House committee okays double majority change 
March 30, 2007 Issue (67k ) of Legislative Highlights

The House Elections, Ethics and Rules Committee on March 28 approved HJR 14, which amends the Oregon Constitution to remove double majority voting requirements in May and November elections.

The committee approved the measure on a 6-1 vote, with Representatives Diane Rosenbaum, Vicki Berger, Peter Buckley, Sal Esquivel, Dave Hunt and Arnie Roblan voting in favor; and Rep. Kim Thatcher voting "no." The measure heads to the full House for a vote. Any change would require voter approval.

No one testified against HJR 14; the measure is headed for approval by the full House.

The repeal of the double majority is one of OSBA's top four legislative priorities.

Three OSBA members opposed the double majority law before the Committee: Krina Lemons, OSBA board member and Salem-Keizer board chair; Linda Brown, OSBA Legislative Policy Committee chair and Lake Oswego board member; and Karen Cunningham, LPC member and Beaverton board vice-chair.

Lemons said the requirement forces local governments to choose between general-election ballots that already are crowded and special elections that result in low voter turn-out.

"We are forced to put our needs out there during the general election all at once," she said. "Sticker shock overrides all logic, and the only one who wins is apathy."

It gives nonvoters undue influence over the outcome of measures, she added. "I am charged with the safety and security of 40,000 students in Salem-Keizer; the double majority directly impedes my ability to ensure their safety," she said.

Brown confirmed for the committee that repealing Oregon's double majority law is a priority for all Oregon school districts. "Across the state, this law creates a distinct, unnecessary hardship for volunteer school board members whose sworn duty is to meet the educational needs of boys and girls. I urge your action on overturning this undemocratic, expensive and unneeded law," she said.

Brown also detailed the devastating effects of the double majority law on law enforcement. In West Linn, a safety levy meant to pay for 12 police officers failed even though it received a 72% positive vote. Because 45% of potential voters voted - rather than the 50% required by the double majority law - the measure failed.

Cunningham, who chaired the Beaverton School District capital construction bond campaigns in May and November of 2006, told the committee the double majority law increases costs to taxpayers. "In May 2006, we put a $195 million bond on the ballot in Beaverton. This measure received 61% voter approval but failed due to turnout requirements. We placed the same measure on the ballot in November and it passed with 61% approval. Running two campaigns to pass our measures wastes community resources. We are fortunate that our community gave their time and money twice in one year. Think of the good those resources could have done in our community if we hadn't needed the November campaign," she said.

Cunningham also noted the increased construction costs associated with the double majority law. "By waiting for November, we lost an entire summer construction season. We need to open our new buildings in September," she said.

House Majority Leader Dave Hunt (D-Clackamas County), who co-sponsored the resolution, said that while HJR 14 is not a full repeal of the double majority, it is a "moderate, middle-ground approach which gives power back to voters and reduces the burden on local governments. It is one clear action that the Legislature can take to assist our schools, police, firefighters, and other local officials in effectively doing their jobs without spending a penny from the General Fund," he said.