The League takes action on an issue only when there is an existing League position that speaks to the cause. Advocacy is always conducted in a non-partisan manner (meaning that the advocacy is not on behalf of a candidate or political party.) Learn more about how the League develops a position.
Campaign Finance Reform
The League of Women Voters of Oregon supports laws limiting campaign contributions and expenditures, requiring disclosure, and regulating campaign advertisements.
- Campaign finance reform has been an issue at all levels of government elections for many years. LWVOR has supported contribution limits for local and state elections whenever there has been the opportunity.
- We have voiced support for current Oregon Measure 107 to allow laws limiting political campaign contributions and expenditures, requiring disclosure of political campaign contributions and expenditures, and requiring political campaign advertisements to identify who paid for them. This ballot measure will make sure that campaign contributions are not speech and that campaign contribution limits may be imposed.
Criminal Justice
We believe that a full range of correctional programs should exist for adult offenders and juvenile services should prioritize prevention.
- We support a full range of correctional programs for adult offenders with alternatives to incarceration, adequate facilities, comprehensive transitional programs and sentencing guidelines.
- Policies should promote the coordinated planning and implementation of juvenile services with priority on prevention, a variety of services, separation from incarcerated adults, diversion of status offenders, basic state standards, dependable funding and a uniform data system.
Gun Safety
We believe that the proliferation of handguns and semi-automatic assault weapons in the United States is a major health and safety threat to its citizens.
- We support strong federal measures to limit the accessibility and regulate the ownership of these weapons by private citizens.
- Recent advocacy has focused on legislation such as the “Boyfriend Loophole” bill, HB 4145 (passed in 2018), which bars some people convicted of domestic abuse from possessing firearms.
Health Care
Every U.S. resident should have access to affordable, quality health care, including birth control and the privacy to make reproductive choices.
- We support a comprehensive and integrated adult mental health delivery system in the least restrictive environment possible with a consistent and equitable civil commitment process.
- We support a coordinated plan for comprehensive youth mental health services for all levels of need under the direction of a single state service agency responsible for basic state standards with sufficient funds to implement state-mandated programs.
Immigration
Immigration policies should promote reunification of immediate families; meet economic, business and employment needs; and be responsive to those facing political persecution or humanitarian crises. The U.S. should also provide integration resources.
- We are committed to immigration reform through laws that provide efficient and expeditious systems for immigrants to enter the United States.
Natural Resources and Environment
Natural resource policy should promote an environment beneficial to life through the protection and wise management of resources in the public interest.
- Our Natural Resource work focuses on the following categories: Air Quality, Coastal and Offshore Management, Energy, Forestry, Land Use, Seismic Risk, Water Policy, Water Resources of the Columbia River Basin and others.
- We advocate for consideration of “Climate Emergency Declarations” at the state, county, and local levels.
Redistricting
Redistricting methods should advance the purposes of representative democracy by affording citizens meaningful choices and by holding government accountable to the people.
- A redistricting plan should adhere to all legal requirements, such as districts must have equal population, be contiguous, fulfill provisions of the Voting Rights Act, and also promote competitiveness and partisan fairness.
- Redistricting plans should be developed independently of the Legislature.
Social Policy
We support efforts to secure equal rights and equal opportunity for all and promote social and economic justice and the health and safety of all Americans.
- Children at Risk: We support policies, programs and funding at all levels of the community and government that promote the well-being, encourage the full development and ensure the safety of all children. Governments, at all levels, have a responsibility to oversee and coordinate a comprehensive network of services to maximize children’s readiness to be successful in school while optimizing available resources.
- Education Post-Secondary: We support policies that promote a broad spectrum of higher education for professional, vocational and personal enrichment for all qualified and motivated individuals with specific policies related to the Oregon State System of Higher Education, Community College and Boards and Commissions.
Women’s Rights
Equal rights should be granted to all people regardless of sex.
- We support the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment.
- We support action to bring laws into compliance with the ERA by eliminating or amending those laws that have the effect of discriminating on the basis of sex; promoting laws that support the goals of the ERA; and strengthening the enforcement of such existing laws.
Voting Rights
Voting policies should make voting open to as many citizens as possible and should make registering to vote as easy as possible.
- Election procedures and voter information are critical elements to an informed and participating electorate.
- We support voting procedures that provide ease of ballot access and use of vote-by-mail in all elections, publication of a state Voters’ Pamphlet, and a mandatory certification procedure for all county chief elections officials.
