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VOTER 2024 Fall Election Edition

Dear Friend,

We are in the countdown for a momentous election and our determination to empower voters and defend democracy with trusted and nonpartisan information remains as strong as ever.  


Let’s work with local and state Leagues and all of our community and national partners to update and increase voter registration across the state! Our goal is solid civic engagement of voices being heard at the ballot box, in every race, not just the one at the top of the ballot.  Let’s see how high voter turnout can be in Oregon. We’re glad you’re here! 


 

Contents:




 

The Young Vote Film 




Above: LWVOR Youth Council members participated in The Young Vote film screening in Portland earlier this year.


We are excited to share a new resource with all of you: The Young Vote film highlights the political awakening of a generation shaped by distrust in government and events like the Parkland shooting, exploring the challenges they face in voting and offering solutions like gerrymandering reform and ways to increase youth participation and preserve democracy.


LWVOR has obtained a license to share the film with League members at no cost. Find the video file and discussion guide here. Please contact us at media@lwvor.org if you have any questions or issues accessing the files.


 

Elections Are League Business


A change at the top of the ticket in the presidential race turns out to be big news. But what does it mean for the League of Women Voters?   We have more opportunity to take advantage of the attention this draws to the November ballot as there are many important races that will be decided in the November 5th election.  We also know voter turnout is greatest when there's a presidential election at the top of the ballot.  We want to invite voters to find us online, in their mailbox, and in their community for access to information they need to cast an informed vote. Every League member and friend can help.  Here are resources for you, your friends, and family. Please help get the word out!


Vote411

Vote411.org is the League's national platform for everyone’s personalized voter guide.  The ballot can be overwhelming.  Voters enter their home address—no matter their physical location—and see who is on their ballot.  They will see a job description for each race.  There is voting information with important deadlines.  Voters hear directly from candidates who answer questions in their own words.  League volunteers reach out to all candidates running for positions in Oregon, though not all respond.  While not all states cover every race, each state has trusted and nonpartisan information on VOTE411 to get an overview for informed voting.  If you have friends and family elsewhere, let them know!  


Candidate Forums

When people think of the League of Women Voters, many think of candidate forums and registering voters.  Here in Oregon, at both the state and local level, League volunteers are hosting candidate forums.   Many local forums for congressional and legislative seats are also in the works.  Check your local League website to find out what's going on.  You will be amazed at the many opportunities for voters to connect with the candidates who seek to represent them.


State Ballot Measure Overview

Five statewide ballot measures will appear on the November ballot:


Highlights

  • 115: Oregon has the only state legislature that cannot impeach state executive officials. The state legislature voted to send an amendment to voters that would authorize the impeachment process during the 2023 legislative session.

  • 116: The legislature voted to send a constitutional amendment to the ballot to establish an Independent Public Service Compensation Commission to determine certain public officials' salaries.

  • 117: Oregon will be one of five states to decide on a ranked-choice voting ballot measure this year after the state legislature voted to refer a law authorizing its use to the ballot.

  • Two initiatives qualified for the ballot:118 -An initiative to increase the state's corporate tax rate and distribute that revenue to residents.119 -An initiative to require cannabis businesses to remain neutral when labor organizations communicate with employees about collective bargaining rights.


From an advocacy angle, LWVOR is recommending a YES vote on Measure 117 and a NO vote on Measure 118.  We are remaining neutral on the other three ballot measures because the League does not have relevant positions for them.  Our recommendations regarding the initiatives are based on state and national positions the League adopted after study and member consensus and rest on member understanding.  At the same time, the League has a duty to serve voters and provide them with the information they need to cast an informed ballot.  How do we navigate this dual role?  First and foremost, it's important to know which effort is at play. LWV of the United States has provided guidance.  Check here for specific information.


In its Voter Services role, LWVOR is working to prepare ballot measure summary toolkits of the initiatives and Ballot Measure Speakers will be available to book for speaking to community groups. Go to your county elections website for local measures.


Social Media

Social media is a great way to educate the public about elections and tools for becoming an informed voter.  Please follow LWVOR social media, as well as other Leagues, including your local League and the national League. This helps promote our voter resources and is a lot of fun!


Voter Registration

Many local Leagues are tabling at events in their communities.  More than voter registration, tabling provides an opportunity to reach out directly to voters and offer tools and resources for an informed electorate.  Please check your local League's website to learn more about events and how you can help.  Voters can be referred to resources that include https://www.vote411.org, lwvor.org/your-government, sos.oregon.gov/voting-elections. 


LWVUS Statement

What about the change at the top of the Democratic Party's ticket? Yes—it means increased attention to the election.  The League is nonpartisan, so how things play out with respect to candidates is not in our wheelhouse.  Election rules and free and fair elections are.  Please take a look at the LWVUS statement below.  You will see reference there to the National Task Force on Election Crises.  LWVUS is a member.  You may want to bookmark this site to stay informed of developments.  You can also keep informed by checking the LWVUS' blog post on the topic.



 

Civics Are League Business


Many thanks to League member Sandy Nipper for sharing the following guidance from Oregon Department of Education Social Science Specialist, Amit Kobrowski.


School districts use the State Social Science Standards to design the classroom curriculum.  In June, the State Board of Education (ODE) adopted new standards. The high school civics standards begin on page 70 in the document linked here.


For the upcoming school year, many school districts may continue to use a previous version of the standards linked here. 

  



SB 1050 Professional Learning Related to Teaching Inclusive Social Science Standards


In the 2023 legislative session, The Oregon Legislature adopted Senate Bill 1050 requiring ODE to provide professional learning for the implementation of inclusive social science standards. The Senate Bill 1050 overview provides additional information about this legislation.


SB 513 High School Civics Credit Requirement


In the 2021 legislative session, the Oregon Legislature adopted Senate Bill 513 requiring students to earn 0.5 civics course credit to fulfill graduation requirements, beginning with the class of 2026 (current 8th-grade students).


This new law ensures that all students in Oregon graduate with the civic knowledge to be empowered, engaged, and informed members of a democratic society. The civics credit guidance document outlines the new requirements of the .5 credit for a high school transcript.


How Civics Credits Can be Earned


The total number of high school credits (24) and social science credits (3) remains unchanged, but at least 0.5 of the three social science credits must now include civics.  U.S. civics and/or government courses that incorporate all high school civics and government standards will meet the requirements of the proposed new rule. Some schools may already offer a civics course aligned with Oregon's high school civics standards, while others may need to review their social science offerings to create a course that meets this requirement. Schools without a qualifying civics course will need to develop a course to meet this new civics graduation requirement.


SB 702 Strengthening Civics Instruction


During the 2021 Legislative session, the Oregon State Legislature passed Senate Bill 702, directing the State Board of Education to review the social science standards related to civics instruction.


Legislation Resources



 

Oregon SoS 2024 Civic Engagement Toolkit



Ahead of the May primary election, Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade released a civic engagement toolkit, aimed at helping organizations do voter registration and voter turnout work in the 2024 elections and an updated version of the toolkit was released this week that’s ready to use for the November General Election.


The tools included in the 2024 toolkit are official, non-partisan, research-backed, and free to use with or without attribution to the SoS office. Download the 2024 Civic Engagement Toolkit here.



 

LWVOR Recall Study Moves Forward




The LWVOR Board on July 15 approved the state study, Assessing the Recall Process in Oregon. In the coming months, League members across the state will have a chance to read the study and discuss the issues and questions it raises in a consensus process, which may lead to a revised LWVOR position on recall elections.


Work on the 51-page study started with a proposal from the LWV Lane County, followed by LWVOR Board referral at the May 2023 LWVOR Convention to delegates who approved the project. Over the last year, a four-person study team has conducted interviews and research, organized ideas and materials, and shared writing and review duties. Study team members are Alice LaViolette, League of Marion and Polk Counties; and LWVLC members Rhonda Livesay, Linda Lynch, and Keli Osborn. 


Others contributing to the study have included League members who joined the study team in conducting interviews with a dozen local elections officials and experts. These League members are Chris Cobey, LWV Portland; Carol Cushman, LWV Portland; Joyce Durban, LWV Deschutes County; Kathleen Hersh, LWV Washington County; Ruth Kistler, LWV Lincoln County; Josie Koehne, LWV Washington County; Jane Mulholland, LWV Lincoln County; Katie Riley, LWV Washington County; Amy Vandegrift, LWV Marion/Polk Counties, and Jane VanKuren, LWV Washington County.


Editing team members are Merle Bottge, LWV Lane County; Abigail Hertzler, LWVOR staff; Rebecca Gladstone, LWVLC member and LWVOR Advocacy Co-Chair; Barbara Klein, LWV Rogue Valley; and Sarah Andrews, LWVOR staff.


The study explores state requirements for the recall of elected officials, Oregon history, comparison of Oregon’s recall process to other states, potential impacts on voter education and turnout, and more. Don’t be daunted ahead of time by the study’s length! It’s a reader-friendly document, professionally designed by LWVOR staff.  (The table of contents occupies two pages, with another 16 pages for appendices, compilation of resources, and credits…along with graphics from historical archives and several pages of charts.)


By the way, here’s how the national League defines consensus: The process used to arrive at positions on issues. The collective opinion of a substantial number of League members, representative of the membership as a whole, after objective study of an issue. We hope you’ll watch for the study and find ways to participate in the next phase of this work. This will include unit meetings and other opportunities for discussion/input. 


As one of our interview subjects, Lane County Clerk Dena Dawson, said in an interview: “We need more public education about the recall process.” 





 

Communications and Electoral Systems: Ranked Choice Voting and STAR


Barbara Klein, LWVOR 1st VP Communications


Rarely do we manage to “kill two birds with one stone.” But if you don’t favor killing birds, consider this article as an effort in repurposing (a time-management trick I relish). My dual purpose here is to connect with statewide League members in my new role of Communications chair, as well as the action committee portfolio holder for Electoral Systems.  


Many of you are aware that our Oregon 2024 general election will include a ballot measure adopting Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) elections for much of our statewide government.  LWVOR supports that measure based on our Election Methods position, which can be found in the resource section below. 


Fewer of you may be aware that another electoral system was on the Eugene ballot this 2024 primary season.  That system is often abbreviated as STAR (Score then Automatic Runoff).  While it did not succeed (losing by 67% of the vote), it may be helpful for League members to understand it and how the LWVOR approaches it.  


After various statewide studies on electoral methods, we realize that most systems are better than our typical plurality (‘pick-one’ or ‘most votes wins’) elections.  Technically, these conventional elections are known as FPTP – or First Past the Post.  STAR allows more ballot options and expression for voters than FPTP.  


Nevertheless, the League prefers RCV when possible or available, over STAR.  I will explain why below.  In great part, this approach, and concerns, are based on our LWVOR 2023 update.  


Taking a personal privilege, I would like to explain my own opinion of when we might prefer STAR.  If you are functioning in a group of like-minded individuals who have no real opposition to one another (such as setting goals for the LWV or decisions made by a small business), STAR could be reasonable and perhaps easier to administer when counting by hand.  The same could be said for Approval Voting, which our position explicitly rejects.  Still, due to the four apprehensions listed below, we would not prefer STAR for governmental elections (often referred to as “elections of consequence”).


Our Concerns over STAR Voting

The concerns below are based on the principles and preferences of the LWVOR after numerous studies on electoral systems.  Not all election scientists, politicians, or activists may share our views.  Many do.


I hope to put these 4 points in simple wording so that League members can evaluate STAR (especially in comparison to RCV) to answer questions from their communities.  The bottom line is that RCV meets more of the preferred criteria from both our state and national position than does STAR. 


Just a quick reminder – “the League speaks with one voice.”  For anyone new to League, that phrase means that ‘lower’ levels of our organization cannot work against positions of higher levels.  (Local leagues cannot take a stand against a state position, and likewise, state Leagues cannot oppose national positions.).  We follow this rule to make certain we don’t confuse the public about our standing or advocacy.  


While STAR champions often say that STAR is a form of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), it is actually “Range or Score Voting, followed by a Top Two Vote.”  This more closely describes its operations.  


  1. STAR does not guarantee a majority winner, as RCV does in the last round of counting.  

  2. There is NO consistent definition between voters regarding the value of each STAR vote.  (With rankings, the first spot is the first spot, the second, the second etc. This is not so clear with STAR.  You and I may share the exact same opinion of a candidate, and yet I give her 3 stars while you give her 4 stars.)  Definition of STARS between voters is not consistent.  This muddles the clarity of voters’ intentions in the overall election results.  

  3. In the last round, many ballots may be disqualified because the voter gave the remaining candidates the same ‘score’ (or number of STARS).  Proponents say the voter had “no preference.”  We reject that idea and believe people will not realize this is the process. It disenfranchises many voters. 

  4. In part because of the point above, STAR is a system that may need, or may use, strategy when voting.  (For instance, I may know I should not score candidates with the same number of STARS so that my ballot is not eliminated in the final count; you may not know this. Thus, I have an advantage.)  With RCV you simply vote your favorites in order of preference.  There is no practical use in trying to be strategic.   


For any members who wish to learn more about these systems, please refer to our studies listed below in the resources.  However, for those who simply wanted to understand the reason that LWVOR would support RCV instead of STAR, a system originating in Oregon, I hope this offered a general background.  


--

Resources:

The Executive Summary from the original study of 2008 can be read here: Microsoft Word - ExecutiveSummaryFinal (filesusr.com)


 

History of Campaign Finance Reform


By Norman Turrill


In 2020, the League supported the Legislature’s referred constitutional amendment Measure 107 to voters to allow campaign finance limits. Voters passed it overwhelmingly by over 78%. However, three Legislative sessions passed without implementing a Measure 107 statute. Legislators could not agree on anything that limited their own campaigns; they all are experts on financing their own campaigns and all have a huge conflict of interest.


In 2022, the Honest Elections group, including the LWVOR, Common Cause and other good government groups, participated in intense negotiations with unions and Our Oregon, lasting for many months. An agreement was reached on an initiative text; however, the unions backed out of the deal at the last minute.


Honest Elections redrafted the proposal together with national experts from the Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause and the League. They then filed initiative petition (IP) 9 in July, 2022, after a long drafting process where IP 8 (a constitutional amendment to stop campaign finance laws impairment), IP 23 (including Democracy Vouchers) and IP 24 (including public matching of small donations) were also filed. 


Honest Elections settled on IP 9 as the proposal most likely to make the ballot and be adopted by voters. After an eight-month ballot title certification process all the way to the Oregon Supreme Court, while Our Oregon did its best to delay the process, the Secretary of State finally approved IP 9 for circulation in May, 2023. The campaign quickly hired petitioners, organized volunteers including the League, and eventually collected some 100,000 signatures. LWVOR policy says that the League only supports ballot measures after ballot qualification, unless it was involved in measure drafting and organizing.


Then Our Oregon, sensing IP 9’s potential success, redrafted the originally agreed Honest Elections initiative text (with huge loopholes for unions and other organizations). Our Oregon filed IP 42, got a ballot title in less than 5 months, hired circulators, and began collecting signatures in January, 2024.


At this point, it was clear to some legislators entering the short legislative session, that an expensive ballot battle was brewing between IP 9 and IP 42. Very quickly and historically, some union and business lobbyists got together and drafted a legislative bill. Dexter Johnson, lead Legislative Counsel, quickly drafted an LC bill. 


The House Rules Committee, Chaired by Rep. Julie Fahey and Vice Chair Rep. Jeffrey Helfrich, stuffed the LC bill as an amendment into HB 4024, an unused placeholder bill. Two hearings and a work session were quickly held within a few days. The League initially opposed the bill in its -3 amendment form. Intense negotiations ensued behind the scenes between Honest Elections, some legislators, and business and union lobbyists, with the League being supportive but not directly involved. Some 40 changes were made to the 49-page bill before Honest Elections agreed that it was “good enough”. Part of the agreement was withdrawal of both IP 9 and IP 42. HB 4024 initially included a referral to November ballots, also removed from the final bill. 


The House Rules Committee quickly passed HB 4024 to the House floor, rules were suspended, and it passed 52 to 5. The very next day, the Senate Rules Committee quickly and concurrently held a hearing and work session, passing HB 4024 to the Senate floor. The Senate suspended rules, passed the bill 22 to 6, all on the last day of session. The Governor said she would sign it.


It is clear that much more work needs to be done to implement HB 4024. Funding must be allocated to the Secretary of State and administrative rules must be written and adopted before the January 2027 effective date. ORESTAR must be reprogrammed for a “dashboard” advertising disclosure, and “drill down” to see original campaign contribution funding sources. The 2025 long legislative session will undoubtedly want to consider amendments, both good and bad. This work could continue for years, if not decades. Stay tuned!


Previous Campaign Finance History

Campaign contribution limits were adopted in 1908 by initiative. Those limits remained in effect until the 1970s when the Legislature repealed them in favor of campaign spending limits, a fad at the time. 


In 1976, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down campaign spending limits in the famous Buckley v. Valeo court case because they violated the First Amendment. However, the SCOTUS justified contribution limits because of the state’s interest in preventing “corruption and the appearance of corruption spawned by the real or imagined coercive influence of large financial contributions on candidates' positions and on their actions if elected to office."


In 1994, Oregon voters again adopted campaign contribution limits by initiative with Measure 9. They were only in effect for the 1996 election until the Oregon Supreme Court struck them down in 1997 on the basis of free speech in the Oregon Constitution, VanNatta v. Keisling.


In 1998, voters approved Measure 62, a constitutional amendment requiring campaign finance and  ad financing disclosures, and allowing the Legislature to regulate signature gathering. The Legislature later prohibited paying petition circulators per signature, among other regulations.


In 2000, the League helped draft initiative Measure 6 and supported it with a Voters’ Pamphlet statement, to provide public funding to candidates who limited campaign spending and private contributions. It failed on the ballot. 


Oregon voters again passed contribution limits with initiative Measure 47 in 2006. The companion initiative, constitutional amendment Measure 46, however, did not pass, so the Measure 47 limits never went into effect. The League did not help draft these measures and later opposed them because Measure 46 required a three-fourths (3/4) legislative vote to amend previously enacted campaign finance laws, or to pass new laws. Measure 47 also required low contributions limits, perhaps unconstitutionally. Later in 2020, when the Oregon Supreme Court rescinded its repeal of campaign contribution limits, the Oregon Attorney General and Secretary of State refused without explanation to allow Measure 47 to go into effect, even though it was still in Oregon Revised Statute.


In the early 2020s, the Honest Elections group, including the LWVOR, Common Cause and several other good government groups, succeeded in getting contribution limits adopted for Portland and Multnomah County, with public funding for Portland candidates, with a small donor matching fund.


Find this article and future updates related to campaign finance reform on the LWVOR website here. 


 

Upcoming Opportunity: “Democracy in Action”


The Upstanders Mural in Boston, MA, a project spearheaded by Facing History.


By Elizabeth Kirby, DEIJ Chair


Upcoming Opportunity: This opportunity is primarily focused for classroom educators but is also open for educators of all kinds. Facing History & Ourselves is a registered 501c3 organization with a mission that focuses on using the lessons of history to challenge teachers and their students to stand up to bigotry and hate. They have an upcoming FREE series for educators: "Democracy in Action: Teaching about the 2024 Election and Educating for Civic Participation"


This is a multi-part series of lessons that starts in late August and ends in September. Participants can sign up for all lessons or choose the ones they feel to be most relevant to their work. Sign up and more information can be found by clicking on the series title above.



 

How the League Helps Oregon Voters





By Abigail Bok, Marianne Germond, Peggy Bengry, Voter Service Leadership Team 


You’re probably aware of the work done by your local League, but what about the League of Women Voters of Oregon? LWVOR also offers a wide array of resources for Oregonians making up their minds about how to vote at the state level. Here’s a glimpse into what will be available in October.


Ballot Measures 

Ballot measure reports with pros & cons. A statewide committee led by Peggy Bengry (p.bengry@lwvor.org) researches every statewide ballot measure and prepares a detailed analysis of the background, costs, and consequences of a yes or no vote, plus arguments from supporters and opponents.


WHEN: Scheduled to be released to local leagues September 19.

WHERE: The reports are posted on the state League website (lwvor.org) and on Vote411.org; local Leagues can post them on their websites as well; and they’re incorporated into a Speaker’s Kit that’s sent to all local Leagues.


VOLUNTEER with your local League to make ballot measure presentations to other groups; hand them out at forums and meetings. Local Leagues can also write ballot measure reports on county and local measures to post in Vote411.org and on your website. Contact Peggy Bengry for templates, guidelines and timeline.



A team of volunteers (led by Abigail Bok, vote411lead@lwvor.org) compiles a database for every election listing every race and candidate in the state. All candidates are invited to post answers to a few questions and then add links to their own campaign sites, a photo, and more. How it works: Visitors to the site enter their street address and can see everything on their ballot plus all the info about races and measures the League has compiled. We add links to forums and interviews and more.


WHEN: Candidates are responding now; Vote411 goes live September 30.

WHERE: Vote411.org


VOLUNTEER to promote Vote411: it’s as easy as posting on social media (the League provides images and messaging, contact the Digital Director, Sarah Andrews, at s.andrews@lwvor.org for tips and resources); or simply talking to friends, family, and social groups. The state office (a.hertzler@lwvor.org) and your local League have cards, posters, and more that you can hand out or post on bulletin boards. In addition to promoting the website, you can also help your local League by calling candidates to urge them to post on Vote411. Your local Voter Service chair will have phone numbers and scripts. 


Voters’ Guide

The League’s print Voters’ Guide draws candidates’ responses from Vote411 and adds League-researched in-depth information about statewide ballot measures.  The Guide also gives voters information on how to vote, important dates, and how to contact their local elections office. Local Leagues use it as a handout at forums; they distribute to many places including libraries, Elections Offices, and senior centers; and for outreach into Spanish-speaking communities. The Voters’ Guide editor, Marianne Germond (votersguideeditor@lwvor.org), also coordinates with the State Library to produce audio and Braille versions of the guide. 


WHEN: Local Leagues will need to place their orders by September 13 and can expect delivery roughly between October 4 and October 9.

WHERE: Ask your local League who is receiving the copies. There will also be online PDF versions of the guides (English and Spanish) on the LWVOR website that can be linked to and printed.


VOLUNTEER to help distribute copies of the Voters’ Guide, or help look up addresses of places to leave copies—coffee shops, bookstores, any place people gather. Help spread the word about the Guide among friends, family, and social groups.


 

Election Threat/Intimidation Response Plan


By Elizebeth Kirby, DEIJ Chair


With an uptick in violence, threats, and intimidation tactics being used to suppress voters across the nation, it’s more important than ever to develop a plan of action to support both our members and our local communities against these threats to our democracy. Although Oregon’s mail-in ballot system provides less opportunity for intimidation at the polls, there has been an increase in folks being intimidated at ballot drop boxes across the state. Election workers are also facing unprecedented levels of threats and many offices across the state have increased security and developed action plans to respond to violence or intimidation. 


Developing these types of action plans allow us to rapidly respond by empowering our communities to speak up and report election interference. It also provides an opportunity to protect those in our community that may be targeted by those seeking to disrupt democracy. LWVUS has provided a resource guide that outlines how to develop a rapid response team for your local league. The Oregon Secretary of State, Elections Division has a webpage devoted to reporting election law violations. 


The Election Protection Hotline is also a valuable resource. This hotline can be used to report:

  • Issues or questions that impact individual voters, such as questions regarding ID requirements, incorrect information regarding polling place or eligibility, or what to do now that a voter has cast a provisional ballot, should be directed to the Election Protection Hotlines.

  • Isolated incidents of voter intimidation should also be directed to the Election Protection Hotlines.

  • This hotline is available in a wide variety of languages:

    • English: 1-866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) 

    • En Español: 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682)

    • Asian multilingual assistance: 1-888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683) 

    • Arabic: 1-844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287) 



 

Development Update 


By Jackie Clary and Freddi Weishahn, LWVOR Development Co-Chairs


The Carol and Velma Saling Foundation, a most generous, sustaining contributor to our mission, awarded LWVOR $57,000 on August 6, 2024. We are honored and sincerely grateful to the Saling Foundation for continuing to be a major influence in our ability to increase outreach for our voter education programs, continue to produce trusted nonpartisan publications and strengthen publicity for the many services we provide to diverse communities across Oregon.


The Autzen Foundation, which supports charitable work for a wide array of organizations that make Oregon a better place, awarded LWVOR $5,000 on August 13, 2024, to fund our Youth Council activities. We sincerely thank the Autzen Foundation for recognizing the importance of our Youth Council and their work to bring more youth across Oregon into our participatory democracy. This award will enable our dedicated youth to continue to Get-Out-The-Vote and hold more workshops, including another Civic Education Summit. They have also been given a national spotlight by the LWVUS, which is working with LWVOR Youth Council member Lucy Robb to form a national LWVUS Youth Council. Kudos to our youth!



 

Oregon Student Mock Election (OSME) Update 



By Mimi Alkire, OSME Chair


Even though we haven't officially begun the push to get teachers registering their students for the 2024 General Mock Election, we are always open for business! At the time of this writing (8/20/24) we have five schools registered with nearly 2,000 students estimated to be voting. As soon as the Secretary of State's office has the ballot information, we will be selecting three races for which the students will vote. They will for sure get to vote for President of the United States, a state-wide office, and a ballot measure. Local races can also be included by request. Questions should be directed to MockElection@lwvor.org or Mimi.Alkire@gmail.com.


The dates and deadlines that are important for this election are:


TODAY! –                            Registration is open now! Just click HERE  

Wednesday, October 16 – Oregon ballot mailing begins

October 15-25 –             Student Mock Election Voting Window

Friday, November 1 –         OSME results released to the public

Tuesday, November 5 –     Oregon General Election Day



 

Opportunities Await! Add Your Voice to the LWVOR Board


Be part of the mission and have a good time too! Six Director positions available on the LWVOR Board for the 2025-2027 term. If you are interested, know someone who might be interested, have questions, want more information, please email nominating@lwvor.org.



 



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