BlueOregon this morning excerpts a conversation with the new State Elections Director, Stephen Trout, in the Statesman-Journal.
They call out an interesting tidbit: Trout’s is willing to explore changes to the voters’ pamphlet. Currently, the newsprint book you get in the mail a few weeks before the election contains statements from each candidate, as well as paid-for arguments for and against each ballot measure. It’s an inclusive set of viewpoints, but can be confusing as hell if you’re trying to figure out who to vote for.
Trout:
I’m interested in learning about the history and culture behind Oregon’s publication. My goal, once this election is completed, is to do some polling and focus groups to learn how useful the current voters pamphlet is for voters. I do not want to prejudge it. I think we all have opinions on how useful it is. We’re never going to satisfy everybody’s needs. But I want to get some data to see what the public really thinks.
So what about you, public? What do you think? Do you just throw this thing out when you get it? Use it in your canary cage? Fire starter?
Ooo! More process! Blabby will be pleased.
One thing my wife and I noticed last night was that it would be somewhat more helpful if they had the Voter’s Pamphlet coincide better with the ballot.
Make it online-only to bring the older voters to the same turnout levels as young voters.
lol. have an option to not receive it… or receive it by email
I want to know why the ballot return envelopes aren’t postage-paid. That’s some bullshit.
Oh, and print the whole thing in Comic Sans.
1. Option to receive by e-mail is a good idea.
2. Everyone who votes should get a check from the state for 10$, or the option to donate their 10$ to charity/political party.
@ Graham –
I think you were being sarcastic but you do realize that would cost the taxpayers, right?
Pretty sure that buying stamps “costs the taxpayers,” too. I haven’t mailed anything since December, and I don’t have any stamps. Maybe old people go to the post office all the time, but I sure as fuck don’t. Luckily, I live near a library and can drop mine off.
@Bronch O’Humphrey: why not print it in wingdings
It should be in full color on super expensive glossy paper that the New Yorker is printed on.
@ eldepeche –
Shit I just steal mine from work.
But yes, you can always use one of the many dropoff locations (like at Pioneer Square, like I did this morning).
Would you guys be more pissed if they made you drive someplace just to stand in line all day in order to vote in a hurry where you couldn’t sit down and do your homework as you voted? I’m sure you’d burn more than $0.43 in gas if you drove to the voting center.
I generally find it useful, especially for measures I’m on the fence about and for contested races that haven’t received much press. There are probably ways to streamline it, though, and making it opt-out for people who don’t find it useful would be a good idea.