70th OREGON
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--1999 Regular Session
House Bill 3163
Sponsored by Representative ROSENBAUM (at the request of
Northwest Democracy Institute and Oregonians for Fair and Equal
Representation)
SUMMARY
The following
summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and
is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration
by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement
of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
Establishes Commission
on Voting and Citizen Participation.
Directs commission
to study ways to increase voter participation.
Requires biennial
report to Governor and report to each regular
session of Legislative
Assembly.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to Commission
on Voting and Citizen Participation; and
appropriating
money.
Whereas Oregon's
1998 elections were the most expensive and
least attended
in Oregon's history; and
Whereas low
voter turnout threatens to undermine the legitimacy
of elected government;
and
Whereas Oregon
is growing in terms of ethnic diversity; and
Whereas nonaffiliated
voters are the fastest growing segment of
the voting population
and are a majority of younger voters; and
Whereas Oregon's
legislature and government are not
proportionately
representative of women, people of color,
nonaffiliated
voters and voters who support 'minor' political
parties; and
Whereas many
legislative races are not contested by both major
parties or are
won by landslides; and
Whereas redistricting
has an impact on elections; now,
therefore,
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. {
+ (1) It is declared to be the policy and intent
of the Legislative
Assembly that the Commission on Voting and
Citizen Participation
is created to study the issue of declining
voter participation
in Oregon.
(2) The commission
shall make biennial recommendations to the
Governor and
shall report to each regular session of the
Legislative
Assembly. + }
SECTION 2. {
+ (1) The Commission on Voting and Citizen
Participation
shall consist of 11 members appointed by the
Governor and
confirmed by the Senate pursuant to section 4,
Article III,
Oregon Constitution.
(2) Commission members shall serve three-year terms.
(3) Commission
members shall elect a chairperson and vice
chairperson.
(4) A majority
of the members of the commission constitutes a
quorum for the
transaction of business.
(5) Commission
members shall be paid compensation and expenses
as provided
in ORS 292.495 from such funds as may be available to
the commission.
+ }
SECTION 3. {
+ Members appointed to the Commission on Voting
and Citizen
Participation under section 2 of this 1999 Act shall
include the
following:
(1) A representative
from each political party qualified on a
statewide basis
under ORS 248.006 or 248.008;
(2) A representative of the office of the Secretary of State;
(3) A county clerk or county official in charge of elections;
(4) Representatives
from nonprofit organizations that have as
their purpose
the promotion of voter participation and
participation
in government;
(5) A representative who is not registered to vote;
(6) A representative
who is registered as not affiliated with
any political
party; and
(7) A representative between 18 and 25 years of age. + }
SECTION 4. {
+ The Commission on Voting and Citizen
Participation
shall study proposals for increasing voter
participation
and make recommendations to the Governor and
Legislative
Assembly. The areas of study shall include, but not
be limited to:
(1) Modifications to voter registration procedures;
(2) Voting reforms
such as proportional representation and
instant runoff
voting;
(3) Publicly financed elections;
(4) Candidate debates that include a wider range of candidates;
(5) Methods to
encourage election campaigns to focus on public
policy issues;
and
(6) Methods to
encourage broad participation by a cross section
of citizens
in state and local government. + }
SECTION 5. {
+ The Commission on Voting and Citizen
Participation
may employ an executive director and other staff as
may be necessary
to carry out its functions. The commission may
also establish
special committees as it considers necessary. + }
SECTION 6. {
+ (1) There is created a Commission on Voting and
Citizen Participation
Account in the General Fund of the State
Treasury. All
moneys in the account are continuously appropriated
for and shall
be used by the Commission on Voting and Citizen
Participation
to carry out its purposes.
(2) All gifts
and grants received by the commission or by the
state for purposes
of the commission shall be deposited in the
account. + }
SECTION 7. {
+ Notwithstanding the term of office specified by
section 2 of
this 1999 Act, of the members first appointed to the
Commission on
Voting and Citizen Participation:
(1) Four shall serve for terms ending January 1, 2001.
(2) Four shall serve for terms ending January 1, 2002.
(3) Three shall serve for terms ending January 1, 2003. + }
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