The big business backers of Measure 90 want to restrict your right to vote for the candidates and political parties of your choice. They want only Democrats and Republicans on the November ballot.
Measure 90 will allow only two candidates on the November ballot in each race. Both candidates can be from the same party.
Under "Top Two" in Washington and California, there have been:
ZERO minor party or independent candidates
on the general election ballot for any statewide office
and
ZERO minor party candidates for
any office,
including the Legislature, when two major party candidates
ran in the primary election.
Washington elects 147 legislators and 12 Congress members; California elects 120 legislators and 55 Congress members. In November, voters in those states could vote for only Democrats and Republicans in races where at least 2 of them ran in the primary. In California there will be 28 races this November between 2 Democrats or between 2 Republicans.
In practice, "Top Two" means just Democrats and Republicans, period.
The impartial Oregon Citizens' Review Committee voted 14-5 to oppose Measure 90, in part because:
"Measure 90 has several drafting errors. The most significant appears to eliminate minor parties. Because M90 bars parties from nominating candidates, their legal status is in jeopardy."
Measure 90 backers claim it will increase voter turnout and produce "moderate" legislatures. But, under Top Two, California and Washington just suffered the lowest voter turnout primaries in their histories. A 2014 study by professors at Princeton and Georgetown ranked the California and Washington legislatures #1 and #4 in most polarization among the 50 states. Oregon ranked #18.
Oregon has a long and proud history of grassroots political parties and independent voices. Voters need real, meaningful choices on the November ballot. That's why we're urging NO on Measure 90.
VISIT SAVEOREGONSDEMOCRACY.ORG
Oregon Progressive Party progparty.org
Pacific Green Party of Oregon pacificgreens.org