Spring Break
Breaking down ballot measures
With four more days until ballots are due at county offices, ASOSU addresses the issues
Julia Shoesmith
Issue date: 10/31/08 Section: News
Listen to a podcast of this story by clicking here.
While caught in the midst of political sound bytes and candidates' campaigns, many people forget to vote for the actual ballot measures themselves.
"It's important that we stress that students vote down the entire ballot," said Tucker Rossetto, ASOSU State Affairs Task Force director. "It's the local candidates and ballot measures that are worth billions of state dollars that will most impact students."
There are many different sources that give out pamphlets that explain the varying measures and who endorses them. These guides can make understanding the sometimes-cryptic ballot measures much simpler.
Measure 54
- Measure 54 regards school board elections and would fix a flaw discovered by a high school constitution team. This measure brings the voting age for school board elections from 21 down to 18, and is not opposed by any Oregon organization or organized by any campaign.
Measure 55
- Measure 55 concerns redistricting. Every 10 years in Oregon, district lines are redrawn and legislators sometimes find their district lines being redrawn around them. Measure 55 allows them to continue to serve their original district for the remainder of their term.
Measure 56
- Measure 56 is about correcting a hidden part of a 1996 Bill Sizemore initiative with the "double majority" rule in voting.
"Measure 56 restores fairness to elections by ensuring that local measures win by a majority of the people who actually vote," according to the Defend Oregon pamphlet. According to ASOSU's pamphlet, it increases the probability of passing community college bond measures that could make it easier to secure local funding for community colleges.
Measure 57
- Measure 57 toughens sentences for drug traffickers, identity thieves, property offenders and criminals who prey on the elderly. It also requires drug treatment or stiffer sentences for those who refuse treatment to stop returning offenders.
While caught in the midst of political sound bytes and candidates' campaigns, many people forget to vote for the actual ballot measures themselves.
"It's important that we stress that students vote down the entire ballot," said Tucker Rossetto, ASOSU State Affairs Task Force director. "It's the local candidates and ballot measures that are worth billions of state dollars that will most impact students."
There are many different sources that give out pamphlets that explain the varying measures and who endorses them. These guides can make understanding the sometimes-cryptic ballot measures much simpler.
Measure 54
- Measure 54 regards school board elections and would fix a flaw discovered by a high school constitution team. This measure brings the voting age for school board elections from 21 down to 18, and is not opposed by any Oregon organization or organized by any campaign.
Measure 55
- Measure 55 concerns redistricting. Every 10 years in Oregon, district lines are redrawn and legislators sometimes find their district lines being redrawn around them. Measure 55 allows them to continue to serve their original district for the remainder of their term.
Measure 56
- Measure 56 is about correcting a hidden part of a 1996 Bill Sizemore initiative with the "double majority" rule in voting.
"Measure 56 restores fairness to elections by ensuring that local measures win by a majority of the people who actually vote," according to the Defend Oregon pamphlet. According to ASOSU's pamphlet, it increases the probability of passing community college bond measures that could make it easier to secure local funding for community colleges.
Measure 57
- Measure 57 toughens sentences for drug traffickers, identity thieves, property offenders and criminals who prey on the elderly. It also requires drug treatment or stiffer sentences for those who refuse treatment to stop returning offenders.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Be the first to comment on this story
Comments by registered users are approved by default.