Legislative Report - November Interim
Jump to a topic:
By Norman Turrill, Governance Coordinator, and Team
Campaign Finance and Redistricting
By Norman Turill
The LWV of Oregon has endorsed and is actively circulating IP 9 on Campaign Finance and IP 14 on Redistricting. Petitions can be downloaded, printed*, signed and returned by mail from the Honest Elections website for IP 9 and the People Not Politicians website for IP 14. Both initiative petition filings are due to the Secretary of State by July 5, 2024. *Be sure to print both sides!
County Elections challenges, EPAB-Broadband Equity, SCR, and Capitol update
By Rebecca Gladstone
Legislative efforts reported here tend to be large projects better addressed in long sessions, so short sessions are often for urgent needs or to adjust and implement the Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) into Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR). Elections manuals are up for review and multiple election rulemaking hearings are set for December. Recent interim news includes:
Oregon’s county elections staffing study
Recommendations to House Rules included improving support with direct communications between the Elections Division, the Oregon Association of County Clerks (OACC) and the clerks themselves. As law enforcement investigated elections office threats around the country, including in Lane County, House Rules heard a county elections staffing study presentation that found county elections working intensely for at least 8 months in even years, with inadequate and uneven funding to address more complex rules, technology, and safety efforts. Unusually heavy public records requests accompanied abuse, threats, and harassment. Retirements and unusually high resignation rates make understaffing worse. Pay is low for the stress and public scrutiny in the antagonistic political environment, “…the In-N-Out Burger across the street can out-pay me”.
LWVOR has called for local Leagues to reach out in appreciation to their county election offices and is inquiring to LWVUS advocacy, as they discuss pushing the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee to increase support to protect elections workers. This LWVOR testimony includes lists of earlier support:
SB 166, (testimony) to protect elections workers
SB 167, (testimony) elections procedural updates
HB 3073, (testimony) home address privacy
HB 3111, (testimony) personal information privacy
HB 4144, (testimony) home address privacy
HB 3047, (testimony) doxing, harassment and injury
SB 293, (testimony) elevate state government privacy, confidentiality and data security
The House Rules meeting materials included experts we consulted for our LWVOR Elections Methods studies. See the updates in 2023, 2016, and the 2008 in our archives.
Oregon Data Literacy Framework Work Group update
From the Dept of Administrative Services (DAS), the data literacy framework and final report is open to accept comments until January 31, 2024. The Chief Data Officer and Oregon Data Literacy Work Group and Chair will review comments to inform future implementation, expansion, and/or adjustments to the overall framework.
SCR, Senate Commemorative Resolution for Alice Bartelt
Senate President Rob Wagner requested League support in compiling and processing a resolution commemorating Alice Bartelt, our recently deceased LWVOR President. The draft was submitted to Legislative Counsel and will be presented during the 2024 session.
The Capitol Accessibility, Maintenance, and Safety (CAMS) Project
An update was presented to the Joint Legislative Administration Committee, describing completed work, what should be done in time for the 2025 session, and work continuing on after the 2025 session. For the 2024 session:
Both chambers will be in use and accessible from the wings as during the 2023 session.
Hearing Rooms A-F, 170 & 174 will be in use for committees.
All three entrances on State Street and both garage entrances will be available.
EPAB, Oregon Digital Equity Plan
The Oregon Electronic Portal Advisory Board (EPAB) November quarterly meeting included a broadband equity report. The Oregon Broadband Office (OBO) has issued a Oregon Digital Equity Plan Report, with Strategy 1–Put People First, to identify Oregonian’s digital government needs and to continue updating the Oregon.gov platform. OBO welcomes all to submit comments on the draft via the OBO Public Comment Portal by 5pm PST, December 16, 2023.
The draft Oregon Digital Equity plan:
Addresses Oregon’s digital equity challenges.
Will be submitted for implementation funding to the National Telecommunication & Information Administration (NTIA), with multiple E-Government Program and EPAB references.
Describes the program services scope.
Includes statewide Accessibility Guidance for Oregon.gov websites.
Is an Enterprise accessibility testing/quality assurance tool for websites.
Is a collaboration with PSU Hatfield School of Government to study online needs for Oregonians (2022) and the state’s communities of color (2023).
BACKGROUND: OBO maintains an online, interactive map of Oregon broadband availability, created in 2009 with a new version launched in 2019. Data layers include service providers, broadband technologies, service speeds, service availability reported by providers to the FCC, population density, and anchor institutions. Oregon has funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and with OSU partnership, the map will be upgraded to include an application portal, dig once map, and data submission portal. The map has several information layers to enable OBO to support Oregon’s Digital Equity Plan. New upgrade layers include a map of maximum available download speed, locations lacking service, and separate layers for each of the following community anchor institution categories: community support (government and non-government), library, hospital, fire station, law enforcement, school (K-12), higher education, inclusive of a covered population layer.
EPAB advises the State Chief Information Officer about Oregon’s web services, websites and e‑commerce. Rebecca Gladstone is the appointed public member.
The Capitol Accessibility, Maintenance, and Safety (CAMS) Project
An update was presented to Joint Legislative Administration, describing completed work, what should be done in time for the 2025 session, and work continuing on after the 2025 session. For the 2024 session:
Both chambers will be in use and accessible from the wings as during the 2023 session.
Hearing Rooms A-F, 170 & 174 will be in use for committees.
All three entrances on State Street and both garage entrances will be available.
Election Methods
By Barbara Klein
No bills were taken up during this interim legislative session that relate to election systems. There were rumors of some efforts to oppose Ranked Choice Voting via legislation or the ballot, but as of yet, it is unclear whether this will materialize. Due to the decision of the legislature in June 2023, Ranked Choice Voting will be on the 2024 general ballot (for implementation in 2028).
Election Signs for Sale
The LWV of Umpqua Valley has 3 different kinds of signs. They are double-sided, printed on sturdy paper, coated to make them rain-proof, and 18 inches by 12 inches (not self-standing). See LWV Umpqua Valley for more information and photos of the signs:
1) End Gerrymandering Now and on the back #Fair Maps
2) Vote411 and on the back Register to Vote
3) Voting is People Power and it’s blank on the backside
The signs are $5 each plus UPS shipping. Contact them at info@lwvuv.org.