop.” -- Becky Gladstone, President, LWVOR We support Oregon’s police reform bill passed in June: HB 4208 To proclaim Black Lives Matter, review current and historic police experiences; prohibit tear gas except during riots, require adequate announcements and warnings. NEW: We will testify to Oregon’s new Joint Committee on Transparent Policing and Use of Force Reform for these “legislative concepts” directly relevant today: • LC 742 Regulate “chemical incapacitants, kinetic impact projectiles, and sound devices; define riot conditions”. Think of tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, and sound bombs. • LC 743 Establish police ID and visible identification requirements (show ID on request), define police uniform and vehicle marking requirements. • LC 744 Officers are required to intervene and report misconduct by another officer. • LC 745 Restrict “choke holds”; amendments are being discussed to ban them. • LC 746 Establish state-wide policing standards. If an arbitrator finds misconduct, discipline cannot be overturned and discipline matrix/guidelines will not be part of collective bargaining. • LC 748 (not yet publicly posted) Police who relocate to avoid discipline will be tracked in a state-wide police database being established. Those hiring police must consult previous employers. “The overwhelming majority of our protesters are peaceful. Most of our police are conscientious individuals trying to do a good job. We now need to get together as human beings and work out practical policies to reduce racism and unnecessary use of force.” – Barbara Ross, LWVOR Public Safety Advocate. See the LWVUS response to Portland protests and in Portland, LWVPDXDemands Equal Rights for All and is studying police accountability and reform. The League continues to monitor and advocate at local, state and national levels.

Download the President's Message using the link below.

Date: June 8, 2020 To: All League Members From: Rebecca Gladstone, LWVOR President Chris Cobey, Redistricting Coordinator REDISTRICTING VOLUNTEERS NEEDED NOW! Contact Chris Cobey: redistricting@lwvor.org , 650.743.5653 To VOLUNTEER In the Salem Campaign Office: Help process incoming petitions NOW! To VOLUNTEER Around Oregon: Outreach for signatures, answer questions, supply petitions Get E-Petitions HERE We need you to help process petitions in Salem under COVID-19 restrictions, follow up on direct and electronic mail, and collect signatures from family, friends, neighbors and the general public. This is an historic petition drive. As far as we know a “distance” petition drive has never been attempted before and is very expensive. Remember to sign and return the petitions. Get more petitions from the People Not Politicians (PNP) campaign website , the sooner, the better! Petitions need to be mailed by June 29th to be processed and filed with the Secretary of State by July 2. After that, petitions must be hand delivered to the campaign. For any questions, please contact Chris Cobey at redistricting@lwvor.org or 650.743.5653. Support Oregon IP 57: Citizens’ Independent Redistricting Commission LWVOR, the League of Women Voters of Oregon, supports this initiative. The LWVUS is actively working for Redistricting Reform in ALL 50 STATES! See the People Not Politicians campaign website for IP 57 information.

Download the President's Message using the link below.

Download the President's Message using the link below.

Download the President's Message using the link below.

Download the President's Message using the link below.

Download the President's Message using the link below.

Download the President's Message using the link below.

Download the President's Message using the link below.

Download the President's Message using the link below.

Download the President's Message using the link below.

Download the President's Message using the link below.

Download the President's Message using the link below.