According to county elections officials, you've got your ballot by now, if you're getting one. Think you got slighted? Call the elections office at 503-988-3720 and see what you can work out.
To those who have gotten ballots, vote already! Your ballots are due by 8 pm on November 4. Here's how we came down after looking at the most-pertinent races (yep, we know you disagree about GMOs).
While we wait for a responsible and engaged citizenry to make its voice heard, let's check on intrigues in the permissive world of Oregon campaign finance.
•The shadowy forces dumping millions and millions into opposing Measure 92 (yep, we opposed it, too) add that paragon of after-sports refreshment to their ranks: Sunny D kicked in $25,000 on October 14.
The folks fighting for GMO labeling, meanwhile, took in $100,000 the following day from the Washington, DC-based Center for Food Safety Action Fund. The group Vote Yes on Measure 92 has raised $6.42 million this season. Opponents have corralled $11.1 million.
•The driver's card initiative, which you should vote in favor of, has seen far less cash than any contested measure. But its backers, Yes on Oregon Safe Roads, got a $50,000 boost from the DC-based Latino Victory Project yesterday, bringing its total haul up to $496,344.
That might not be enough to fight Oregonians' apparent derision of what is a sensible and moral measure. Polling suggests 88 has a long way to go (again, VOTE), which has meant its detractors have had to raise comparatively little. The Protect Oregon Driver Licenses Committee has collected $41,641 according to the most-recent reports, including a recent $3,500 contribution from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (also out of DC).
•Measure 90. the battle over whether Oregon should adopt a "top-two" primary system, has seen a lot of interest—particularly for its supporters. The committee Open Primaries has raised $1.75 million to date, all of it from Texas billionaire John Arnold. Arnold kicked in a fresh quarter million on Sunday. A sister committee, Vote Yes on 90 has reported $3.4 million in contributions.
Those opposing Measure 90—mainly the establishment parties—have raised $790,140.
•Last, let's check in on the pot legalization effort, Measure 91. Not a ton of new donations to report, but pro-legalization camp New Approach Oregon has one of the more powerful war chests this year, with more than $4 million reported.
And the NO on 91 camp, backed by the state's sheriffs and prosecutors? Just $168,367. Even so, the race promises to be one of the election's closest. Vote, damn you.
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