Meet the League of Women Voters of Portland

Activities	Positions	Nonpartisan Policy
Meetings	Current Studies	League Affiliations
Publications

Activities

The League of Women Voters engages in a variety of activities focused on voter education and advocacy. Some of our activities include:

Voter registration
Publishing a nonpartisan, balanced Voters' Guide with information about candidates and ballot measures
Publishing a directory of elected officials, the Voters Key
Providing speakers who can address topics ranging from citizenship skills to ballot measures to League history
Attending naturalization ceremonies to help new citizens register to vote
Organizing candidate forums and debates
Conducting studies of current issues
Organizing monthly membership meetings and discussion groups
Observing local government meetings
Lobbying elected officials
Testifying at public meetings
Publishing a monthly newsletter
And much more!

The Portland League holds monthly general membership meetings in September, October, November, January, February, March, and April. General meetings usually feature a guest speaker and are open to the public. Recent speakers include Vicki Phillips, Superintendent of Portland Public Schools; Derrick Foxworth, Portland Chief of Police; and Molly Raphael, Multnomah County Library Director.

The week following the general meeting there are a series of small discussion groups called units. These unit meetings take place throughout the city at various times of day. They offer members the opportunity to discuss in greater depth the subject covered at the general meeting.

The Portland League's Annual Meeting occurs in May. Members elect officers, adopt a budget and program, and consider bylaws amendments.

Publications

Members receive many informative publications from the League:

Portland Voter -- LWV Portland's monthly newsletter
LWVOR Voter -- LWV Oregon's quarterly newsletter
National Voter -- LWV United States' occasional magazine
Voters' Guide -- LWV Portland and LWV Oregon brochure with nonpartisan, balanced information about candidates and ballot measures
Voters Key -- LWV Portland's directory of elected officials
Studies -- All levels of League produce periodic in-depth studies on current issues.

Positions

The League adopts position statements based on study and member agreement. Once the League adopts a position it can be used to shape public policy. See the complete positions of LWV Portland.

Current Studies

The Portland League is currently studying:

Portland Neighborhood Associations: Study the structure, financing, and effectiveness.
Juvenile Justice: Determine age at which youth should be assumed competent to stand trial in adult court.

Nonpartisan Policy

The League provides nonpartisan election information on candidates and issues. The League never endorses or rates a candidate.

League Affiliations

The League of Women Voters of Portland is associated with the League of Women Voters of the Columbia River Region (LWVCRR), the League of Women Voters of Oregon (LWVOR), and the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS). When you join LWV Portland, you will automatically become a member of the regional, state, and national Leagues.