Resources

Bond and local option election resources

August 14, 2009

Oregon school districts, education service districts and community colleges can issue general obligation bonds only if they have voter approval of a bond levy authorizing them to do so. These resources will help you understand the election process and give you tools to be successful in your campaign.

Bond and local levy tools

• Election Results Analyzer - recent bond/local option election results - Detailed historical analysis of election results.

Resources & timelines

• An overview of the election process 
• Lessons from the winners 
  Campaign success stories taken from OSBA's Winter 2007 Focus on Critical Issues
• Frequently asked questions about elections 
• What next? "To do" lists for election winners and losers
• Election activities timelines

• Election checklist - to help you answer: Where we are, who needs to do what and when

• Elections calendar search
• Involving the community 
• Roles and responsibilities in a bond election campaign
• Ballot title wording requirements
• Sample campaign structure

General information

• List of County Elections Offices
• Secretary of State's Elections Division - Elections Calendar; County Clerk Directory; Voters' Pamphlet Filing Forms; Oregon Voter Registration Card
• School design resources - Latest news and resources from the National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities

Requirements & guidelines

• Election do's and don'ts for public officials - Updated guidelines for boards regarding ballot measures
• School political action committee rules - Clarification of rules for community members forming political action committees to support a school district bond measure
• Restrictions on Political Campaigning by Public Employees (564k ) - Guidelines from the Secretary of State's Elections Division on the role public employees can take in informing voters about election proposals (Does not apply to advocacy campaigns sponsored by citizen groups.)
• Quick Reference Card (88k ) - Restrictions on political campaigning for public employees
• The School Local Property Tax Option (907k ) from the Legislative Revenue Office  - Provides guidelines, restrictions and conditions for a local option levy; explains the amount excluded from school formula local revenue; and includes local option and exclusion estimates by school district
• Checklist of factors to assist in determining impartiality (122k) - From the Secretary of State, Elections Division