Welcome to the League of Women Voters of Portland

The League of Women Voters of Portland is a nonpartisan political organization that promotes informed and active participation in government.  Membership is open to all, men and women, who are interested in learning how the government operates and have a desire to make a difference.

Our Work

Educating Voters

The leaders you elect make the decisions that affect you – your job, health care, energy costs, security and more. The League helps you to get registered, get to know the candidates and issues, and get out and vote.

In the past year, the League of Women Voters of Portland produced and distributed print Voters' Guides for the November 2011 and January 2012 Special Elections as well as the May 2012 Primary Election.  We contributed and helped set up the online Voters' Guide, VOTE411.org.  We conducted and broadcast candidate forums for the Republican and Democratic primary candidates for the First Congressional District Special Primary Election and the January Special General Election.  We also conducted candidate forums for the candidates for the May primary election for Portland Mayor, City Commissioner and Metro Councilor.

Registering Voters

The League is one of the nation’s largest and most longstanding voter registration groups.  League volunteers help hundreds of thousands register or update their registration each election year, focusing on reaching underrepresented groups such as young voters, minorities and first-time voters. 

LWV of Portland registers new voters and helps voters update their information at many events, as well as helping new citizens register to vote and Immigration Ceremonies.

Improving Government

The League strives to ensure that government at every level works as effectively and fairly as possible. This involves continual attention to issues of transparency, a strong and diverse judiciary, appropriate government oversight, and funding.

March General Meeting: Privatization -- How Government Does Its Work and Why

Our March general meeting speakers from local government entities discussed their respective policies and management approach to transfer arrangements to the private sector of services, functions or assets within their portfolio of responsibilities. Professor Cooper opened the panel and provided the historical context for the discussion.  He reviewed the many varieties of public/private arrangements encompassed in the term “privatization”.

The meeting was recorded.  A DVD copy is available to borrow from the office.  It is also available for viewing online here.

February General Meeting: Immigration -- How it works - does it?

Our February speakers reviewed enforcement practices of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service Secure Communities program and discussed the impact of current immigration regulations and policies on the community and businesses in the region.

The meeting was recorded.  It is available to watch on demand here.