Announcing the 2024 LWV-Jefferson County

High School Essay Contest 

Our essay topic this year is:


Voting is a core tenet of our democracy. If you could vote in the 2024 election, what issue would most influence your vote?

This contest is open to all high school age students residing in Jefferson County. Entries will be judged via a blind process ,and prizes are $150, $100, and $75 for the top three essays. Judges will be looking for a thorough addressing of the above prompt, along with creativity, grammar, and spelling.

Essays must be no more than 500 words with the word count listed at the bottom. All essays must be original work of one student (no AI) and all sources must be cited. The references do not count toward the word count of the essay.  

All essays must include a cover letter with the name of the student, the name of a parent or guardian, the phone number for a parent or guardian, and an email address for further contact, in case we have questions. 

The entry window will open at midnight on March 1, 2024 and close at midnight on March 31, 2024. No essays will be accepted outside this time window.

Essays must be submitted by email to lwvjeffcowa@gmail.com, and essays must be .docx or .pdf documents. If a student wants to submit via a shared google doc, students must give lwvjeffcowa@gmail.com permission to view the essay. If you forget to add this email address as a reader, we will email you and your teacher/administrator/guardian one time as a reminder. Students submitting via a shared google doc should check their emails within 48 hours of submitting to make sure the document could be read.

Submitting an essay gives LWVJC permission to share the winning essays with the Port Townsend Leader, Peninsula Daily News, and the Port Hadlock Voice, which may want to publish the essays in their newspapers. The LWVJC and League of Women Voters-WA websites will also feature the winning essays. 


Jefferson County Ballot Box Locations:

Quinault Nation (Queets)

In front of the Queets Tribal Office


Quilcene Community Center

294952 Highway 101, Quilcene


Nordland Fire Station

6633 Flagler Road, Nordland


Jefferson County Library

620 Cedar Ave, Port Hadlock

(Next to the book drop box in the parking lot.)


Jefferson County Courthouse

1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend

(One in the back parking lot, one in front of the building, and one outside the County Auditor’s Office)


Hoh Nation

2261 Lower How Road, Forks

(In front of the Tribal Police Center)


Gateway Visitor Center

93 Beaver Valley Road, Port Ludlow


Brinnon Community Center

306144 Highway 101, Brinnon


2023 Essay Competition for Jefferson County Students Age 14-18 

What would your community be like without the news?


Congratulations to our winners!


1st place -- Elliot Pflueger for the essay Damning Darkness in Isolation


2nd place -- Tessa Richardson for the essay The World Would be Dark Without News

3rd place -- Keanu Morrison for the essay The Nature of News.

Read the Winning Essays Here!

Want to encourage civic engagement and support the young people of this community? Join the LWVJC and be a part of the Essay Team 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.

Information Sessions on Running for Office

Considering running for public office in Jefferson County? Get advice from six currently serving elected officials who share their thoughts on campaigning and serving. While every elected position is different, the insights below can benefit anyone planning to campaign in 2021.

View the zoom interview on running for and serving as a Port of Port Townsend Port Commissioner here:

Port of Port Townsend Commissioner

View the zoom interview on running for and serving on School Board in Chimacum or Port Townsend here:

Chimacum and Port Townsend School Boards

View the zoom interview on running for and serving on Port Townsend's City Council here:

Port Townsend City Council

Would you rather read transcripts than watch videos? 

Port Commissioner Information Session Transcript.pdf

School Board Information Session Transcript.pdf

City Council Information Session Transcript.pdf


View Jefferson County's 2021 Election Guide:

2021 Election Guide for Jurisdictions.pdf


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. 

Click here for the LWV's Full Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy.


Are you a caregiver?

Click here to review rules for helping the person you care for vote.

Refresh Yourself on Voting Procedures

Click here for a video explaining the parts of the ballot and how to make sure it all gets in the envelope correctly and signed.

The League of Women Voters of Jefferson County greatly appreciate your interest and the support of our partners, AAUW-PT and media partner KPTZ 91.9 FM, Port Townsend's Community Radio.


Contact

Angela Gyurko, President
lwvjeffcowa@gmail.com

Membership Levels:

We are open to all persons residing in Jefferson County in accordance with the LWV policy on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

$15—Teambuilder 

These are member-sponsored memberships for new members helping expand our reach throughout the county.

$70—Individual

$105—Two persons at the same address

$120—Benefactor membership, for those wishing to help expand our membership ranks.

Dues include membership in the League of Women Voters of Washington State and the US League of Women Voters.

To join or renew:

Send your name, phone, email, and check to:

LWV/Jefferson County
P.O. Box 707
Port Townsend, WA 98368




Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software