Legislature Enacts Fair Elections Laws National Popular Vote: Following a long campaign to correct the problems caused by an anachronistic Electoral College, Oregon finally (after 5 tries) PASSED SB 870, to enact the Interstate Compact Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote (NPV). This passed the Senate on a partisan vote with President Courtney voting against it. It passed the House on a purely party line vote. The NPV will take effect when it has been enacted into law by states possessing 270 electoral college votes (out of 538). Currently, it has passed in 16 jurisdictions with 196 electoral votes, and has passed one house in 8 additional states with a total of 75 more votes, sufficient to bring it into law if it passes the other house. Changing the Constitution: Oregon is one of a few states whose Constitution bans campaign contribution limits. That is why the legislature PASSED, and the Governor signed, SJR 18, a resolution that will put this Constitutional change before the voters. SJR 18 will “ permit Legislative Assembly, governing body of city, county, municipality or district, or people through initiative process, to enact enumerated laws or ordinances relating to use of moneys in political campaigns within its jurisdiction (OLIS, SJR 18 Enrolled, ”Legislative Catchline/Summary)”. It also will require that sources of funding be disclosed, and that political advertisements name their largest funders. Campaign Advertising/ Transparency: The legislature also passed HB 2716 and 2983. HB 2716 will require that some political ads name their largest funders (known as disclaimers or taglines). SJR 18 would allow this to be expanded. While OO preferred more extensive disclaimer requirements, HB 2716 is a move in the right direction and reverses the 2001 Oregon Legislature's drastic mistake of removing all disclaimer requirements from political ads. HB 2983 creates additional transparency by requiring requiring non-profit organizations that spend large sums of money on political campaigns disclose some of their largest donors. Again, OO preferred broader disclosure, but HB 2983 is a start that establishes the principle that campaign money should not be hidden inside a labyrinth of nice-sounding non-profit cover names. Small Donor Elections: Disappointingly, HB 3004 to establish a Small Donor Elections Program to enable candidates for office of state Representative and state Senator to receive 6-to-1 match on small dollar donations FAILED. Work on this concept will continue. Postage Free Ballots: SB 861 PASSED both houses and is likely to be signed. This bill will require the state to cover the cost of return mail ballot envelopes. This is of particular benefit to “shut-ins” and last minute mailers. This was considered to have limited fiscal impact. OO Comment: We are gratified that the NPV passed and continue to support its passage in other states. The electoral college was created before highways and modern communication systems and deserves to become obsolete. We also strongly support the change in the Oregon Constitution to allow campaign contribution limits but this will require grassroots work when it comes to the voters in 2020. The additional improvements on transparency (HB 2716 and 2983) are welcomed but, by themselves, insufficient. Postage Free Ballots are consistent with Oregon’s intent to make voting easy for everyone. - All of us at Onward Oregon | 