2008 Oregon Ballot Measure 56

Last updated

Measure 56
Flag of Oregon.svg
Amends Constitution: Provides That May And November Property Tax Elections Are Decided By Majority Of Voters Voting.
Results
Choice
Votes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svgYes959,11856.60%
Light brown x.svgNo735,50043.40%
Total votes1,694,618100.00%
Registered voters/turnout85.7%

Oregon 2008 Measure 56.svg
Results by county

Yes

  50%-60%
  60%-70%

No

  50%-60%
Source: Oregon Secretary of State [1]

Oregon Ballot Measure 56 or House Joint Resolution 15 (HJR 15) is a legislatively referred constitutional amendment that enacted law which provides that property tax elections decided at May and November elections will be decided by a majority of voters who are voting in the relevant election. [2] It repealed the double majority requirement passed by the voters in the 1990s via Measures 47 and 50, which requires that, for non-general elections, all bond measures can pass only when a majority of registered voters turn out.

Contents

The measure appeared on the November 4, 2008 general election ballot in Oregon and was passed with 56.6% of the vote.

Vote tallies by county:

CountyYesVotesNoVotesTotal
Baker 45.603,79454.404,5278,321
Benton 60.1525,82539.8517,10642,931
Clackamas 54.5496,60545.4680,525177,130
Clatsop 58.9610,12241.047,04617,168
Columbia 50.5211,86149.4811,61923,480
Coos 50.4614,89649.5414,62329,519
Crook 46.374,54353.635,2549,797
Curry 48.235,55251.775,96011,512
Deschutes 52.2538,76947.7535,42874,197
Douglas 47.7623,69652.2425,91949,615
Gilliam 54.2056845.804801,048
Grant 45.141,64554.861,9993,644
Harney 48.811,68851.191,7703,458
Hood River 58.065,25941.943,7999,058
Jackson 52.8249,84347.1844,52794,370
Jefferson 49.513,89950.493,9767,875
Josephine 47.3618,62752.6420,70439,331
Klamath 46.4912,90853.5114,85627,764
Lake 43.801,51856.201,9483,466
Lane 60.35102,75039.6567,504170,254
Lincoln 55.4612,52344.5410,05822,581
Linn 47.0522,97652.9525,85848,834
Malheur 42.754,22257.255,6559,877
Marion 52.8260,89447.1854,402115,296
Morrow 52.492,04547.511,8513,896
Multnomah 68.26228,19931.74106,114334,313
Polk 52.6817,73947.3215,93533,674
Sherman 48.7147151.29496967
Tillamook 52.386,60647.626,00612,612
Umatilla 51.8812,46148.1211,56024,021
Union 50.175,94349.835,90211,845
Wallowa 48.461,99551.542,1224,117
Wasco 54.855,86045.154,82410,684
Washington 55.95120,95744.0595,240216,197
Wheeler 43.3833456.62436770
Yamhill 52.5121,52547.4919,47140,996

Supporters

Measure 56 was supported by the Voting Matters Coalition, which included the League of Women Voters of Oregon, Human Services Coalition of Oregon, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Basic Rights Oregon, Coalition for a Livable Future, Elders in Action, and Oregon PTA.

Official Voters' Pamphlet arguments in favor can be found at the Oregon Secretary of State's November 4, 2008 Voters' Pamphlet of Measures.

Newspaper endorsements

Here is how Oregon's major newspapers have endorsed on the measure:

NewspapersYesNo
The Oregonian Yes
Medford Mail-Tribune Yes
Statesman Journal Yes
Bend Bulletin Yes
Portland Tribune Yes
Eugene Register-Guard Yes
Daily Astorian Yes
East Oregonian Yes
Corvallis Gazette Times Yes
Coos Bay The World Yes
Willamette Week Yes
Yamhill Valley News Register [ permanent dead link ]Yes
Gresham Outlook Yes

Arguments in favor

Notable arguments made in support of the measure included:

Opponents

Steve Buckstein of the non-partisan, non-profit Cascade Policy Institute wrote a commentary that says, "Critics of Oregon's so-called 'double majority' rule say it isn't democratic because a simple majority of those voting may not be able to pass a tax measure. But in reality, just 25% of registered voters can raise taxes under 'double-majority.' 'Double majority' is a sensible taxpayer safeguard that should be kept, and even strengthened."

Opposing arguments

Notable arguments made in opposition to the measure included:

Notes

  1. Bradbury, Bill (4 November 2008). "Official Results – November 4, 2008 General Election" (Website). Elections Division. Oregon Secretary of State . Retrieved December 24, 2008.
  2. Official ballot title and status of this initiative