Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy

A Panel Discussion

The live panel discussion was held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Watch or Listen to the Panel

Watch the recorded video of the discussion:

Listen to the recorded podcast of the discussion:

Watch the video replay on local television stations:

About the Program

As we confront this critical moment in our nation’s history, when voting rights, civil rights, and democracy itself are under siege, the mission of the League of Women Voters to empower voters and defend democracy is more vital than ever. What can League members and the community do to support that mission? 

Panel Speakers

Our March Community Education program highlighted the notable work of three leaders across our country, state, and local community, to protect our democracy—through legislative lobbying, the legal system, and the ballot box:

• Jessica Jones Capparell, Director of Government Affairs of the US League of Women Voters, will discuss the National League’s efforts to defend democracy at the federal legislative level, while empowering voters to stand up and act.
• Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, who in the past year has sued the federal government more than fifty times against assaults on democracy in our state, will talk about his office’s ongoing work to defend and preserve Oregon’s civil values.
• Jaylyn Suppah*, a member of the Confederated Tribe of Warm Springs, is co-founder of the Tribal Democracy Project. She will address combatting Native voter disenfranchisement and defending Tribal Sovereignty through community empowerment.

*Jaylyn Suppah stepped in for Esperanza Tervalon. A special thanks to Jaylyn for joining our panel!

About the League’s Community Education Programs

This webinar is one of the League’s community education programs, held free of charge and open to the public.

Register now for our April panel focused on local democracy organizing: Unite & Rise.

Funding for production is provided by the League of Women Voters of Portland and funded by the Carol and Velma Saling Foundation.