Voters’ Pamphlet Oregon General Election November 8, 2016 Jeanne P. Atkins Oregon Secretary of State Oregon votes by mail. Ballots will be mailed to registered voters by October 25. This voters’ pamphlet is provided for assistance in casting your vote by mail ballot. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE ELECTIONS DIVISION BRENDA BAYES JEANNE P. ATKINS INTERIM DIRECTOR SECRETARY OF STATE 255 CAPITOL ST NE, SUITE 501 ROBERT TAYLOR SALEM, OREGON 97310 DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE (503) 986-1518 Dear Fellow Oregonian, Voters with up-to-date registrations will soon be receiving their ballots. Whether you are a long time voter or this is your first opportunity to vote, please use this voter guide to find valuable information about the candidates who would like to represent you, and about the changes in Oregon law that are proposed as Ballot Measures. This voters’ pamphlet is sent to every household in Oregon. But you must be registered to vote to receive a ballot to cast in the upcoming election. If you are not yet registered to vote, or have recently moved and not updated your registration, you have a very short window – until October 18, 2016 – to do so. I encourage you to visit www.oregonvotes.gov to check to be sure your registration is up to date. We are fortunate to live in a state that works to get a ballot in the hand of every eligible Oregonian. The Secretary of State’s office is committed to making voting easy and convenient whether you are a first time voter, a voter serving in the military, or a person living with a disability. The health of our democracy depends on your participation. Oregon was the first in the nation to implement an all vote-by-mail system and we consistently have some of the nation’s highest voter turnout rates. This January, we implemented “Oregon Motor Voter” – a program that automatically starts a registration process for qualified Oregonians when they renew or apply for an Oregon driver’s license, permit, or ID card. Thousands of Oregonians who might otherwise not have met the registration deadline will be receiving a ballot this year. If you are one of them, let me welcome you to the democratic process! Your vote is your voice and every single voice matters. It’s your decision whether to mail in the ballot or drop it off in person, but please remember that all ballots must be received by your county elections office by 8 p.m. on November 8th, 2016. Postmarks do not count. The Postal Service can only guarantee delivery in five to seven days, so if you choose to vote close to Election Day, I encourage you to make a plan by finding a local drop box to assure your vote is counted. If you have questions please call our toll-free hotline at 1-866-ORE-VOTE, or visit our website at www.oregonvotes.gov. Oregon is better for your participation in our democracy. Thank you. Sincerely, Jeanne P. Atkins Oregon Secretary of State Voters’ Pamphlet General Election November 8, 2016 Table of Contents General Information Disclaimer Voters’ Pamphlet Information 6 Information provided in statements or Voter Registration Information 8 arguments submitted by a candidate, a political party, an assembly of electors Voters with Disabilities 10 or a person supporting or opposing List of Candidates & Measures 12 a measure have not been verified for accuracy by the State of Oregon. Oregon Voter Bill of Rights 28 Candidates Partisan Candidates 14 Nonpartisan Candidates 36 Political Party Statements Democratic Party 38 Independent Party 39 Libertarian Party 40 Pacific Green Party 41 Progressive Party 42 Republican Party 43 Working Families Party 44 Measures Measure 94 46 Measure 95 49 Measure 96 53 Measure 97 57 Measure 98 84 Measure 99 107 Measure 100 115 Voting Information County Elections Officials 4 Vote by Mail 7 Returning Your Ballot 19 Ballot Instructions 23 Absentee Ballot Information 35 Additional Information Pages Online Resources 5 Voting & Ballot Prohibitions 45 Election Results 122 Index Index of Candidates 123 4 Voting Information | County Elections Officials Klamath Linda Smith County Clerk 305 Main St Klamath Falls, OR 97601 541-883-5134 TTY 1-800-735-2900 fax 541-885-6757 [email protected] www.klamathcounty.org For questions about: registering to vote updating your registration absentee ballots elections and voting completing and returning your ballot signature requirements replacement ballots Contact your county elections official or the State Elections Division. for more information about voting in Oregon oregonvotes.gov 1 866 673 VOTE / 1 866 673 8683 se habla español 1 800 735 2900 for the hearing impaired Additional Information | Online Resources 5 www.oregonvotes.gov OCT Register to vote 18 You must be registered by October 18 to vote in the 2016 General Election Find a dropsite Your ballot must be received by 8pm on November 8 My Vote Use this online tool to check or update your registration status and track your ballot. for more information about voting in Oregon oregonvotes.gov 1 866 673 VOTE / 1 866 673 8683 se habla español 1 800 735 2900 for the hearing impaired 6 General Information | Voters’ Pamphlet Information Voters’ Pamphlet Measures This is your official State Voters’ Pamphlet for the Measures are proposed changes to the Oregon Constitution or November 8, 2016, General Election. It gives you information to state laws. For each of the measures in this voters’ pamphlet about candidates and measures that will be on your General you will find the following information: Election ballot. This pamphlet also includes instructions for 1. the ballot title; marking your ballot, a complete list of federal and state candi- 2. the estimate of financial impact; dates and other information to assist you in the voting process. 3. an explanation of the economic impact of the measure, The Secretary of State has compiled the voters’ pamphlet since if determined to be necessary by the Financial Estimate 1903, when Oregon became one of the first states to provide for Committee; the printing and distribution of such a publication. One copy of 4. the complete text of the proposed measure; the voters’ pamphlet is mailed to every household in the state. 5. an impartial statement explaining the measure (explana- Additional copies are available at the Secretary of State’s office, tory statement); local post offices, courthouses and all county elections offices. It 6. a legislative argument in support of the measure (when the can also be viewed online at www.oregonvotes.gov. measure has been referred by the Legislature); and 7. any arguments filed by proponents and opponents of the measure. County Voters’ Pamphlet Ballot Title A county clerk may prepare and distribute a county voters’ The ballot title is drafted by the Attorney General’s office and pamphlet. It includes information about candidates and mea- distributed to interested parties for public comment. After review sures from local governments located within the county. of any comments submitted, a ballot title is certified by the To save on mailing and production costs a county that prepares Attorney General’s office. This certified ballot title can be a voters’ pamphlet may insert the pamphlet into the center of appealed and may be changed by the Oregon Supreme Court. the state voters’ pamphlet for distribution. The county insert uses Estimate of Financial Impact a numbering system that is different from the standard page The estimate of financial impact for each measure is prepared numbering used in the state portion and each page is clearly by a committee of state officials including the Secretary of State, marked with a color or shaded bar on the outside edge. the State Treasurer, the Director of the Department of Administra- tive Services, the Director of the Department of Revenue and Español a local government representative selected by the committee members. Working from information provided by state agen- Una versión en español de algunas partes de la Guía del cies and comments provided in a public hearing process, the Elector está a su disposición en el portal del Internet cuya committee estimates only the direct impact on state and local dirección aparece arriba. Conscientes de que este material en governments.The estimate assumes that the measure will be línea podría no llegar adecuadamente a todos los electores que implemented as stated and expresses annual costs in ranges necesitan este servicio, se invita a toda persona a imprimir la wherever it can be calculated accurately. versión en línea y circularla a aquellos electores que no tengan The committee also consults with the Legislative Revenue Office acceso a una computadora. to determine whether the measure may have an impact on the overall state economy, should appropriate analysis be available. Candidates Further explanation of the estimate can be added by the commit- tee in a second statement if they view it to be necessary. Only In this pamphlet, candidates are divided into two sections: the procedures used by the committee, not the content of the candidates for partisan office and nonpartisan office. Candidates statement, can be challenged in the Oregon Supreme Court. for partisan office are nominated by political parties and appear Complete Text of the Measure before candidates for nonpartisan offices. This provides you with the actual changes that will be made by Candidates pay a fee, or submit signatures instead of paying the measure to either the Oregon Constitution or Oregon stat- the fee, for space in the voters’ pamphlet. The candidate has utes. It is useful to understand that a change in the Constitution certified the information required by law—that pertains to can only be further changed by a vote of the people.