Measure 54
Measure 54 would amend the Oregon Constitution and standardize voting eligibility for school board elections with other state and local elections. Currently, you must be 21 years or older, be a resident of the school district for at least six months, and pass a literacy test to vote in school district elections. The measure would eliminate these voter eligibility requirements because they are unenforceable under the
U.S. Constitution.
Measure 55
Measure 55 would move redistricting changes brought upon by the U.S. Census to the end of representatives’ terms, so affected districts will continue to be served by their elected presentative. Currently, when a redistricting plan takes effect and more than one representative or senator resides in the new district, one is assigned to another district.
Measure 56
Measure 56 would allow a passed local property tax measure for schools, police, libraries, parks or other local government services to be instated regardless of voter turnout. Currently, the Oregon Constitution declares that if fewer than 50 percent of voters participate in an election, aside from the general election, the lack of voter participation translates into a “no vote.”
Measure 57
Measure 57 would increase prison sentences for methamphetamine, heroin, ecstasy or cocaine trafficking to 34 to 130 months, depending on drug quantity. The measure would also raise the sentence for people who steal more than $10,000 worth of materials from an elderly person to 16 to 45 months. In addition to increasing prison sentences for first time offenders, sentences for repeated offenses of identity theft, burglary, robbery, mail theft, forgery, criminal mischief, and check fraud would rise to 18 to 30 or 24 to 36, depending on the seriousness of the crime.
Measure 58
Measure 58 would prohibit teaching pubic school subjects in languages other than English for more than two years. Currently, Oregon law requires all school subjects be taught in English, but permits instruction in more than one language so students whose second language is English can make a smoother transition.
Measure 59
Measure 59 would allow an unlimited deduction for federal income taxes on individual taxpayers’ state income-tax returns. Under the current law, personal income taxpayers may deduct a limited amount of federal income taxes when calculating their Oregon taxable income. The limit, which is usually $5,600, will be eliminated if measure 59 is passed.
Measure 60
Measure 60 would require teacher pay raises and promotions be dependent on the quality of teachers, not their seniority. Currently, school districts fix salaries, retention and other terms of employment for teachers based on their seniority.
Measure 61
Measure 61 would require a 36-month minimum sentence for class-A felonies such as identification theft and burglary, as well as a 30-month minimum for class-B felonies. The law currently does not require people convicted of theft, forgery, identification theft, drug and burglary crimes to serve minimum sentences.
Measure 62
Measure 62 would dedicate 15 percent of lottery proceeds to the public safety fund for crime prevention. Currently, funds are appropriated to create jobs, further economic development and finance education.
Measure 63
Measure 63 would exempt owners of real property, which contains or could contain buildings, and farm property owners from complying with state and local improvements when the cost of improvements is less than $35,000. However, the measures does require that improvements comply with
applicable building and placement requirements, and that sellers must reveal such improvements to potential new buyers. The measure also requires all electrical work and wiring to be done by licensed contractors.
Measure 64
Measure 64 would override the current law that allows money collected using public resources to go toward “political purposes,” which includes giving money to a candidate, political committee, political party or initiative and referendum committee.
Measure 65
Measure 65 would implement an “open primary,” which would override current law stating a resident must be registered or affiliated with a party to vote in a primary. It proposes primary ballots list all candidates, so voters may vote for any candidate from a different party. The primary ballots must contain the party affiliation of each eligible candidate under the measure.