This is the home of the League of Women Voters of Klamath County. We are a non-partisan organization that:
►encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government (see- GET INVOLVED)
► works to increase understanding of major national public policy issues, state issues and local issues (see- WHAT WE DO)
► influences public policy through education and advocacy (see- BECOME AN INFORMED VOTER)
Preparing for the General Election, November 5, 2024
The League of Women Voters’ primary purpose is supporting VOTING and ELECTIONS. Below you will find information on or links to:
- Registering to vote.
- Voting in Oregon’s mail-in system
- Learning about candidates and issues
- Learning about our efforts to inform (young) voters, present accurate and unbiased election information, and encourage voting as a civic duty
LWVOR Statement on Oregon Voter Registration and Election Integrity
September 25, 2024
The League of Women Voters (LWVOR) is committed to ensuring that every Oregonian can vote with confidence, knowing that the system is secure and reliable. Recently, the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) discovered a rare administrative error in which 1,259 non-citizens were mistakenly flagged for voter registration due to incorrect data entry.
It’s important to stress that Oregon’s voting system is built with safeguards to identify and correct such errors. The Secretary of State’s office has already taken swift action by notifying affected individuals and ensuring that only those who can provide proof of citizenship will receive ballots. Further, the DMV has implemented additional measures to prevent future occurrences.
To put this into perspective, these 1,259 cases represent just 0.04% of Oregon’s 3 million registered voters. While human error can happen, the systems in place are designed to detect and address issues, ensuring the integrity of our elections remains intact.
Oregonians can rest assured that our voting process is safe, secure, and continually improving to protect every eligible voter’s right to participate.
Voters are encouraged to verify their registration and election rules at VOTE411.org.
See Oregon Secretary of State’s Fact Sheet HERE.
Local Elections:
For Klamath County local elections, here is your chance to listen to candidates for both Sheriff and County Commissioner (position 1). On October 7 two candidates for each position engaged with numerous questions from the public. Watch here:
Here is the recording of the two-hour forum.
Other Klamath County local election issues in this general election are:
November 05, 2024 General
- 18-134: Jack Pine Village SRD, 5-year Local Option Tax (pdf)
- 18-135: Town of Bonanza, Amends Town Charter (pdf)
- 18-136: Bonanza Park District 3-year Local Option Tax (pdf)
Know your rights as a voter!
Are you a classroom-based or in-home educator? Do you have children or grandchildren who need to learn about our government? Do you work with young people who are observing our election cycle and have questions? Here are some resources for you from PBS:
How county election offices really work
Capital Community Media has released a 30-minute video that goes into the Marion County, Oregon Elections Office during an election and tracks ballots from the time they enter the building until the votes are counted. This is a genuine view of the process for anyone who has never observed it, or anyone who isn’t sure if the work of county election officers is transparent. Watch it here.
League of Women Voters: Don’t Spread Misinformation
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BIAS AWARENESS
Oregon is a safe place for everyone!
Your story, your voice, your choice.
Reporting is the first step to dismantling intolerance. Tell someone – anyone – if you experience hate or bias. You are not alone.
If you need support after experiencing hate or bias, Oregon’s confidential Bias Response Hotline is here for you.
If you have experienced or witnessed a hate crime or bias incident, contact Oregon’s confidential Bias Response Hotline at 1-844-924-BIAS (2427); make a report or chat with us online at StandAgainstHate.Oregon.gov.
#YouBelong. #StandAgainstHate #ORCivilRights #SpeakOutAgainstHate #OregonCares #EndHate #EndBias #StandTogether #UnityAgainstBias #ReportHate #EndDiscrimination #EmpowerChange
Government Transparency
Do you want to ensure transparency among elected officials? Become an observer!
Get Involved in Democracy. KEEPING DEMOCRACY ALIVE TAKES EVERY ONE OF US.
Observers in Klamath can attend meetings of
a) Klamath County Commissioner
b) Klamath Falls City Council
c) Klamath County School Board
d) Klamath Falls City Schools
e) any elected Board in the county for various services
Most of these meetings are available by Zoom so that you can attend from your own home. Remember that you cannot say anything at the meeting. You are literally there JUST to observe and report to LWV Klamath. Be sure to complete the Observer Corps form so that we can follow up on anything you suggest.
Our first action item was THIS letter we sent to the Klamath County Schools Board IN 2023.
Our observations work like this:
1) Observation reports are due the Sunday before the upcoming monthly LWV Klamath Board meeting, at 4 pm . Send the Observer form to Leslie Lowe at leslielowe@lvwklamath.org.
2) The Observer committee will meet at 4 pm the following day (Monday) by Zoom to discuss any reports and what action to suggest to the Board (Letter to Editor or to agency observed, website information, action plan, etc.)
3) The Board will decide what to do at the subsequent Thursday meeting
Be sure to complete the Observer Corps form so that we can follow up on anything you suggest.
Learn more from this pamphlet: Observing Your Government in Action, Protecting Your Right to Know.
And HERE is a recent post on the observer corps.
Want more info? Contact Leslie Lowe at 541-882-6509.
Join the LWV Klamath!
What can YOU do?
- study local issues in detail, with the help of experts, and help frame policy recommendations
- work with other Oregon chapters to study larger issues and submit reports to the Oregon Legislature
- help with educating voters before elections, such as holding candidate forums
- join national non-partisan efforts to recommend sound policy on many issues
- become an informed voter
LWV Klamath Board Meetings
First Thursday of the month at 5:00 pm online. Request an agenda for each meeting from admin@lwvklamath.org. Everyone has a voice at our meetings. (Only Board members are allowed to vote.)
Find our recent board meeting minutes HERE.
See the treasurer’s report for proposed budget for 2024-25 HERE.
You can pay your dues by sending $65 for individual or $97.50 for family membership to LWV Klamath, 8880 Tingley Lane, Klamath Falls, OR 97603.
Want to talk with someone about any of this? Call Diane Eastman-Shockey, President at 989-501-0013 or Leslie Lowe, Treasurer 541-882-6509
subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed of upcoming activities.
CONTACT: LWV of Klamath County 8880 Tingley Lane, Klamath Falls OR 97603 541-882-6509
For more information, contact our president at president@lwvklamath.org
I agree with the sentiments expressed above. The question remains: HOW?
Until we get rid of corporate capacity to buy votes, nothing on TV or other media will change in a way that truly affects election politics. ” One person, one vote” has to be reinstated by the Supreme Court and now moneyed interests control the Supreme Court for the life of the judges. We are in a cycle that will take years to overturn. Our democracy is at stake from foreign governments influencing our ability to get accurate information. Each of us must live the vision we seek. I believe that is why I am passionate about participation in the activities of the League of Women Voters.
The LWV need to seriously consider Thom Hartmann’s comments–“Democratic Debates: Is It Time to Get the Corporate TV Stars off the Stage?
The democratic debate, operating entirely within the context of corporate TV stars’ questions and largely Republican frames, shows once again why a for-profit “news“ operation shouldn’t be running a presidential debate. In 1988, the Democratic and Republican parties set up a corporation to handle the debates, and the League of Women Voters for the first time in generations refused to participate, saying the political parties had turned it into a sham.
And a sham is exactly what we saw last night, with no questions at all about the environment, corporate power, media concentration (which gave Trump $2 billion in free publicity last time around), or why Congress only passes legislation to benefit the top 1%.
It’s time to bring back deep and meaningful conversations like the league used to have, and get the multimillionaire TV stars off the stage.” This is from his FB page, 14 hours ago. 10.16.2019. Why couldn’t the LWV lobby (who or what I am not sure of) to provide this service to the nation once again?