Have you voted?
Today is the last day ballots can be turned in for the Measure 30 special election, and organizations throughout the state have kicked off last-minute campaigns to muster votes for or against the tax measure.
“If people haven’t gotten out and voted, it’s not too late to do so,” Yes on 30 campaigner Matt Reed said.
Ballots must turned in by 8 p.m. today to count in the statewide election that will decide whether income taxes will be raised or some social services will be cut. Ballots are being collected at eight different locations in Eugene, including one drop box outside the ASUO office on the EMU ground floor.
If voters reject the measure, the state will implement $544.6 million in scheduled cuts to education, public safety and social services.
If voters approve Measure 30, the state will temporarily raise income taxes, reduce certain corporate tax benefits and extend the cigarette tax. It will also permanently raise some business taxes, reduce seniors’ medical deductions and change discounts for early payment of property taxes. The total tax package will raise about $1.2 billion from 2003 to 2007 and prevent a $258.1 million predicted shortfall in the state budget for the 2003-2005 biennium.
The income tax is progressive, meaning people who earn more money will pay more taxes. The average Oregonian will pay $24 to $36 in additional tax, according to an argument in favor of the measure printed in the Secretary of State’s voter’s guide pamphlet. People making less than $10,000 won’t pay any extra taxes.
Campaigners on each side say the stakes are high.
Reed urged students to make sure their voices are counted.
“I would really encourage any students who haven’t voted yet to get out and vote yes on Measure 30,” he said.
Reed said state support for higher education dropped last year and tuition increased.
“A no vote is really just going to make things worse,” he said.
However, the Libertarian Party of Oregon, which has been instrumental in the push against Measure 30, thinks a yes vote will make things worse.
“The tax increase itself is unnecessary,” party chairman Thomas Cox said. “You do not need to raise taxes to protect necessary services.”
Cox said legislators have been spending at an unsustainable and wasteful level, and they need to go back to the capitol to reprioritize spending. He added that education needs to come before lower priorities, such as the computer upgrades the state has planned.
Cox said the Libertarians will be calling voters affiliated with the party to remind them to vote, but that at this point party officials are no longer trying to persuade anyone to change their vote. His message is simply that voters need to get their ballots in.
“Make sure you vote,” he said. “A lot of people have been complacent.”
ASUO President Maddy Melton said student government, as a non-partisan organization, doesn’t take a stance on political issues. It does, however, try to get students involved, she said.
“We’re just trying to get the last votes in,” Melton said.
ASUO is calling registered student voters to ask them if they have turned in their ballots. It is also running a van service that will pick up either voters or their ballots and drive them to the drop off stations. The ASUO van service can be reached at 346-0628.
“I just think people need to know that this is going to have a direct impact on their education and on their monetary situation, so they have a vested interest in getting out and letting it be known how they feel,” Melton said.
As of Sunday, 92,634 out of 181,403 voters in Lane County — or 51 percent — had returned their ballots, according to the Lane County Elections office.