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Think Before You Ink!

Consider those petitions before you sign

By Norman Turrill, League of Women Voters of Oregon

The League of Women Voters of Oregon is encouraging its members and the public to be alert during the circulation of initiative petitions.

You will be asked to sign a variety of initiative petitions "just to get it on the ballot so people can vote on it."  Your signature is valuable, more valuable than your vote, considering that far fewer signatures are required to qualify a petition for the ballot than votes to pass it on the ballot.  Only sign an initiative petition that you believe belongs on the ballot.

Here are six questions to help you make up your mind about an initiative petition:

- Is it complex?  Some issues can be decided by a simple yes or no vote.  Complex issues may need to be thoroughly examined in a legislative arena.

- Is it confusing?  Some initiatives are not well written or contain conflicts that may require court resolution or interpretation.

- Does it belong in the Constitution?  If an initiative amends the Constitution, consider whether it really belongs there.  Is it a fundamental law that should be protected from change? Correcting a constitutional amendment later would also require amending the Constitution, is cumbersome and costly, and requires another vote of the people.

- How will it be funded?  Is it an "unfunded mandate" that would require the Legislature to take funds from other essential programs? Consider the effect on the overall flexibility of a government budget with already limited revenue.  An initiative should generally create its own revenue source, and not earmark, restrict, or obligate a specific percentage of the General Fund revenues.

- Who is behind it?  You can find out who are the real sponsors and opponents of a petition.  Contribution and expenditure reports are available through the Election Division at 503-986-1518 and are also online in ORESTAR at http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/.

- Before you sign, ask to see identification of a signature gatherer.  Paid signature gathers are now required to carry a picture ID issued by the Secretary of State. Although a new law does not require a paid petitioner to wear or show the ID when a voter asks, if they do not, then a voter can reasonably refuse to sign a petition. Numerous instances of fraud have occurred that could have been avoided by insisting on seeing identification.  And if a case of fraud is found, you will have information that could assist authorities.

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