Voting Rights Advocacy
Photo: Angela Gyurko of the LWVJC and the LWVWA addresses the AAUW Port Townsend on November 15, 2025
November 14, 2025
The leadership team of LWVJC has voted to sign onto a LWVUS letter opposing data collection efforts by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The ongoing litigation, League of Women Voters vs the US Department of Homeland Security, challenges recent changes by the federal government to the DHS Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) System. These changes allow our federal government to abuse its power and access millions of Americans' personal information, with several States using such information to harm voters.
November 7, 2025
The American Association of University Women announced they have Joined the League of Women Voters of the United States, and fellow women-led organizations, as part of the Grassroots Power Partners initiative, a key component of the LWVUS's Unite and Rise 8.5 campaign.
Launched in May 2025, Unite and Rise 8.5 is the League's nationwide effort to engage 8.5 million people in defending democracy and advancing voter participation.
How?
A initiative to the WA legislature that, if it reaches its goal of ~390,000 signatures will require that the WA State legislature to:
- Adopt as written
- Decline to act, which would send the initiative to the Nov 2026 ballot
- Approve an alternative initiative which would be sent to the Nov 2026 ballot and appear alongside the original
What?
Would require all voters to have either an enhanced driver's license or provide documentation of proof of citizenship, in person. Voters who fail to do so would see their voter registration canceled.
Who?
- 3/4 of WA residents do not have an enhanced driver's license.
- 38% of WA residents without a US passport
- 1.6 million WA women whose name changed when they married and does not match the name on their birth certificate
- WA residents with mobility issues or live in rural areas without access to transportation
- Working Washintonians who cannot take time off of work to wait in line at a government office to present citizenship documentation
- WA residents who have never had a certified birth certificate and cannot obtain one
- Washingtonians who cannot afford the fees associated with obtaining documentation of citizenship
Non-Citizen Voting is a Myth
Candidate Forums for General Election November 4, 2025
Port Townsend School Board Position 4
Quilcene School Board District 2
Port Townsend Port Commissioner District 2
East Jefferson Hospital Commissioner Position 3
Port Townsend City Council Position 1 (Primary Election)
CLICK HERE to Access Forum Videos
Do YOU want to get more involved in Jefferson County decisions?
Here's a list of public meetings to attend, either in person or virtually.
Make your voice heard!
Click here to see the spreadsheet.
Curious about running for office?
The following transcripts give you an idea of what the jobs involve.
Port Commissioner Information Session Transcript.pdf
School Board Information Session Transcript.pdf
City Council Information Session Transcript.pdf
Youth Engagement
High School Student Essay Contest
Want
to encourage civic engagement and support the young people of this
community? Join the LWVJC and be a part of the Essay Team. The Contest is Open to Any High School Aged Person In Jefferson County.
Or, donate to the prize fund. Mark your checks with "Essay Contest" and mail them to LWV/Jefferson County, P.O. Box 707, Port Townsend WA 98368.
2025 Contest Winners
1st place - Claire Porter - Port Townsend High School
2nd place - Livia Lee - Port Townsend High School
3rd place - Calliope Mosher - Chimacum High School
Read the Winning Essays Here
2024 Contest Winners
1st Place - Sitka Vicha - Chimacum High School
2nd Place - Calliope Mosher - Chimacum High School
3rd Place - Kepler Edmundson - Port Townsend High School
Read the Winning Essays Here
Curious about the League of Women Voters?
The Jefferson County Unit-At-Large focuses on Voter Education. Membership is open to anyone over the age of 16 who is willing to abide by our policies, as set forth by the League of Women Voters of the United States.
1. Political Policy
The League shall not support or oppose any political party or any candidate. You can still be active with any political party you choose, but while you are conducting League business, you leave your personal politics at the door.
2. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy
LWV is an organization fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in practice. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the organization’s current and future success in engaging all individuals, households, communities, and policy makers in creating a more perfect democracy.
There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, gender identity, ethnicity, race, native or indigenous origin, age, generation, sexual orientation, culture, religion, belief system, marital status, parental status, socioeconomic status, language, accent, ability status, mental health, educational level or background, geography, nationality, work style, work experience, job role function, thinking style, personality type, physical appearance, political perspective or affiliation and/or any other characteristic.
3. Organizational Structure
As a Unit-at-Large, we function under the greater auspices of the LWVWA. We are governed by a chair, a treasurer, and a secretary, and all other work is conducted via ad-hoc teams and by group consensus. All documents coming from the LWVJC UAL are coordinated with the entire membership for full transparency. Our leadership is chosen at our annual meeting each spring. We defer to the rulings of LWVWA and LWVUS on all other matters of policy
CONTACT US
LWV/Jefferson County
P.O. Box 707
Port Townsend, WA 98368
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