The November 8 election is upon us, with crowded coverage of the various candidate races, controversial ballot measures, and voter turn out. While in Oregon we don’t have direct intimidation tactics at the ballot box, the bombardment of calculated advertisements and media campaigns can influence the way we vote.
If you are a registered voter here in Oregon you should have received both your ballot and the 2022 Oregon Voters’ Pamphlet in the mailbox. While the pamphlet is informative, it’s important to realize that for fee, any interested party can place their “argument” in the publication.
Luckily, amid some confusing details, there are many resources out there to dig a little deeper into the issues and people on the ballot, including the progressive Voter Guide and the League of Women Voter’s Vote411.org website. There’s also more local analysis, including helpful articles published in the Ashland Chronicle, and at Ashland.news. Unite Oregon also has a guide to ballot measures, as do the Oregon League of Conservation Voters and Street Roots.
If you’d like to see how the Republicans are informing voters, look no further than the massive candidate signs posted at commercial intersections, the abundant television and radio ads, and targeted media campaigns. The Republican Party of Oregon has a “meet the candidates” page also.
Most of the State ballot measures are straight forward, including Measure 112, which would amend Oregon’s constitution by removing the disturbing “slavery exception clause,” for those convicted of crimes. Voters in five states have similar measures that would remove slavery from their constitutions, and articles are numerous including this one in the New York Times. In Oregon, the support for the measure is massive. Check out the Oregon Public Broadcasting coverage to see for yourself. The only visible opposition to the measure comes from the Oregon State Sheriffs Association, that said the bill would have “unintended” consequences.
Oregon could become one of the states that considers healthcare a constitutional right for all if Measure 111 passes. The Measure would establish constitutional access to affordable health care and declare it a right for all Oregonians. It also includes a budget weighing mechanism that would support continued funding for affordable healthcare like schools and other essential services. Read more about the bill and a list of supporters on RightToHealthcareOregon.org.
Measure 114 would create substantive regulation for gun sales and ammunition in Oregon. Lift Every Voice Oregon has Yes on 114 online flyer that summarizes what the bill would do to promote safer communities, as well as a long list of diverse supporters. This week, more than 100 students walked out of class in support of the Measure. Many of the groups opposed to measure are listed on Stop114.com.
Several races in Southern Oregon comprise starkly opposing viewpoints, including the District 5 State Senate Race. Randy Sparacino, the mayor of Medford and former MPD Chief, is running against incumbent Senator Jeff Golden. The race could be seen to represent two distinct cultures within Jackson County, observable in the sole debate of the candidates, aired on KOBI-TV News last week.
Also critical is a close look at the Jackson County Commissioner race, with a more progressive option for Jackson County voters this year. The current Republican Commissioner Rick Dyer (no relation to this author) is being challenged by Denise Krause, a longtime public health leader and farmer. Read more about Denise on her website at Krause4Commissioner.org. To learn more about Rick Dyer’s values and actions, we invite you to review the actions of Jackson County Commissioners during his term, or learn about his support of police and “limited compassion in his approach to homelessness,” here.
