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Date:  February 25, 2026 To: All LWVOR Members From: Barbara Klein, LWVOR Acting President Jean Pierce, LWVOR Action Chair Take Action Contact your Legislators about important bills this Legislative Session! Click here to find your legislators DEADLINE: ASAP Action Items Contact Your Legislators Find Your Legislators Here! Talking Points Many important bills have been approved in the first chamber of the legislature and are now in the second chamber. Bills are moving quickly in this short session, and your legislators could be asked to vote on them SOON . Please click on the links to learn how you can advocate concerning bills which LWVOR is supporting or opposing this term. Bills are organized by  LWVOR Legislative Priority .   Click on a bill for details and talking points . ⬇️   ASSURE ADEQUATE REVENUE   ​ SB 1507 A:  Partial Disconnect from Federal Taxes - SUPPORT   PROTECT DEMOCRACY   ​ SB 1509:  Replacing Faithless Electors in the Electoral College - SUPPORT HB 4018 : A “Technical Fixes” to Campaign Finance - OPPOSE   SUPPORT HEALTHCARE/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SB 1598:  Health Benefit Plans cover recommended vaccines - SUPPORT HB 4088 A:  Legal Protections for reproductive or gender-affirming care - SUPPORT   SUPPORT FUNDING FOR EDUCATION SB 1538 A:  Provide Education for Immigrants - SUPPORT HB 4149 A:  Enroll and Provide Services for Homeless Students - SUPPORT   SUPPORT NATURAL RESOURCES   HB 4134 A:  Increasing State Lodging Tax to Protect Wildlife - SUPPORT SB 1586:  Omnibus Land Use, Tax Credits and Changes in Permitting - OPPOSE HB 4153 A:  Use of farm land for commercial stores – OPPOSE HB 4105:  Set Timber Harvest Levels on State Forestland - OPPOSE   ADDRESS THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY   SB 1526 A:  Fund for Oregon Resilience, Growth, and Energy - SUPPORT SB 1541:  Make Polluters Pay - SUPPORT   PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY  SB 1530:  Threatening a Public Official is Harassment - SUPPORT HB 4114 A:  Rules for Operations of Federal Agents or Agents from Another State in Oregon - SUPPORT HB 4145 A:  Modifies Firearm Permit Provisions of Ballot Measure 114 - SUPPORT HB 4138 A:  Requires IDs and Prohibits Face Coverings for Law Enforcement Agents - SUPPORT For questions and to volunteer, please contact  lwvor@lwvor.org .

Our 2026 League of Women Voters of Oregon Council Meeting is scheduled for a single day, Saturday May 16, at the Historic Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 661 in Salem, Oregon. Battlefield Veterans Post Commander Rick Breen, Vice Commander Dean Howes, Women’s Veterans Outreach Coordinator Margaret Estella Garcia and Veterans’ Services Representative Rosy Macias will be enthusiastically welcoming us all at opening ceremonies. We again hope to have the Girl Scouts Color Guard, which may be joined by the Boy Scouts this year. This is an important addition, since one focus of our new President Mark Kendall and Board Member Evan Tucker is to feature the importance of male members in our organization.  Several items of importance:   Hosting:  We are developing a local LWV-Marion Polk and friends “Host B & B” option, to provide members traveling long distances with friendly accommodations. Travel is expensive.  Local hosts are so much appreciated.  To offer to host, please contact me with your particulars at eileen.lwv@gmail.com .  Please put 2026 LWVO COUNCIL B&B HOST OFFERING  in the subject line.  Need Hosting:  If you need hosting, please contact me at eileen.lwv@gmail.com  with NEED HOSTING: 2026 LWVO COUNCIL Hotel/Motel Accommodations : I will also be working on researching hotel/motel accommodation close to our meeting site for discounts for those of you traveling with families, etc. Please stay tuned. Eileen Burke-Trent LWVOR Events Chair

⭐LWV of Clackamas County  LWV of Clackamas County Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Coos County  LWV of Coos County Events Calendar March 7 - 10:30am to 12pm at Umpqua Hall on the SWOCC Campus in Coos Bay The League of Women Voters of Coos County will be hosting a discussion with the Honorable Megan Jacquot, Judge of the Oregon Court of Appeals, and the Honorable Martin E. Stone, Judge of the Circuit Court of Coos and Curry Counties.  The judges will offer their insights on the Constitutional role of the courts within the structure of government. Click here for more information. ⭐LWV of Corvallis  LWV of Corvallis Events Calendar March 4 - 6:30pm to 8:00pm at Corvallis-Benton County Public Library The League of Women Voters of Corvallis is co-sponsoring a Town Hall on Universal Health Care. This interactive session will explore: What are the current gaps in our health care system? What additional challenges may arise with cuts in federal funding? What is Oregon’s Universal Health Plan Governance Board proposing? Community members will have the opportunity to hear directly from experts engaged in this work and to submit questions in advance or during the event. Click here for more information. ⭐LWV of Curry County LWV of Curry County Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Deschutes County   LWV of Deschutes County Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Klamath County   LWV of Klamath County Events  ⭐LWV of Lane County  LWV of Lane County Events Calendar March 24 - 11:30am to 1:00pm at Marquis Community Room Speaker Series: Representative Lisa Fragala, Oregon House District 8. Click here for more information. ⭐LWV of Lincoln County  LWV of Lincoln County Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Linn County Unit  LWV of Linn County Unit Facebook page ⭐LWV of Marion and Polk Counties  LWV of Marion and Polk Counties Events Page ⭐LWV of Portland  LWV of Portland Website March 4 - 6:30pm to 8pm, via Zoom Our March 2026 Community Education Panel: Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy. Registration is required for all members and the public. Click here for more information. ⭐LWV of Rogue Valley  LWV of Rogue Valley Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Union County Unit LWV of Union County Unit Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Umpqua Valley LWV of Umpqua Valley Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Washington County Unit  LWV of Washington County Unit Facebook page

This month, I’m stepping in for Mark, our state President, who is away.  While I’m officially writing as 1 st Vice President, I am taking the opportunity to address our members wearing another of my hats – lead of our strategic goal to “avoid burnout.”    We hear it all the time, in different ways.  Many of us are feeling this elusive burnout.   League work asks for a lot of heart, a lot of attention, and (sometimes) a lot of late-night “just one more thing” energy. When the work is urgent and the stakes are real, it’s easy to normalize overload. But exhaustion isn’t a badge of honor and it isn’t a sustainable operating model. If we want to keep showing up for voters and for each other, we have to treat resilience as part of the work, not something we’ll “get to” later. One practical shift we’re prioritizing is building in partnership and shared ownership so projects don’t sit on one person’s shoulders. That means expanding the volunteer bench, pairing people up where possible, and designing work so someone can step away or even take a vacation (gasp) without everything stalling. Sometimes we may even have to consider setting limits that mean not everything gets done. We also strive to be thoughtful about staff capacity, because the same dynamics that burn out volunteers can burn out staff, too. The goal is a League where support is normal and backup is built-in. I hope we can endeavor to be a League that is truly a community (work, success, support, purpose and maybe even camaraderie or fun). As we build clearer roles and shared ownership, my hope is that every volunteer and staff member will feel supported (not stretched thin) so that our work remains sustainable for the long run. And so that our purpose may provide us strength , energy and inspiration .  In League, Barbara Klein 1st Vice President

Advocating for Wildlife Conservation at the Capitol by Lily Yao and Zev Wacks, LWV of Lane County and LWVOR Youth Council Members  On February 11, we visited the Oregon State Capitol for a Wildlife Action Day in support of “1.25% for Wildlife,” or HB 4134 . This bipartisan bill would raise Oregon’s transient lodging tax by 1.25% to secure dedicated funding for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. It is expected to raise roughly $30 million each year, while maintaining Oregon’s rank as having the third lowest transient lodging tax in the country. Such funding would go toward Oregon’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), the Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund, the Oregon Conservation Corps, invasive species response, anti-poaching efforts, and other programs. At the Wildlife Action Day, we met with Representative Fragala and a member of Senator Prozanski's staff.  Representative Fragala was Lily’s second grade teacher, so it was wonderful to "reconnect" with her while advocating for an issue we all care deeply about! Our climate work has largely been informed by our role as Regional Leaders with Our Future , a statewide youth climate action network.  We are both members of Our Future’s Legislative Team, where we have hosted Testimony Workshops for high school youth and created testimony guides for climate-related legislation.  This session, we hope to encourage members of the LWVOR Youth Council to submit testimony for climate-related bills on the docket. YOUTH VOICES FOR IMPACT ON LEGISLATION: SB1574 FIRST TIME VOTERS ACT by BROOKLYN CARR HEUER, ELIZAVETA ROTT,  MARWA DAHER, AND OLIVIA HAN SB 1574 would permit 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the date of the consecutive general election to participate in primary elections.  The League believes that elections should be conducted in a manner that encourages voter participation.  Youth Council members who feel strongly about this issue researched, formulated and submitted testimony to Senator Kayse Jama, Chair, and Senator Bruce Starr, Vice Chair and Members of the Senate Rules Committee.    There were a few political reality checkpoints to the process however!  The public hearing on SB 1574 was cancelled for opportunities to speak remotely or in person in Salem at this time,  though they welcomed written testimony to the campaign and to the Senate Rules Committee.  Everyone on this team is hopeful to be included in an Informational Hearing that the Senate Rules Committee will schedule BEFORE the 2027 Oregon Legislature. The message from the First Time Voters Act campaign illustrates even more: We had a very insightful, constructive, and intensive conversation about the issue of public disclosure laws regarding minors (as it relates to this bill), as well as a general conversation about what it will take to build some consensus on this topic. The folks on the call, including Next Up Action Fund, felt that convening an informal workgroup makes the most sense to further research what other states do, understand the full scope of potential consequences, and make an informed decision about a policy approach. Ultimately, the short session has not been conducive to the time needed to explore this further.   After debriefing the coalition conversation as an advocacy team, as well as discussing with our key Chief Sponsor's office (Sen. Gorsek's Chief of Staff), we feel that it’s best to ask for an informational hearing post-session rather than move forward with a public hearing this short session.   While it is unfortunate, we feel that this pivot will offer a more strategic, effective, and aligned approach next time. All the conversations and work that took place these past few months have been invaluable and will only set us up for success down the road.    If you have any concerns about this decision, please reach out. We are truly grateful for your time and energy on this effort, and look forward to convening a workgroup with even more stakeholders (including more political parties, more impacted young people, etc.), as well as creating a formal committee structure for the next iteration of this effort.    If you were working with any young people who took the time to write testimony about this bill, please connect them with us. We still want to ensure they can share their story on why youth voting matters to them with their legislators and are happy to support Brooklyn Carr Heuer, Elizaveta Rott, Marwa Daher and Olivia Han with appreciation. The conversation to lower the voting age is still very much alive!

💰  New Finances Screen A new  Finances  screen is now available to help treasurers reconcile accounts. It includes four searchable tabs: Stripe Transactions  – View all Stripe payments to your League, filter by date, and see gross amount, fees, net amount, items included (dues, contributions), and transaction IDs. Dues  – See all dues payments (online and check), including total paid across local/state/national levels, payment method, notes (auto-renew, subsidy, multiple members), and transaction ID. Offline Payments  – Track check payments entered by your League, searchable by invoice number (MPS), with status (paid/pending), check number, and who entered the payment. Contributions  – View donations made during join/renew, with member name, date, and amount. State Leagues will see slight variations, including separate tabs for local League dues and direct state members-at-large. A walkthrough recording will be available on the Member Portal Resources page. 🧠  Membership Brainstorming Series LWVUS is launching a pilot program to collaborate with a small group of local Leagues on recruitment, engagement, and retention strategies. Participating Leagues will test ideas and help shape a membership toolkit to be shared nationally. Interested Leagues can sign up to participate or share existing resources. 📇  Roster Screen Change & Other Adjustments In response to feedback: The  Last Login  column has been removed from the roster screen (still available in exports and on individual contact pages). Member registration answers can now be  filtered by date , and long responses wrap for easier reading. A  verification step  has been added when entering offline dues payments to help prevent accidental entries. 💬  New Groups.io Discussion Groups Building on the success of the treasurers group, three new leader discussion groups have launched:  membership, communications, and presidents . Invitations were sent to leaders in those roles, and additional participants can join through the portal resources page. Helpful Links 📌   LWVUS Member Portal Resources 📌   LWVUS Membership Portal Updates 📌   LWV Member Portal Administrator’s Guide (updated 1/7/26) 📌   Automatic Emails from ChapterSpot (PDF) For specific membership questions, contact membership@lwv.org .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, February 26, 2026 Contact: mockelection@lwvor.org League of Women Voters of Oregon Invites Educators to Register for 2026 Oregon Student Mock Election The League of Women Voters of Oregon (LWVOR) invites educators across the state to register their students for the 2026 Primary Oregon Student Mock Election (OSME) for Grades 6–12. The nonpartisan mock election is hosted by LWVOR and endorsed by the Oregon Secretary of State. By request, teachers from Grades 4 and 5 are also welcome to register their students. The student voting window for the 2026 Spring Primary is May 1–10. LWVOR will be flexible and supportive of teachers who need to hold their election earlier. Student ballots are expected to be ready in mid-April, or as soon as access to the official ballot content becomes available. LWVOR has made it easy for teachers to sign up and begin receiving information about the mock election. Educators can register a class, department, or entire school with one click on the REGISTER button at www.lwvor.org/mock-election. To register, teachers need only provide a school contact name, email address, school name, student grade(s), and the approximate number of participating students. Registration is open now and will automatically trigger a personal response from OSME Coordinator Mimi Alkire. Teachers are also encouraged to contact her directly with questions or comments at mimi.alkire@gmail.com  or mockelection@lwvor.org . For the mock election, LWVOR will provide official ballots, individualized teacher support, and extensive resources through the curriculum section of its website. Located just below the REGISTER button, the curriculum section includes LWVOR’s award-winning Civics Education curriculum and Oregon Social Studies Standards–based lesson plans to help students better understand how democracy works. After holding their mock election, teachers (and/or students) will count their class's votes and report the results using a simple submission form provided by LWVOR. LWVOR will compile and release the statewide results to participating teachers and to the media simultaneously. Even if one teacher registers on behalf of a department or school, individual teachers may report their class results separately. All ballots will be approved by the Oregon Secretary of State and typically include one federal race, one state race, and one statewide ballot measure. While most educators choose this streamlined three-item ballot, LWVOR provides space for an optional local race or ballot measure. Schools and districts may request a personalized ballot that includes a fourth item relevant to their community. In past mock elections, students have voted on races for mayors, county commissioners, elections officials, school or park bonds, and, in some cases, an additional federal or state contest upon request. LWVOR encourages educators to share this opportunity with colleagues and to mark their calendars for the 2026 General Election mock election, which LWVOR will host next October–November. For more information or to register, visit: www.lwvor.org/mock-election . ### The League of Women Voters of Portland is a 103-year-old grassroots nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. We envision informed Oregonians participating in a fully accessible, responsive, and transparent government to achieve the common good. The League never supports or opposes any candidate or political party.

Date:  February 17, 2026 To: All LWVOR Members From: Barbara Klein, LWVOR Acting President Jean Pierce, LWVOR Action Chair Norman Turrill, Governance Specialist Take Action Contact   your State Legislators ( Click here to find your legislators ) and tell them to oppose HB 4018 A DEADLINE: ASAP Action Items Contact Your Legislators and Tell Them to Oppose HB 4018 A Find Your Legislators Here! Talking Points Tell Legislators why you oppose HB 4018 A   We are asking all League members throughout Oregon to help stop this damaging bill. This bill betrays the agreement made in 2024 for withdrawing Initiative Petition 9 in exchange for passage of HB 4024 and agreeing to work on technical fixes without policy changes.  The bill allows large special interest organizations to continue dominating campaign finance in Oregon while still limiting individual contributors. It substantially erodes the financial disclosure requirements and further delays implementation for 4 years.  The wording was developed in secret without collaboration with good government groups or national experts.  Background: During the last hour of the last day of the 2024 legislative session, HB 4024 on CFR was passed into law. It was forced by the threat of an Initiative Petition that had gathered some 100,000 signatures. This followed a constitutional amendment passed by 78% of voters in 2020 that allowed campaign finance reform. For questions and to volunteer, please contact  lwvor@lwvor.org .

🔢  MPS Numbers & Other Adjustments Several small improvements were made to the portal: MPS invoice numbers  for check-paid dues are now visible on the  Paid/Resolved  tab of  Members with Pending Payments , making it easier to identify which member a payment applies to. Clearer language appears on the membership card when a member logs in with a different email, prompting them to try another email or contact their League to confirm which email is on the roster. Life – No expiration  now displays on two lines in the roster to shorten the column and improve readability. Transfer notifications  now go to the president, treasurer, membership chair, and roster manager at both the sending and receiving Leagues, in addition to the member and the person initiating the transfer. 💵  Pending Check Payments Offline check payments will now be  removed after 90 days  if a check is not received. When this happens, the pending payment is removed from the portal and the member’s expiration date reverts to its prior value (this reset currently requires staff action, so there may be a brief delay). All check payments older than 90 days have already been cleared. 📘  Updated Admin Guide & Make-Whole Information A new version of the Admin Guide is available, including expanded information on  shortfall mitigation (“make-whole”)  and updates covering league-paid membership, gift membership, auto-renew, troubleshooting tips, clarifications around Life membership, checkout screen language, and other recent portal changes. 🔁  Auto-Renew & League-Paid Membership Two major features are now live: Auto-renew  sends members a reminder 30 days before their renewal processes, and members can view or manage upcoming renewals in their profile. League-paid membership  allows Leagues to pay dues on behalf of members directly in the portal, supporting subsidies, locally deposited checks, and payments for members who do not log in themselves. Helpful Links 📌   LWVUS Member Portal Resources 📌   LWVUS Membership Portal Updates 📌   LWV Member Portal Administrator’s Guide 📌   Automatic Emails from ChapterSpot (PDF) For specific membership questions, contact membership@lwv.org .

SALEM, OR  — The League of Women Voters of Oregon has issued a formal response to the Department of Homeland Security regarding proposed changes to traveler data collection for Form I-94 and the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). The League warns that new "blanket data disclosure requirements" for all foreign visitors could discourage travel to the state, potentially harming Oregon’s tourism-dependent economy. These concerns are rooted in the League's call for strong cybersecurity protections to ensure economic stability and to protect personal data. Under the federal proposal, visitors would be required to submit an unprecedented amount of personal data through a mobile app using geolocation and near-field communication for sensitive biometrics, such as fingerprints, iris scans, and DNA. Required "high value data fields" include: Five years of social media history, Five years of personal and business phone numbers Ten years of both types of email addresses. Detailed family information—including parents, spouses, siblings, and children—for their birth dates and places, residences, and phone numbers.  The League expressed significant concern that the proposal lacks clear standards or limits for how long this data will be retained. This omission poses risks to personal privacy and increases government administration costs for storing and protecting "big data". Further, the League emphasized that collection and use of personal information must remain consistent with its original purpose and should not cause harm to individuals. The formal comment also highlights concerns regarding legal oversight and the potential for these data collection processes to be used for the surveillance of groups beyond international travelers. The League notes that biometric screening technologies are known to underperform with reduced reliability for non-Caucasian individuals, raising questions about the fairness and accuracy of the system. Contact: lwvor@lwvor.org 503-581-5722 League of Women Voters of Oregon

Date:  February 2, 2026 To: All LWVOR Members From:  Barbara Klein, Acting LWVOR President Claudia Keith, Climate Emergency Coordinator Take Action Contact   your State Legislators ( Click here to find your legislators ) Submit testimony to the committee as an individual for the Feb 5. Committee Hearing Sign a petition for the issues  RSVP For Make Polluters Pay Advocacy Day on February 16th.  DEADLINE: ASAP, Before Feb. 7 Action Items Contact Your Legislators or Submit Testimony to the committee as an individual. Sign a  petition from Make Polluters Pay in support of the issue.  Mark your calendars , plan to attend February 16th Lobby Day at the Capital – look for information on this Lobby Day event and RSVP here . Talking Points Tell Legislators what matters to you for SB 1541 :  Ask your legislators to support SB 1541 to establish a state policy to Make Polluters Pay / Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program. We need local League members throughout Oregon to advance this critical legislation to build support before the February 5 Senate Natural Resources & Wildfire public hearing.  SB 1541 would create the Climate Resilience Superfund to ensure the largest out-of-state fossil fuel polluters pay their share for our safety and recovery from climate disasters. For too long, taxpayers and our local governments have footed the bill for the cost of wildfires and floods.  The deadline is ASAP . We expect a first hearing as early as Feb 5. We need your support to give this bill an opportunity to advance.  Questions? Contact climatepolicy@lwvor.org

⭐LWV of Clackamas County  LWV of Clackamas County Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Coos County  LWV of Coos County Events Calendar Feb 12 - 6pm at Coos Bay Public Library Election Security with Coos County Clerk Julie Brecke. Click here for more information. ⭐LWV of Corvallis  LWV of Corvallis Events Calendar Feb 11 - 5pm at Bodhi Join us for a lively discussion about food ! We’ll gather at Bodhi on First to continue the conversation sparked by Restoring Democracy: Food and Agriculture (January 22) and explore what food issues look like here in Corvallis. Feb 26 - 6:30pm at Corvallis Benton County Public Library Since 2017, the Community Planning Committee of the League of Women Voters of Corvallis has offered public forums highlighting Corvallis city services and programs. Join us for an evening of exploration and envisioning as we present this year’s program - Know Your City: Downtown Corvallis - Past, Present, Future. ⭐LWV of Curry County LWV of Curry County Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Deschutes County   LWV of Deschutes County Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Klamath County   LWV of Klamath County Events  ⭐LWV of Lane County  LWV of Lane County Events Calendar Feb 24 - 11am at The Shedd Institute Speaker Series: Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield : February’s Speaker Series guest will be our state’s chief legal officer, who will talk about his role in defending election results, protecting voter privacy, preventing voter intimidation, and ensuring fair election processes. Click here for more information . ⭐LWV of Lincoln County  LWV of Lincoln County Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Linn County Unit  LWV of Linn County Unit Facebook page ⭐LWV of Marion and Polk Counties  LWV of Marion and Polk Counties Events Page ⭐LWV of Portland  LWV of Portland Website ⭐LWV of Rogue Valley  LWV of Rogue Valley Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Union County Unit LWV of Union County Unit Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Umpqua Valley LWV of Umpqua Valley Events Calendar ⭐LWV of Washington County Unit  LWV of Washington County Unit Facebook page

For the next few months and into late spring, the LWVOR Board and staff are going to be exceptionally busy.  The Human Resources Committee (HR) of the Board requests that we all gauge the timing, urgency, and importance of any requests we have of our staff and consider a schedule that takes the following into account.  At LWVOR we are: Creating a new role - Communications and Marketing Coordinator Refocusing Lindsay LaPlante's work to be Staff Director of the Membership and VOTE411 portfolios Hiring new staff positions for coordinating support for the Development and Youth Outreach portfolios  Staff are assisting HR with all these recruitments, reviewing applications, interviewing and selection of the three new staff members. All three of the new staff will need orientation, on-boarding and familiarization with the League, and the objectives of the specific work we will task them with.   In addition, the legislature is in session placing significant demands on our Advocacy portfolio and requiring additional staff support,  We started the budget process for the 2026 - 2027 fiscal year that demands additional time from portfolio leaders, also requiring staff support. The 2025 - 2030 LWVOR Strategic Plan is complete with working groups developing our tactics and procedures regarding eight separate strategic priorities and objectives of the league.  Facilitating, scheduling and supporting that work calls for additional staff support.  And this is all at a time when we are short staffed.  There is a theme here.  Our staff will be quite pressed for time through the end of this fiscal year (June 2026) as we increase our capacity to support the work of the League across the state. Patience is our virtue in these times.  Thank you and in League, Barbara Keirnes-Young , Kermit Yensen , and Mark Kendall (LWVOR HR Committee) Abigail Hertzler and Lindsay LaPlante (LWVOR Staff)

January 14, 2026 Mark Kendall, LWVOR President The US Department of Justice sued the State of Oregon Secretary of State   for refusing t o divulge detailed voter registration data not specifically addressed in federal law and prohibited for release to third parties by Oregon voter privacy statute.  On 14 January 2026 the case was heard by 2 nd  U.S. District Court Judge Mustpha T. Kasubhai in Eugene Oregon.  After the all day the hearing the Judge clearly stated the case will likely be dismissed at the end of his deliberation on the basis that the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) failed to state a basis nor a purpose in either a July data request nor an August demand letter. The League of Women Voters of Oregon (LWVOR) , who filed an amicus brief (in support of the State of Oregon), was recognized as having standing by the court.  Over two dozen LWVOR members were in attendance at the day-long hearing.  The expectation is that USDOJ will not appeal this ruling but will likely refile a much more specific demand.  Our Oregon  filed as an intervenor in this case alongside the ODOJ and were represented by the Elias Group law firm.    The hearing provided insight into the nuance of the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) authority to conduct oversight and investigation into elections, specific to voter registration.  Three laws were at issue in the case, the Civil Rights Act (CRA) , National Voting Rights Act (NVRA), and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) .   CRA Title 3 specifies USDOJ authority to investigate states removal of voters from voter registration rolls based on race of other protected class.  NVRA specifically charges USDOJ with verification that states take “reasonable” action to maintain voters registration list(s) specific to removal of persons deceased or having moved out of the state.  HAVA specifically identifies the statutory requirement that states voter registration must include either a state issued Drivers License, or a Social Security number or a state issued administrative number assigned to and identifying the specific voter.  It also requires the state maintain and “electronic” voter registration list.  Under NVRA , the USDOJ may investigate the states reasonable maintenance of its voters registration list.  To conduct such an investigation USDOJ is required to state the basis (data) and purpose (reason) for the data inquiry.  In addition, the court intimated that requesting detailed voter registration data beyond the specific statutory identifier used by the state is not the purview of the federal government.  In testimony USDOJ stated statistical data as their basis since Oregon is the fifth highest state in registered voters compared to residents eligible to vote at over 93% and in the lowest five percent of states with removals from the voters roles at 4,417 voters removed in 2024.  USDOJ failed to declare that or any other basis known in their filing with the court.  And they failed to provide a purpose such as why do those statistics (not data) imply that the Oregon voter registration list is not “reasonably maintained” by the state.   USDOJ’s demand letter to the Oregon Secretary of State in August requested an unredacted Oregon voters registration list.  Oregon provides public access to the entire voter registration list on demand for a fee.  The list includes name, address, party affiliation, precinct, birth year, last 4 digits of the voter’s social security number, unique Oregon voter administrative number and the voter’s frequency of voting in previous elections.  That data is acquired, stored and made publicly available in accordance with Oregon voter privacy statute.  USDOJ non-redacted list demand exceeded their authorization to specific data under federal law and violates Oregon’s voter privacy laws. Under the CRA , the USDOJ is obligated to protect voter privacy requirements.  Furthermore, there is case precedent that non-redacted voter registration data such as drivers license, full date of birth, full social security numbers has little relevance to the determination of “reasonable list maintenance." There was ongoing discussion and inquiry of the many nuances and interplays between these federal and state statutes.  Essentially the court very methodically identified the very specific bounds of USDOJ authority to request data from states stemming from USDOJ’s authority to verify “reasonable maintenance” of the Oregon voter registration list.  There was reference to the LWVOR ‘s amicus brief claim that federal overreach in demand for unredacted voter registration data places a chill on eligible voter registration or voting.  U.S.DOJ dismissed that as a speculative risk.  There may be some homework to do to determine metrics for measurement of that subjective element, since USDOJ is charged by statute to encourage full participation in voting.  So, at this time, Oregon voters rights claimed by the Oregon Secretary of State and Oregon Department of Justice have been upheld by this courts’ deliberations.  Progress in defending democracy.

From DEIJ Chair rhyen enger: As the DEIJ Chair for LWVOR, in 2026 I will offer a one-hour discussion with League Leaders across the state every other month. This will be a time for Leagues and State Units to learn and grow together to be more equitable and inclusive in our respective communities. The format will vary between training, workshops, and discussions.  The first discussion will be February 10 at 5:30pm with a focus on the LWVUS Unite & Rise Playbook Three: Building Power Through Partnerships. We will discuss partnerships at the local level—what's worked, what hasn't worked, and how to include DEIJ in our efforts. To prepare, you may want to review or attend the following LWVUS Webinars: Nov. 18, 2025 | Session 1: Laying the Groundwork: Building Sustainable Partnerships   (Passcode: v0%3i=S3) Dec. 16, 2025 | Session 2: National Partnerships for Local Engagement   (Passcode: E?t8wTLe) Jan. 20, 2026 (3pm ET) | Session 3: Partnering for Voter Engagement Ahead of 2026 Elections (Passcode: +A59uUky) Register here for the discussion on February 10th at 5:30pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/g_Y_wWi3QTSMa4vyVEP4fg

The Path Forward in Hyper-Partisan Times As I visit with League members around the state, one type of question is often repeated.  "Isn't it time we vociferously call out anti-democracy actions and definitively attribute them to the perpetrators by their common affiliation or shared identity?"  It is easy when faced with transparently unreasoned, callous, or unjust behavior to justify stating our facts and truth with judgement and blame.  We are better than that.  The League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) provides us the strategies and tools on how to lead with non-partisanship and civil discourse  in these hyper-partisan times.  Each quarter through the midterm elections the LWVUS Unite and Rise 8.5  initiative provides a detailed playbook for specific action supporting the campaigns goal to reach 8.5 million new voters, 112,000 in Oregon. The League of Women Voters non-partisan and civil discourse credo call on each of us to rise above the fray, to focus on our informed positions, the facts, and to reach out to those willing to listen and to learn.  Arguing with the ill-informed and intractable simply gives voice to their position.  We go the other way, we register, inform and empower voters, not enflame the fooled or ill intended.  Nearly a third of registered Oregon voters did not vote in the last general election. They need support, motivation and facts they can rely on, and they are our audience.  In most every hyper-partisan circumstance or disagreement, facts speak clearly for themselves. Communicating facts with the intent to grow collective understanding is often the best path to common ground.  Impassioned argument, opinion or emotional pleas have their place but aren’t as proven as civil dialog using repeated data and transparently verifiable facts. Neurolinguistics studies show on average people need to hear something seven times before it informs notable change in their perception or belief, much less behavior.  And we want them to vote!  So, let us not expend energy arguing with those who are ill-informed, ill-intended or unwilling to listen or learn.  We are better served to focus on mobilizing the educable.  Nearly a third of Oregon registered voters did not vote in the past general election.  The unmotivated, periodic or disaffected non-voters deserve our undivided attention.  LWVUS Unite and Rise 8.5  strategy has four pillars supporting quarterly playbooks or action plans, check them out and motivate your League to take them on. The legal and policy advocacy pillar asks us to challenge unconstitutional actions, to fight voter suppression and demand protections of due process.  Mobilizing the public and building coalitions is the pillar that calls on us to raise our collective voice by collaborating with others defending democracy.  Civic education and engagement through outreach campaigns can be leveraged by the two previous pillars where we call out anti-democracy and reach new audiences through allies.  And, the last pillar calls on us to shore up our democracy infrastructure for democracy resilience.  Our voter service, communications, advocacy and observer corps are just such actions.  Advocacy for legislative or legal support of democracy is another way to improve and support our institutions resiliency.   For over 105 years LWVOR has forged this path. It is the path we are on and it’s the same one going forward. It’s not about doing more as much as about how we forge ahead.  It’s time to do a little paving.  We will administratively support our volunteers so more of their heartfelt and informed effort is placed on reaching that 8.5 million new voices of democracy.  We can effectively leverage allies and collaborate to reach a broader audience.  We will use the resources in Unite and Rise quarterly playbooks to amplify and make the Leagues message more consistent and repeated nationwide. We will continue to hold elected officials at all levels of government and private institutions accountable to justice and the rule of law through observer corps, holding public forums on critical issues, reviewing, educating and advocating for just legislation, and yes, filing suit in courts of law in support of democracy.  This is the path that traditionally provides us a respected non-partisan voice of practicality, reason, justice, equity and principle.  We will prevail, hope is not a strategy, it’s what happens when you’ve got one, and we do.   "It's easier to fool one than to convince them they've been fooled. Get to them before they’re fooled.”  - Samuel Clemons In League, Mark Kendall LWVOR President

Date : January 13, 2026 To : All LWVOR members From : Mark Kendall, LWVOR President Jean Pierce, LWVOR Action Chair Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator TAKE ACTION:   Contact your State Legislators   ( Click here to find your legislators )  RSVP   for the February 5 rally in Salem DEADLINE: ASAP T ALKING POINTS Protect families, not the ultra-wealthy. Oregon can recover over $700 million by rejecting the federal tax giveaways to mega-corporations and the ultra-rich—money that should go to schools, health care, housing, and other services working families rely on. Cuts are a choice—and the wrong one. Across-the-board cuts would hit working families, kids, seniors, rural communities, and people with disabilities hardest, even as everyday costs keep rising. We shouldn’t balance the budget on the backs of those already struggling. Disconnecting from the federal tax code is the solution. Oregon’s automatic tie to the federal tax code makes us especially vulnerable to the federal giveaways, costing up to $900 million next biennium. Strategically disconnecting protects vital services and reflects Oregon's values of fairness and shared responsibility.   For more information: 2 025 LRO document on effects of HR 1 Oregon Legislative Revenue Office Thomson Reuters Questions? Contact  lwvor@lwvor.org .

Every December, we replace our Monthly Highlights with a roundup of the biggest stories and resources of the year, followed by steps you can take to defend democracy in the months to come! Keep reading for a recap of one of the most tumultuous years in our democracy’s history. Breaking: Your Most-Read News Stories March 2025 — President Trump’s Anti-Voter Election Order : President Trump’s “plainly unlawful” Executive Order would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote, prohibit the counting of absentee and mail ballots received after Election Day, and give the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) the authority to review states’ voter rolls. Through litigation, the League permanently blocked the provision that purported to require documentary proof of citizenship to register using the federal registration form. April 2025 — A Constitutional Crisis : LWV declared that the US was in a constitutional crisis and launched the campaign Unite and Rise 8.5 to mobilize voters in defense of democracy. September 2025 — USCIS Suppresses New Citizen Voters: The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released revised policy guidance barring nonpartisan organizations (like LWV) from registering voters at naturalization ceremonies. In November 2025, the League filed a federal lawsuit against USCIS, seeking to block the policy change. September 2025 — LWV and Partners Sue Trump to Protect Private Voter Data : LWV, LWVVA, LWVLA, and partners filed a lawsuit challenging the administration’s creation of an expanded data system  consolidating personal information without consent or advance notice. April 2025 — The SAVE Act Passes the House : The House passage of the anti-voter SAVE Act  was a “direct attack on the fundamental right to vote" and a “dangerous step backward for our democracy.” Required Viewing: Your Favorite Blogs, Videos, and More BLOGS : The topics you were most interested in learning about this year included why we oppose voter ID laws , whether the SAVE Act  is a trick (it is), how the Electoral College  works, and the role of DEI in our democracy . VIDEOS : We launched our Unite and Rise 8.5 web series , interviewing leaders in the democracy space about young voters, resistance to unjust government, the longstanding relationship between faith and advocacy communities, and more! VOTE411 : 2025 marked 19 years of our bilingual voting resource, VOTE411.org ! During the fall elections, more than 2 million people used VOTE411 to register to vote, view candidate guides, get polling place info, and more. SOCIAL MEDIA:  We launched on Threads  and Bluesky ! 2026 Resolutions: Ways to Empower Voters and Defend Democracy Unite and Rise : Join our campaign to defend our democracy and protect the freedom to vote. Become a Poll Worker : Empower your community to make their voices heard! You’ll even get paid for your service. Contact Your Representatives : Reach out on the issues that matter most. Find your representatives’ contact information , or use our Action Alerts to email them about voting rights, the Equal Rights Amendment, interference in DC politics, and more! Join the League : Become a part of your state or local League to register voters, support civic education, take action on local issues, and more!

Each year, we receive a reminder that our League of Women Voters membership dues are due. Many of you pay diligently and faithfully, and it’s natural to wonder: Are we really making a difference? Is my contribution truly helping? I’d like to share some facts about the meaningful work the League is doing, thanks in part to your support. The 2024 Election Impact Report , recently shared with members, highlights the League’s accomplishments in protecting voter rights, defending democracy, and collaborating with partners across the country. In 2024 alone, the League generated: • 30 million voter contacts • 9.38 million voters’ rights protected through litigation • 9.19 million users receiving trusted election information through VOTE411.org • Nearly 70,000 voter-to-voter conversations encouraging civic participation I encourage you to read the full impact report - it’s inspiring. As many of you know, litigation is extremely costly, and this year the League has had to defend against numerous attacks on voting rights and democratic processes. These legal battles occur not only at the national level, but also across many states. Recently, for example, the League and its partners rallied for fair maps as the Supreme Court heard Louisiana v. Callais. This inspired me to explore the League of Women Voters’ legislation page, where I discovered a long list of both ongoing and completed cases. Here are just a few: • Challenge to Federal Executive Order the Required Proof of Citizenship to Vote (April 2025) • Defense Against DOJ Voter Data Demands • Class Action Lawsuit Against Data Collection (Sept. 2025) • Challenge to North Carolina Post-Election Rules These cases represent only a portion of the League’s work. Across the country, the League—often in partnership with other organizations is actively defending voting rights and strengthening our democracy. It has been a very busy year. You can explore these cases on the League of Women Voters Legal Center web page. I hope that, after reviewing this information, you feel confident knowing how your membership dollars are being used. Every penny you contribute helps protect and uphold the democratic values we all cherish. Maggie VanDame Transformation Chair LWV Rogue Valley

Oregon Civics Conference OSME Presentation Feedback Dec 5, 2025, in Salem Hosted by Civics Learning Project The 2025 Oregon Civics Conference was held on December 5. Mimi Alkire (Oregon Student Mock Election Chair) and Diana DeMaria (Youth Outreach Chair) were part of the full day’s tabling, sharing one-on-one with teachers about Oregon Student Mock Election (OSME). Mimi was also a co-presenter for a session about OSME with Urmila Baruah, Salem-Keizer School District Social Studies TOSA. Here is the feedback from social studies teachers from across the state who attended the session. Summary Teachers discovered extensive ready-made support for mock elections through the Oregon League of Women Voters, with many surprised to learn they don't have to create materials from scratch and can scale beyond individual classrooms to district- wide initiatives. The session provided concrete toolkits including ballots, candidate information sheets, and implementation guides that reduce teacher preparation burden while creating authentic voting experiences for students. Key Takeaways and Themes Authentic Civic Experience : Teachers valued the hands-on, realistic approach of setting up voting stations, using actual ballots, and assigning student roles as poll workers and observers—moving beyond theoretical discussion to experiential learning that mirrors real democratic processes and increases likelihood of future voter participation. Nonpartisan Framework Appreciated : The League of Women Voters reputation for nonpartisanship resonated with teachers seeking ways to engage students in elections education without appearing biased. Notable Quote “This session reinforced my belief that students need concrete, experiential opportunities to understand democratic processes. It also challenged me to think about how election education can be truly nonpartisan while still deeply engaging and empowering for students.”