Election Reform
Our elections and our government do not live up to our ideals of free and open democracy. The current plurality voting system gives the office to the candidate receiving the most votes, even if that candidate did not receive a majority. We are particularly concerned with mechanisms that shut out diverse opinions.
Election Reform Action Items:
- Adopt instant runoff voting (IRV) as authorized in Article 2, Section 16 of the Oregon Constitution.
- Adopt proportional representation also authorized in the same section.
We the People demand:
- A reduction of ballot access barriers for third parties and independent candidates, includes the repeal of HB 2614, which places unreasonable restrictions on independent candidates change how Oregon House members are elected
- Use State-wide proportional representation to allocate the seats based upon the percentage of the vote received by the several parties, rather than gerrymandered districts which have aided the two-party dominance of Oregon politics
- Proportional allocation of Oregon’s Electoral College votes until the Electoral College is eliminated and the President elected by direct vote of the people
- Require that the drawing of all redistricting maps by a special nonpartisan body. Many legislative races are uncontested due to gerrymandering by Democrats, Republicans, or both. An election with only one candidate on the ballot is meaningless
- Voting rights for all, including prisoners. Voting is a safe way for prisoners to participate in society as part of their rehabilitation
- Continued use of Oregon’s mail-in ballot system. We oppose the use of paperless electronic voting machines, the operation of which cannot be independently checked; and a random hand audit of ballots.
