Voters’ Pamphlet Oregon General Election November 6, 2012 Kate Brown Oregon Secretary of State This voters’ pamphlet is provided for assistance in casting your vote by mail ballot. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE ELECTIONS DIVISION STEPHEN N. TROUT KATE BROWN DIRECTOR SECRETARY OF STATE 255 CAPITOL ST NE, SUITE 501 BARRY PACK SALEM, OREGON 97310 DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE (503) 986-1518 Dear Oregon Voters, Welcome to the 2012 General Election Voters’ Pamphlet. Enclosed you will fi nd valuable information about candidates and issues. If you are not yet registered to vote, you have until October 16, 2012 to do so. Here in Oregon we have made it easy for eligible Oregonians to register, update your registration and track your ballot. Simply visit www.oregonvotes.gov. Over the past four years, my offi ce has made a number of improvements to Oregon’s elections process in order to increase access to the ballot. In addition to introducing online voter registration in our state, my Elections Division replaced the old, cumbersome voting machines formerly used by disabled voters with handheld tablet devices like Apple’s iPad. Oregon is the fi rst state in the nation to use tablet technology to help voters with disabilities mark their ballots. Also, Oregon was recently recognized as an All-Star state by the national Military Voter Protection Project for our extraordinary efforts to promote and protect the voting rights of America’s military service members and their families. The Secretary of State’s Offi ce now offers electronic and web-based services ensuring those who put their lives on the line can have their voice heard in every election. As your Secretary of State, my goal is to engage all eligible Oregonians in the elections process and encourage them to exercise their most fundamental right to vote. If you’re questioning how much of a difference your one vote can make, then consider this: I won my fi rst race for the state House by a mere seven votes. Every vote does count. Your vote is your voice and every voice matters. Please remember all ballots must be received by your county elections offi ce by 8 p.m. on November 6, 2012. Postmarks do not count. If you have questions please call our toll free hotline at 1-866-ORE-VOTE, or visit our website at www.oregonvotes.gov. Sincerely, Kate Brown Oregon Secretary of State Voters’ Pamphlet General Election November 6, 2012 Table of Contents General Information Voters’ Pamphlet Information 4 List of Candidates & Measures 6 Oregon Voter Bill of Rights 11 Voters with Disabilities 128 Voter Registration Information 130 Candidates Partisan Candidates 8 Nonpartisan Candidates 23 Political Party Statements Constitution Party 28 Independent Party 29 Libertarian Party 30 Pacific Green Party 31 Progressive Party 32 Measures Measure 77 34 Measure 78 38 Measure 79 40 Measure 80 51 Measure 81 61 Measure 82 78 Measure 83 89 Measure 84 104 Measure 85 119 Voting Information Absentee Ballot Information 17 Ballot Instructions 20 County Elections Officials 132 Vote by Mail 134 Additional Information Pages Online Resources 5 Online Voters’ Guide 15 Election Results 22 Voting & Ballot Prohibitions 33 Index Index of Candidates 135 4 General Information | Voters’ Pamphlet Information Voters’ Pamphlet of the measure, two opponents of the measure and a fifth member appointed by the first four committee members, or, if Your official 2012 General Election Voters’ Pamphlet provides they fail to agree on a fifth member, appointed by the Secretary you with information about candidates who will appear on of State. Explanatory statements can be appealed and may be your ballot. changed by the Oregon Supreme Court. It includes instructions for marking your ballot, a complete list Citizens or organizations may file arguments in favor of, or in of federal and state candidates, as well as other information to opposition to, measures by purchasing space for $1,200 or by assist you through the voting process. submitting a petition signed by 500 voters. Arguments in favor of a measure appear first, followed by arguments in opposition Candidate statements are printed as submitted. The state does to the measure, and are printed in a random order within each not correct punctuation, grammar, syntax errors or inaccurate category. information. The only changes made are attempts to correct spelling errors if the word as originally submitted is not in the dictionary. Random Alphabet The voters’ pamphlet has been compiled by the Secretary of Oregon statute (ORS 254.155) requires the Secretary of State State since 1903, when Oregon became one of the first states to to complete a random order of the letters of the alphabet to provide for the printing and distribution of such a publication. determine the order in which the names of candidates appear One copy of the voters’ pamphlet is mailed to every household on the ballot. in the state. Additional copies are available at the Secretary of State’s office, local post offices, courthouses and all county The alphabet for the 2012 General Election is: elections offices. It can also be viewed at oregonvotes.gov. E, O, Y, S, I, N, W, D, K, A, P, H, F, J, T, M, B, L, V, R, X, U, Q, C, Z, G Candidates Website In the general election, candidates are divided into two sections: partisan candidates and nonpartisan candidates. Most of the information contained in this voters’ pamphlet is also Partisan candidates appear before nonpartisan candidates. available in the Online Voters’ Guide at www.oregonvotes.gov. Candidates pay a fee, or submit signatures in lieu of paying the fee, for space in the voters’ pamphlet. The information required by law—pertaining to occupation, occupational background, Español educational background and prior governmental experience— Una versión en español de algunas partes de la Guía del has been certified as true by each candidate. Elector está a su disposición en el portal del Internet cuya dirección aparece arriba. Conscientes de que este material en línea podría no llegar adecuadamente a todos los electores que Measures necesitan este servicio, se invita a toda persona a imprimir la For each of the measures in this voters’ pamphlet you will find versión en línea y circularla a aquellos electores que no tengan the following information: acceso a una computadora. (1) the ballot title; Important! (2) the estimate of financial impact; If your ballot is lost, destroyed, damaged or you make a (3) an explanation of the estimate of financial impact, if deter- mistake in marking your ballot, you may call your county mined to be necessary by the committee; elections office and request a replacement ballot. One will be mailed to you as long as you request it by May 10. After that, (4) the complete text of the proposed measure; you may pick it up at the elections office. If you have already mailed your original ballot before you realize you made a (5) an impartial statement explaining the measure (explanatory mistake, you have cast your vote and will not be eligible for a statement); replacement ballot. (6) a legislative argument in support of the measure; and Your voted ballot must be returned to your county elections (7) any arguments filed by proponents and opponents of the office by 8pm election day, Tuesday, November 6, 2012. measure. Postmarks do not count! The ballot title is generally drafted by the Attorney General’s County elections offices are open on election day from 7am office. It is then distributed to a list of interested parties for to 8pm. public comment. After review of any comments submitted, the ballot title is certified by the Attorney General’s office. The certi- fied ballot title can be appealed and may be changed by the Voter Information Oregon Supreme Court. For questions about voter registration, ballot delivery and The estimate of financial impact for each measure is generally return, marking the ballot, requesting a replacement ballot, prepared by a committee of state officials including the Secre- absentee ballots, signature requirements, the voters’ tary of State, the State Treasurer, the Director of the Department pamphlet, when and where to vote, and other questions of Administrative Services, the Director of the Department about elections and voting, call the toll-free voter information of Revenue, and a local government representative selected line at 1-866-ORE-VOTE (1-866-673-8683). by the committee members. The committee estimates only the direct impact on state and local governments, based on Voter information line representatives can provide services information presented to the committee. In addition, the com- in both English and Spanish. TTY services for the hearing mittee may choose to provide an explanation of the estimate of impaired are also available at 1-800-735-2900. financial impact statement. The explanatory statement is an impartial statement explaining the measure. Each measure’s explanatory statement is written by a committee of five members, including two proponents Additional Information | Online Resources 5 www.oregonvotes.gov OCT Register to vote 16 You must be registered by October 16 to vote in the 2012 General Election Find a dropsite Your ballot must be received by 8 pm on November 6, 2012 My Vote Use this new 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 | Candidates & Measures Partisan Candidates Nonpartisan