Next Statewide Election May 19, 2020 Primary Election
“Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.” –Franklin Roosevelt
In 2020 there will be two major elections at the national level: the primary, and the General Election. One of the key platforms of the League of Women Voters is voting: access to the ballot, fair and transparent elections, voter participation at the highest level.
Voting Rights are important in every election, especially a presidential election. The LWV doesn’t endorse any candidate or political party. Instead, the LWV seeks to promote voting as a civil, political, and democratic right for everyone.
As the LWV states, “Voting is a fundamental right and all eligible voters should have the equal opportunity to exercise that right. We are dedicated to ensuring that our elections remain free, fair and accessible.”
The deadline to register is 21 days before Election Day.
To register to vote in Oregon, you must be a U.S. citizen, an Oregon resident and at least 16 years old. Online registration requires a current Oregon drivers license or state ID card.
Oregon has the most convenient voting system in the country. Since adopting
vote-by-mail, Oregon consistently ranks as a
national leader
in voter turnout.
Registered voters receive a ballot two to three weeks before an election, giving time to research issues or candidates.
Voters also receive an official ballot to complete and insert into the security envelope which is placed in the ballot return envelope and signed by the voter. The ballot return envelope can be stamped and mailed or dropped off at any official drop box across the state. If a voter casts their ballot after the Wednesday before an election, the ballot should be left at a drop box site to ensure it’s counted.
Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
You should update your registration if you move, change your name or mailing address, or want to select or change a political party.
You can update your voter registration information, until 8 p.m. on Election Day and still cast a ballot. However, if your registration is updated close to an election, your ballot might have to be issued at the county elections office.
Students attending an out-of-state college or voters traveling during an election can still receive a ballot.
Protecting the Integrity of Elections
Oregon has a proud tradition of open, accessible
and fair elections. Voter fraud is rare but taken seriously.
If you believe someone has violated Oregon elections law, contact the Elections Division. Every complaint will be investigated, and violations will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Oregon supports unparalleled transparency. Contact
your
county elections office to observe the election
process.
We the people – not politicians – should draw voting maps
The League of Women Voters of Oregon believes in
putting our best democracy foot forward. We know that we deserve the
best possible government and we invest the energy to achieve it. Oregon
led the fight for direct election of Senators to Congress, pioneered
vote-by-mail and has one of the nation’s most engaged citizenry. Now we
are reforming Oregon’s redistricting process.
The League has joined the People Not Politicians campaign, a diverse coalition made up of all party affiliations, income levels, backgrounds, identities, and all corners of Oregon, to rally for equal, fair and transparent representation at the state and congressional level.
Oregon voters should be choosing their representatives- representatives should not get to choose their voters.
The League supports redistricting reform
that would make our system less susceptible to abuse and
unrepresentative distortions. With an independent redistricting
commission, we would take the process of redistricting out of the hands
of partisan politicians and back into the hands of voters. To defend the
principles of good government against potential gerrymandering, our
proposal combines a multipartisan independent commission with strong
criteria and substantial public input. As we approach the 2020 census
and the potential of adding a sixth congressional district to Oregon, we
need to make sure district boundaries are fair. Biased political goals
can manipulate this process and affect election outcomes at state and
national levels.
Dust off those old family recipes.
The League of Women’s Voters of Klamath County is gearing up to
celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted
women the right to vote in 1920. One way they’re celebrating the
anniversary is with the publishing of a cookbook containing recipes
submitted by locals either with a family tie or worthy of passing down
to future generations.
The deadline to submit the recipes is Nov. 25, and the cookbook will go on sale Feb. 1, 2020 for $20. The book will be called “The Great Fight to Win the Vote.” Find the order form HERE.
“Cooking was a
traditionally female domain. We’re talking about women’s history and one
part of women’s history was cooking. It was always a way to share among
family, friends and communities and I think just remembering good
cooking, interesting recipes, old recipes, things that women shared,
again, I know that’s maybe not the way we look at it anymore but it
certainly was for a very long time,” said Emily Strauss, board member of
the LWVKC. “It was a way of women working together.”
“It was a way of meeting with other women,” said Sue Fortune, president of LWVKC.
The
organization is aiming for 100 recipes and had 82 as of Wednesday, said
Leslie Lowe, LWVKC treasurer. They can accept as many as 150.
People wanting to submit recipes can email them to lenny5155@aol.com, along with a couple of sentences about why the recipe is significant to them.
The
cookbook will also feature passages about the history of women’s right
to vote and photos from the time. Funds raised from the cookbook sales
will go toward other 100th anniversary events.
Although
the league has the word “Women” in its name, Lowe said they’re not
limiting recipes or involvement in their events to only women. Men are
also welcome to participate in the events and in the League of Women
Voters, as Lowe said the organization has expanded to include all voters
and voter education in general. Lowe said they already have a few
recipes submitted from men in the community, including one from Klamath
County Commissioner Derrick DeGroot. The recipe is one of his Oma’s —
which is Dutch for grandmother — for Loempia, a kind of deep-fried
spring roll which he said is a traditional dish from the Netherlands,
introduced by Indonesian immigrants.
“The League of Women Voters started just for women, but it has become the League of All Voters,” Lowe said.
According
to the group’s website, “LWVKC joins more than 700 other local and
state chapters to celebrate these historic milestones.”
For more information on the League of Women Voters visit lwvklamath.org. Those looking to buy a cookbook can call Lowe or email her at inharmony46@charter.net.
The
League of Women Voters is celebrating its 100th anniversary as a
national organization in February of 2020 and in August will celebrate
the anniversary of the 19th Amendment.
A local group called Southern Oregon Rising Tide (SORT) just finished a months-long project on public lands sections of the Jordan Cove’s Pacific Connector Pipeline route in southern Oregon, scouting the proposed right of way. The LWV wasn’t part of any of their hikes, but local LWV members have hiked parts of the pipeline route in the past, as well as seen–thanks to Christine Moffitt of the Coos County LWV–where the LNG terminal part of the project would go. Doing that gives a special kind of perspective on this project and what it proposes to do.
SORT just released the results of their project, “What’s at Stake: Mapping Jordan Cove & Pacific Connector,” a StoryMap about the pipeline combining GIS data, pictures and data from their scouting trips, and more to tell the story of what’s at stake on the ground where the pipeline is proposed to run. It’s well worth a look, no matter what you care about. They invite people to share at will: http://arcg.is/01H1yW
Southern Oregon Rising Tide is dedicated to promoting community-
based solutions to the climate crisis and taking direct action to
confront the root causes of climate change. We are based in the
mountains and rivers of rural Southern Oregon, with most of our members
living on stolen Takelma land.
about southern oregon rising tide
Our mission: Southern Oregon Rising Tide is a volunteer-run,
non-hierarchical group committed to resisting capitalism and building
social change through fun and creative disruptions. We use a range of
tactics as diverse as all of our skill sets. By building deep
relationships with our community, the land, and with other
organizations, we create opportunities to take action that are
accessible, joyful, and have direct impact on the issues we work on.
Our issues and values: SORT was created in 2015 in response
to the proposed Pacific Connector LNG Pipeline through Southern Oregon.
In continuing to fight the pipeline in coalition with other groups and
organizations, we focus on building a culture of direct action and
elevating the voices of rural and indigenous people whose lives and
communities are most impacted by environmental destruction and climate
change in Southern & Southwest Oregon.
In 2017, our focus expanded, but our principles remain the same.
Climate justice transcends borders and is ultimately entwined with
indigenous sovereignty and self determination, and with thinking beyond
capitalism. We believe in the inherent dignity of all people, and also
in the value of all non-human life including plants, animals, watersheds
and forests. In action, we strive to build alliances and show up for
those who are most impacted by oppression. We seek to resist fascism,
capitalism, xenophobia, racism, transphobia, homophobia and patriarchy.
We recognize that a community of mutual aid and solidarity is a potent
force in opposing a system that thrives on division and hate.
On Friday September 20, 2019, 12 people gathered at the home of Leslie Lowe for a fine dinner of homemade food. Recipes for several of the dishes will appear the the new LWV Klamath County 100th anniversary cookbook. All the guests contributed significantly to maintain the new LWV website and support other chapter activities. Guests included board members, general members and family. Discussion was wide-ranging and everyone had a wonderful time.
The U.S. Census is required under the U.S. Constitution to occur every 10 years and is the process of counting every resident in the country. For the first time ever, in 2020 the Census will be primarily digitally based.
Why it matters
The U.S. Census data is used to make decisions around education,
healthcare, infrastructure, and political representation. With increased
growth in the country, getting an accurate and complete count of every
person living within is crucial to ensure that each state receives
funding to support the number of residents in each state. This Census
the focus continues to be on reaching hard to count communities and
ensuring these communities get included in the Census count.
What we’re doing
The League’s Census work will occur in three phases: (1) Education; (2) Get Out to Count activities, (3) Watchdog reporting. In the months leading up to Census Day—April 1, 2020—Leagues around the country will be in communities sharing information and resources about how to participate and the importance of the U.S. Census. On Census Day, the League will work in coalition to help get everyone counted, work in Complete Count Committees to share out information about low-reporting areas, and communicate where additional support is needed. Once the Census count wraps up in the Summer/Fall of 2020, the League’s will remain in communities and will watchdog any issues from the ground.
Census data is used to influence the distribution of billions of
dollars that go to educational agencies that pay for special education,
school lunches, improving teacher quality, and Head Start programs.
Health Care
The information collected determines where community health centers
are placed to better serve low-income patients and aid current health
disparities, such as those impacted by the opioid crisis.
Infrastructure
Companies use the data from the census to determine where to build factories or expand store real estate.
Political Representation
Finally, census data is used to draw the state and federal
legislative district lines that ultimately determine the elected
officials who represent us.
The drastic effects of a census undercount
The U.S. Census Bureau has been working to prepare for Census 2020
for the last decade, testing the forms, engaging communities, and
planning for a new digital count.
We are committed to a fair and accurate 2020 Census because if our
communities are not fully counted, opportunities for investment, health,
public safety, and representation will be lost.
It’s up to all organizations and individuals to get involved and make our voices heard.
Here is a report about the role of the census in the distribution of federal funds in Oregon. In FY 2016, Oregon received over $13 billion through 55 federal spending programs guided by the 2010 census data. Census data is critical!
We’re proud to announce the relaunch of our election information website, VOTE411.org! Informing voters has been our brand for nearly 100 years and, through VOTE411.org, we are reaching more voters where they are and providing the information they need.
Launched by the League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF) in
October of 2006, VOTE411.org is a “one-stop-shop” for election related
information. It provides nonpartisan information to the public with both
general and state-specific information on the following aspects of the
election process:
Absentee ballot information
Ballot measure information (where applicable)
Early voting options (where applicable)
Election dates
Factual data on candidates in various federal, state and local races
General information on such topics as how to watch debates with a critical eye
ID requirements
Polling place locations
Registration deadlines
Voter qualifications
Voter registration forms
Voting machines
An important component of VOTE411.org is the polling place
locator, which enables users to type in their address and retrieve the
poll location for the voting precinct in which that address is located.
The League has found that this is among the most sought after
information in the immediate days leading up to, and on, Election Day.
VOTE411 is committed to ensuring voters have the information they need
to successfully participate in every election. Whether it’s local, state
or federal, every election is important to ensuring our laws and
policies reflect the values and beliefs of our communities.
Join Americans of all stripes on September 20, 2019 in support of our youth who will inherit a future much less certain than ours was. Check their web site for more information, sponsors and partners worldwide, and an event near us. As of August, an event is scheduled in Ashland. It is possible an event will be organized in Klamath Falls. Stay tuned to their website. https://strikewithus.org/
With the consequences of climate
change becoming ever more clear and dire with each passing day, a new
powerful wave of the climate movement has been swelling up over the last
couple of years. Young people around the world have been rising up to
defend our future, and have been going on strike – every week, all over
the planet – for months. On September 20, for the first time, the adults
are joining us.
We, as a global society, are at a
crossroads. We have a decision to make. Are we going to choose money or
power or are we going to choose the future? The September 20 strike is
an invitation to everyone to choose us. Choose the kids, choose
humanity, choose the future.
Led by a diverse coalition of youth-led and adult-led organizations, September 20 is an intergenerational day of striking that will launch an entire week of climate action across the world. Find out more about week of action here. September 20 is only the beginning. We must carry this energy to the 2020 elections, and beyond to ensure real, bold action is taken to address the climate crises. This is history in the making, and it’s time we take back the narrative to save our futures.
The League of Women Voters has been at the forefront of the environmental protection movement for decades,
consistently supporting legislation to preserve our nation’s natural
resources and protect our public health. We support legislation that
seeks to protect our country from the physical, economic and public
health effects of climate change while also providing pathways to
economic prosperity.
The League believes that averting the damaging effects of climate
change requires action from both individuals and governments at the
local, state, national and international levels. By raising public
awareness of the causes and likely impacts of climate change, helping
citizens learn what they can do to protect the environment and building
broad support for effective climate solutions, we can help put our
country — and our planet — on the path to a sustainable future.
We believe that a path toward a clean energy future will strengthen
our economy by opening up millions of jobs to Americans while also
rescuing America from its dependence on fossil fuels, reducing threats
to our health, protecting the natural resources that we depend upon for
survival and creating millions of domestic jobs. The League’s
environmental work falls into the three categories below:
Global Climate Change –
Climate change is the greatest environmental challenge of our
generation. The League supports legislative solutions, including setting
caps on greenhouse gas and carbon pollution, encouraging conservation
and renewable energy and investing in a new clean energy economy. We
also support strong executive branch action under the Clean Air Act to
cut industrial carbon pollution from new and existing power plants,
which are the largest source of industrial carbon pollution in the US.
The League works to build grassroots support for action on climate change nationally and at the state and local levels in order to avoid irrevocable damage to our planet.
Clean Air Defense – We work to protect our air quality by advocating for federal air pollution controls
on industrial processes, government installations, fuels and motor
vehicles. League members across the country actively campaign to urge
the President and Congress to lead the world in the fight against
climate change by controlling carbon pollution from new and existing
power plants. The League presses for full implementation of the Clean
Air Act of 1970 and for strengthening amendments, while fighting against
attempts to weaken it.
Clean Energy – The League advocates for legislation to improve energy efficiency
throughout the economy and improve pollution control, including
shifting to renewable energy, establishing federal fuel-efficiency
standards and opposing oil drilling in environmentally sensitive areas.
The League opposes the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline,
which threatens to pollute huge drinking water reserves, increase the
world’s dependence on dirty oil and increase the greenhouse gases that
contribute to climate change. Preservation of a healthy environment is a
top priority, and state Leagues have taken the lead in working to block
fracking and dangerous mining processes that threaten to pollute
natural resources in their communities.
Oregon’s youth justice reform bill signed into law
Governor Kate Brown recently signed the historic juvenile justice reform bill — Senate Bill 1008 — into law, ensuring that our youth justice system focuses on education, rehabilitation, and opportunity, not prison. People like you made hundreds of phone calls and sent thousands of emails to legislators to help pass this important legislation.
Oregonians believe that our youth justice system should focus on
prevention and rehabilitation, and value forgiveness and second chances.
Senate Bill 1008 passed with bipartisan support. Now Oregon will end
the practice of automatically trying youth as adults
for certain crimes, will ensure all youth convicted of a crime will
receive a chance at parole, and provide youth with the best chance to
repair the damage they’ve caused, while also healing their own trauma
and getting them the help they need.
Thanks for sticking with us,
ACLU of Oregon
Note that our Klamath County League engaged in a year-long study on criminal justice and immigration issues, including juvenile justice, in 2018-19, which will be presented as a complete report by the end of 2019.
Jordan Cove has underestimated Oregonians
Pembina Pipeline Corporation, the Canadian
company behind the Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and
Pacific Connector pipeline, thought it had Oregon pegged. Since
inheriting the project from Veresen in 2017, Pembina has taken the
attitude of a benevolent benefactor taking pity on a rural, economically
depressed region.
On July 5, the comment
period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the
project ended. Many of the original comments, submitted by state
agencies, county commissioners, tribal members, landowners, fishermen,
conservation organizations, climate activists and Oregon citizens,
pointed out inaccuracies, errors and vague or inadequate statements
about how the company plans to mitigate the project’s negative impacts.
Looks like Pembina has some ’splaining to do.
During
an investors meeting in May, Pembina CEO Michael Dilger said he thought
Oregon state agencies were “overwhelmed” by the project application for
Jordan Cove and Pacific Connector. “ they haven’t seen billion-dollar
projects, let alone billion-dollar hydrocarbon projects,” he said.
“Their regulators aren’t quite capable of this.”
In
fact, Oregon agencies, including the Department of Geology and Mineral
Industries (DOGAMI), Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and
Department of State Lands (DSL) have consistently pushed the company to
supply additional information, correct inaccuracies and supplement vague
statements with specific details. In late 2017, DOGAMI submitted
comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), pointing
out “insufficiencies in the scientific and engineering analyses related
to geologic hazards.” This spring, DEQ denied the project water quality
certification, and DSL sent Pembina a nine-page letter requesting
additional information. Most recently, Oregon agencies collectively
submitted over 200 pages of comments to FERC, stating numerous concerns
about the project’s safety, environmental consequences and impacts to
landowners, and recommending that FERC balance the project’s predicted
economic benefits with its negative consequences, which include higher
domestic natural gas prices and property devalued by the pipeline.
Pembina
has sent land agents to ply landowners with ever-increasing offers for
easements for the 36-inch pipeline. Some landowners report these agents
used underhanded tactics to persuade them to sell: misrepresenting the
percentage of easements already secured, declaring that the project was a
“done deal,” and even threatening some property owners with eminent
domain.
Nonetheless, at least 90 private
landowners have refused to sign easement agreements. Over the protracted
process, several have become skilled organizers and experts on the
regulatory process — a great expenditure of time, money and emotional
energy. In its information request, the DSL referred to the “substantial
comments” of several individuals, many of them landowners, and it was
the arguments of landowners that contributed to FERC’s denial of the
project in 2016.
Before the 2018 election,
the company donated heavily to Oregon Political Action Committees
(PACs) and to several individual candidates in Coos County. While some
elected officials have capitulated, others maintain the project is bad
for their constituents. Jackson County commissioners decided the project
is not worth the risks, even though the county would receive an
estimated $5.3 million annually in property tax revenue from Pembina. In
comments to FERC, commissioners summarized their concerns, which
include negative impacts to waterways and drinking water wells, the lack
of a wildfire mitigation plan, and the use of eminent domain in
exchange for no clear public benefits.
In
fall of 2018, Pembina launched a multi-million dollar PR blitz. In a
blizzard of glossy brochures and deluge of radio and television ads,
Pembina presented itself as a friendly “neighbor” blessing southwest
Oregon with an environmentally benign project and promising a windfall
of jobs.
Most Oregonians saw through the
slick messaging. In fact, recent polling shows that opposition to the
project across the state, regardless of political affiliation, is
stronger than ever. The poll, yet to be released, includes a question
about Jordan Cove that is worded similarly to a question from a 2018
poll. While the percentage of those opposing the project held steady at
57 percent, the portion of those who strongly oppose the project grew
from 30 to 35 percent. At the same time, support fell from 22 to 19
percent, and only 4 percent say they strongly support the project.
By
the time FERC makes its final decision on Jordan Cove next January,
Oregon will have been dealing with the threat of this project for 15
years. The protracted process is not only testing our mettle, it is
showing us who we are. Whether rural or urban, young or old,
conservative, liberal or something in between, Oregonians can’t be
bought, and we can’t be fooled.
Deb Evans is an affected landowner who owns timber property in Klamath County. Juliet Grable is a writer who lives in Jackson County.
–originally published Sunday, July 21st 2019 in the Medford Oregon Mail Tribune. The authors are LWV members.
Klamath County and Rogue valley Women meet for joint discussions
On July 21, 2019 nearly 20 women and men from Klamath County and Rogue Valley met for lunch and discussions at the Greensprings Inn on Highway 66. Friendships were made and renewed, mutual concerns were discussed, and connections were made for mutual support. Everyone enjoyed the lunch and relaxed atmosphere so much that they agreed to try to make this an annual summer event.
statewide health care coverage law, July 17, 2019
SB 770 was in the logjam of bills while the Senate Rs walked out. But yesterday and today the Senate and House managed to pass, under suspension of the rules, our bill. To get the details go to https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2019R1/Measures/Overview/SB770?pubDate=2019-06-30-16-11 You can see the history and who voted how at various points. This is great news. When the Governor signs it and starts to appoint members of the Taskforce/Commission we can monitor the process and hopefully be involved at appropriate times.
On July 4, a joint statement in opposition to the Jordan Cover Pipeline was submitted by four local LWV chapters, including Klamath County. You may read the introduction to the document below and read the complete document HERE. We are proud of our participation in this important work and will remain active in following up on all developments until this issue is resolved.
We write representing the League of Women Voters of Coos County (LWVCC), LWV of Umpqua Valley (LWVUV), LWV of Rogue Valley (LWVRV), and LWV of Klamath County (LWVKC). We are grassroots nonpartisan, political organizations operating in the four counties in Oregon that would be directly affected by the construction and operations of the proposed Jordan Cove Liquefied Natural Gas (JCLNG) and Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline (PCGP), commonly referred to collectively as the Jordan Cove Energy Project (JCEP). Our detailed review of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for this project shows that the projects are in direct conflict with many of the state and national League of Women Voters positions.
Since the 1950s, the League has been in the forefront of efforts to protect air, land, and water resources. The League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) “believes that natural resources should be managed as interrelated parts of life-supporting ecosystems. Resources should be conserved and protected to assure their future availability. Pollution of these resources should be controlled in order to preserve the physical, chemical and biological integrity of ecosystems and to protect public health.” The League of Women Voters of Oregon (LWVOR) “ . . . opposes degradation of all of Oregon’s surface and ground water. . . .” and declares that climate change is the greatest environmental challenge of our generation. The following resolution passed almost unanimously at the 2018 National LWV Convention: “The League of Women Voters supports a set of climate assessment criteria that ensures that energy policies align with current climate science. These criteria require that the latest climate science be used to evaluate proposed energy policies and major projects [emphasis added] in light of the globally-agreed-upon goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees C, informed by the successful spirit of global cooperation as affirmed in the UN COP 21 Paris agreement.” Finally, at the 2019 LWVOR Convention, a resolution declaring a “climate emergency” passed unanimously. We, as local Leagues, are part of the national and state LWV. Based on these positions and our understanding of the likely impacts of the proposed JCEP on critical environmental resources and communities in our areas, the LWVCC, LWVUV, LWVRV, and LWVKC submit jointly this comment on the DEIS for the JCEP project.
On the basis of LWV positions and for reasons we provide in this comment, we respectfully but strenuously urge the FERC to deny with prejudice any and all permits and approvals sought by the JCEP within your jurisdiction.
