Tag Archive for 'Elections'

Page 2 of 4

Secretary of State Kate Brown Announces Measure Numbers for 2012 General Election

Published on July 31, 2012 in Ballot Initiatives, Elections, general election, Headlines, Secretary Brown and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

SALEM – Measure numbers have been assigned to the two legislative referrals from the 76th Legislative Assembly and the initiative petitions that have qualified for the November 6, 2012 General Election ballot. They are the following:

Measure #77 Amends Constitution: Governor may declare “catastrophic disaster” (defined); requires legislative session; authorizes suspending specified constitutional spending restrictions

Measure #78 Amends Constitution: Changes constitutional language describing governmental system of separation of powers; makes grammatical and spelling changes

Measure #79 Amends Constitution: Prohibits real estate transfer taxes, fees, other assessments, except those operative on December 31, 2009

Measure #80 Allows personal marijuana, hemp cultivation/use without license; commission to regulate commercial marijuana cultivation/sale

Measure #81 Prohibits commercial non-tribal fishing with gillnets in Oregon “inland waters,” allows use of seine nets

Measure #82 Amends Constitution: Authorizes Establishment of Privately-Owned Casinos; Mandates Percentage Of Revenues Payable To Dedicated State Fund

Measure #83 Authorizes Privately-Owned Wood Village Casino; Mandates Percentage Of Revenues Payable To Dedicated State Fund

Measure #84 Phases out existing inheritance taxes on large estates, and all taxes on intra-family property transfers

Measure #85 Amends Constitution: Allocates Corporate Income/Excise Tax “Kicker” Refund To Additionally Fund K Through 12 Public Education

For additional information, please visit our website at www.oregonvotes.gov or follow Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown on Twitter or Facebook.

For more information, please contact

Andrea Cantu-Schomus
Communications Director
Oregon Secretary of State
503-986-2368
503-507-0082

Secretary of State distributes iPads statewide to assist Oregon voters with special needs

Published on May 10, 2012 in Elections, HAVA and Press Releases. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

SALEM – Last fall, Oregon became the first state in the nation to use iPads to mark ballots. The successful project was piloted in five Oregon counties. After evaluating the results of the pilot project it was clear that using the tablets improves access for voters with special needs, is easier for counties to administer, and is more cost-effective.

“Nearly 200 Oregonians used the iPad to mark their ballots during the pilot,” said Secretary of State Kate Brown. “We can do better. I am proud to expand the availability of this technology statewide to serve all Oregonians who may have accessibility needs. My goal is to make the ballot more accessible to all eligible Oregonians.”

Using federal Help America Vote Act dollars, the Secretary of State’s Elections Division provided each of Oregon’s 36 counties with at least one iPad and printer for use in the May Primary. Oregon Elections continued its successful partnership with Everyone Counts, the developer of the software that drives the system. The iPads replace an old system that was expensive to maintain and difficult to use. Oregon Elections provided county staff with the training needed to assist voters.

On Friday, May 11, 2012 Oregon Elections and the Washington County Voter Assistance team will visit Avamere Rehabilitation, an assisted living facility in Beaverton. The team will have iPads available for voters with special needs to use and mark their ballots. In an effort to explore the newest technology available for those with special needs, Oregon Elections invited Dr. Juan Gilbert, a professor and chairman of the Human-Centered Computing Division in Clemson University’s School of Computing to attend. During his visit Dr. Gilbert will demonstrate new software he is developing to assist voters with disabilities. Dr. Gilbert and his team will be present, along with representatives from Portland State University, University of Washington and Intel.

For more information, please contact

Andrea Cantu-Schomus
Communications Director
Oregon Secretary of State
503-986-2368
503-507-0082

Secretary of State issues $65,000 penalty for pay per signature violation

Published on April 23, 2012 in Ballot Initiatives, Elections, Headlines, Press Releases, Secretary Brown and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

Press Release
April 23, 2012

SALEM – An investigation by the Secretary of State’s Election Division found Robert Wolfe, chief petitioner for Initiative Petition 24, violated Oregon’s constitution. Wolfe paid employees based on the number of signatures gathered rather than an hourly wage as Oregon law requires. Two circulators who have submitted signed statements that they were unlawfully paid by the signature gathered twenty-six petition sheets. A penalty of $2,500 per sheet was issued.

“I want to thank our investigators and the Department of Justice for quick work in this case,” said Secretary of State Kate Brown. “I remain committed to cracking down on fraud and abuse in the initiative process. I sincerely hope this case sends a message to all chief petitioners and signature gatherers that, we treat these cases very seriously.”

This is the largest penalty ever issued in Oregon for a violation of the pay per signature ban. Several circulators participated in the investigation and stated they were paid by signature. We continue to investigate claims. The circulators have been referred to the Bureau of Labor and Industries to file wage claims if they were not paid for the hours they worked.

By law, the 26 signature sheets that were obtained by the circulators who were paid per signature will still be processed in order to determine if the measure qualifies for the November ballot. All signatures must be submitted by 5 p.m. on July 6, 2012 in order to be considered for the general election this fall.

Initiative Petition 24 is the constitutional amendment decriminalizing the possession of marijuana.

 

For more information, please contact

Andrea Cantu-Schomus

503-986-2368

Four things to know if you want to vote in Oregon’s May primary…

Published on April 18, 2012 in Elections, Headlines, Secretary Brown and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Voter registration deadline for Oregon’s May primary is April 24, 2012

Here are four things you need to know:

  • Oregon’s primary election will take place on May 15, 2012
  • The deadline to register or change political party online at www.oregonvotes.org is 11:59 p.m. April 24
  • If you choose to register or change political party using a voter registration card, it must be postmarked by April 24
  • Ballots will be mailed April 27

For more information, please go online to www.oregonvotes.org or contact your county elections office. To find contact information for your county clerks, visit Voter Resources on the Secretary of State website.

Non-affiliated voters can soon request a Republican Primary ballot

Published on March 9, 2012 in Elections, Headlines, Press Releases and Special Primary. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

SALEM- The Oregon Republican Party’s decision to partially open the May Primary to Oregon’s non-affiliated voters will be executed according to Oregon statute.

“My goal is to make this process as simple and cost effective as possible for all Oregonians,” said Secretary of State Kate Brown. “We are following Oregon statute and aggressively trying to reach the state’s more than 400,000 registered non-affiliated voters.”

The Secretary of State’s Election Division will mail a postcard to all registered non-affiliated voters during the week of March 12, 2012. The postcard will notify the voter that they are eligible to vote on a portion of the Republican ballot in the May primary. The party opened their primary only to statewide races for Attorney General, State Treasurer and Secretary of State. Voters requesting a portion of the Republican ballot will not be able to vote for Presidential candidates in the primary.

In order for a non-affiliated voter to receive the partial Republican primary ballot, state law requires the voter first request in writing that ballot from their county clerk. The postcard mailed by the state Elections Division will serve as the request form, as long as a voter returns it to their county clerk by the deadline. All requests must be received by April 24, 2012. Oregon’s primary election is Tuesday, May 15, 2012.

Postcards to Military and Overseas voters will go out March 9, 2012. These voters can return their request for a ballot via email, fax or traditional mail.

Ballots with all non-partisan contests and the three Republican contests will be mailed to those non-affiliated voters who have requested the partial Republican ballot.  Ballots will be mailed to military and overseas voters on March 30th, and to all other voters between April 27th and 30th.

###

Andrea Cantu-Schomus
Communications Director
Oregon Secretary of State
503-986-2368
503-507-0082

Secretary Brown describes changes to candidate filing logistics

Published on March 4, 2012 in Elections. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

Filing day is Tuesday, March 6th. With more and more candidates filing online as well as the timing of annual sessions (this one in particular), we are making some changes to the usual filing day festivities.

We will post statewide and legislative candidate filings on the big magnetic boards in the House Chamber as usual, as long as the legislature has adjourned in time. However, we will not be accepting candidate filings in the House Chamber. Candidates wishing to file by paper on filing day must file at the Elections Division office, on the 5th floor of the Public Service Building.

We will open the House Chamber at 3pm on Filing Day for those interested in gathering and watching updates up to the 5pm deadline. I will be on hand to post the updates and gavel out at 5pm. Should the legislature not adjourn in time, we will relocate the filing day updates to another place in the Capitol, likely HR 50.

We will post pictures on Facebook and offer updates on Twitter. If you would like to follow along, please like us or follow us.

- Kate Brown, Oregon Secretary of State

 

 

Presidential candidates to appear on Oregon’s presidential primary ballot

Published on February 7, 2012 in Elections, Headlines, Press Releases, Secretary Brown, Social Media and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Press Release
Salem, Oregon

SALEM – Secretary Brown has determined which Democratic and Republican presidential candidates qualify for Oregon’s presidential primary ballot in May. The sole Democratic candidate on the ballot is President Barack Obama. Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum will all appear on the Republican ballot.

“I want Oregonians to have ample time to educate themselves on the candidates,” says Secretary of State Kate Brown. “I encourage all eligible Oregonians to participate in the political process. Your vote is your voice and all Oregonians deserve to be heard.”

There are two ways for presidential candidates to be included on the ballot in Oregon. The most common is at the Secretary of State’s sole discretion, if the candidate is a figure nationally recognized by the news media. Candidates not chosen in this manner can be included by submitting a nominating petition filed with the Secretary of State, after gathering valid signatures from 1,000 registered voters in each of the Oregon’s five congressional districts.

Only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote in Oregon’s presidential primary elections. The last day to register in order to be eligible to vote is Tuesday, April 24, 2012.

For more information, contact:
Andrea Cantu-Schomus
503-989-2368

Secretary Brown says both parties should open primaries to non-affiliated voters

Published on February 6, 2012 in Elections, Headlines, Press Releases and Secretary Brown. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

PRESS RELEASE

SALEM – Secretary Brown applauds the decision by the Republican Party to partially open its primary to non-affiliated voters in May. The Republican Party submitted their request early Monday morning. While the request only includes three statewide races, Secretary Brown encourages both the Republicans and the Democrats to include all partisan races. Oregon currently has more than 420,000 non-affiliated voters registered in the state.

“More than a fifth or one-in-five voters in Oregon are registered non-affiliated,” said Secretary of State Kate Brown. “Allowing these voters to cast a ballot in the May primaries would give a large part of our electorate a voice. It is my mission as your Chief Elections Officer to engage more Oregonians in the political process.”

Secretary Brown is working with her elections team to determine how to accommodate the Republican’s request. She expects to release details within the week.

For more information, please contact 
Andrea Cantu-Schomus
503-989-2368

Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown unveils online Civics Toolkit

Published on January 9, 2012 in Elections, HAVA, Press Releases, Secretary Brown and Uncategorized. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , , , .

Press Release

SALEM – Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown recently unveiled a new online Civics Tool Kit. The civic education curriculum was developed through a collaboration of efforts by local professors, teachers and Oregon elections staff. The goal is to provide a beginners guide to civics with an Oregon centric view that anyone can access and use.

Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown Tells McNary High School Students About New Civics Toolkit

Secretary Brown talks civics with McNary High School students

According to the most recent national civics examination, fewer than half of American eighth graders know the purpose of the Bill of Rights. In addition, only one in 10 demonstrated acceptable knowledge of the checks and balances among the legislative, executive and judicial branches.

“Democracies can only be sustained by citizens who have the basic knowledge, skills and dispositions – I think our online Civic Toolkit can help,” said Secretary of State Kate Brown. “As your Secretary of State and Oregon’s chief elections officer, it is my duty to engage Oregonians in the political process.”

The toolkit is made up of 10 lessons that cover everything from your rights and responsibilities as a good citizen, the history of voting in Oregon and what you need to know before you register to vote in our great state.

You can find the online Civics Toolkit by logging onto Oregon’s Secretary of State website (Elections Division), clicking on Voter Resources then Civics Toolkit or go directly to: http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/pages/voterresources/civics-toolkit/index.html.

Secretary Brown unveils Civics Toolkit at local high schools

Published on January 6, 2012 in Elections, HAVA, Headlines, Press Releases, Secretary Brown and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .
Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown Talks Civics at West Salem High School

Secretary Brown rolls out the new online Civics Toolkit

After more than two weeks off for the holidays, students welcomed Secretary Brown to their Government classes to talk civics. The secretary unveiled the online Civics Toolkit developed by her staff, local teachers and professors. Students got a first look at the 10 online lessons which cover everything from how to be a good citizen to how to register to vote. Secretary Brown encouraged students to get involved in the political process and reminded the teens that here in Oregon you can register to vote when you are 17 years old.

Reflecting on the day, Brown observed: “These students were sharp. Many had a great knowledge of Oregon and its government. We hope they find the Civics Toolkit online, learn it and share it. Special thanks to teachers Jason Whiteley and Doug Parker for opening up their classroom. These guys do an excellent job!”

You don’t need to be a teacher or student to take advantage of it. The Civics Toolkit is on the Secretary of State website at http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/pages/voterresources/civics-toolkit/index.html. Everyone is welcome to download these free resources and bone up on elections civics.

Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown Tells McNary High School Students About New Civics Toolkit

Secretary Brown visits McNary High School to talk civics