Legislation

The ACLU of Oregon often takes positions on state, city, and county proposals that would have an impact on civil liberties and civil rights. The ACLU is strictly non-partisan; we never support or oppose candidates for elective office.

Initiatives and Ballot Measures

The ACLU of Oregon has a long history of participating in ballot measure campaigns that affect civil liberties. We monitor all initiative petitions that are filed and submit comments on the draft ballot titles and, when necessary, challenge the certified ballot title in the Oregon Supreme Court. Sometimes we file pre- and post-election challenges to the constitutionality of ballot measures. We filed the first successful case (Artmatta v. Kitzhaber) to establish the requirement that our Constitution can only be amended one amendment at a time, stopping the practice of log-rolling multiple issues before voters.

Election Results - 2010 Ballot Measures

November 2010 - The ACLU of Oregon made recommendations on 3 ballot measures. Here are the final results:

Measure 73 - ACLU recommendation - NO
Criminal Justice: Increased mandatory minimum sentences for certain repeat offenders
November vote on Measure 73- Passed (Yes - 57% No - 43%)
Measure 74 - ACLU recommendation - YES
Drug Reform: Establishes a safe and legal medical marijuana supply system
November vote on Measure 74 - Failed (Yes - 44% No - 56%)
Portland - Measure 26-108 - ACLU recommendation - YES (qualified)
Continues public financing program of candidate election campaigns
November vote on Measure 26-108 - Failed (Yes- 49.7% No - 50.3%)

Criminal Justice: Vote “NO” on Measure 73 (2010)

Ballot Measure 73 is sponsored by Kevin Mannix, who brought us Measure 11 in 1994 which enacted mandatory minimum prison sentencing in Oregon for violent felonies. The ACLU of Oregon opposed Measure 11 because we oppose mandatory minimum sentencing.

Drug Reform: Vote “Yes” on Measure 74 (2010)

Ballot Measure 74 builds on Oregon’s current medical marijuana law that the ACLU of Oregon helped draft in 1998. Currently, medical marijuana patients can only legally access medical marijuana in two ways: grow it themselves or obtain it from an authorized grower, who by law may only grow for a few people. Other than that, the only way a qualified patient may obtain medical marijuana is on the black market. For many patients the result is that they either cannot access medical marijuana or they must obtain it illegally. The ACLU of Oregon supports de-criminalizing medical marijuana and Measure 74 advances that effort by creating both a legal and safe means for qualified patients to obtain the medication they need.

PORTLAND - Campaign Finance: Vote “Yes” (qualified) on Measure 26-108 (2010)

In 2005, the Portland City Council created a public financing program for candidates for City offices, the Campaign Finance Fund (“CFF”). It allows publicly funded campaigns for Mayor, City Commissioner, and Auditor candidates. When the program was created the Mayor and Council pledged they would refer the program to voters in 2010. That vote will happen in November.