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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (July 24, 1984)
Marijuana initiative fails to make November ballot By Paul Ertelt Of the Emerald Petitioners for the Oregon Marijuana In itiative failed to collect enough valid signatures to get the measure on the ballot, but measures to reinstate the death penalty, establish a state lottery and limit property tax will come before voters November 6, Secretary of State Norma Paulus announced Friday. The marijuana in itiative, which would have eliminated all penalties for possession and cultivation of mari jauna for “personal con sumption,” fell short of the 63,521 verified signatures needed to place the measure on the ballot. Only 59,502 signatures were verified as being from properly registered voters, said a spokesper son for the state elections division. Petitioners failed to get a similar measure on the ballot in 1982. But eight initiative measures and one referral from the state Legislature go to the voters. The referral is a joint house resolution to change the minimum requirements for recall ing a public official. The initiative measures, if approved by the voters, will: •amend the state Constitution to limit real property tax, •create a citizens’ utility board to represent rate payers at hearings to increase utility rates, •amend the constitution to establish a state lottery to finance economic development, •establish statutory provisions for the opera tion of the lottery if the amendment above passes, •exempt death sentences from constitu tional guarantees against cruel and vindictive punishment, •require the death penalty or imprisonment for aggravated murder, •revise numerous criminal laws concerning police power, evidence and sentencing, and •add regulations for disposing of waste con taining naturally occurr ing radioactive isotopes. Because of insufficient signatures, the elections division last week re Emeiaid file graphic jected measures that would: cut off voter registration 20 days prior to elections, ban state funding of abortions, and require that state employees receive wages and benefits comparable to those in similar jobs in private industry. Oregon pioneer of petitioning By Shannon Kelley Of the Emerald Petitions — many people avoid them while many respond and sign them. Some people may even need to check a list to see if they’ve already signed a certain one. This year more petitions have been cir culated in Oregon than in any year since the 1930s, says Greg McMurdo, deputy secretary of state. Eight initiative petitions have garnered enough signatures to be placed on the November 6 ballot. McMurdo says Oregon has taken advantage of the initiative process more often than most other states. In 1902, Oregon became the first state to use an initiative process for state measures, though many individual counties started the process earlier. Since then, Orego nians have exercised this right 240 times, he says. As part of the “people’s power movement,” the initiative process was introduced by William U-Ren and the Progressive Party, McMurdo says. It was called the Oregon System then, and most states have copied the process in one form or another, he says. The direct primary (1904) and the recall provisions (1908) came about through initiatives. There are three types of statewide ballot measures, McMurdo says. The initiative places a new measure on the ballot through petitioning. The referendum refers a set measure back to the voters for amendments or repeal. Also, the Legislature can refer a new measure to the voters. This is the first year since 1972 that a referendum has been attempted. The premiere example. Ballot Measure 1, would amend minimum requirements for the recall of public officeholders. Getting a measure on the ballot is easier in Oregon than in most states, McMurdo says. The number of required signatures is the low'est in the nation, and the state allows two years for signature gathering. The number of required valid signatures varies from year to year and with the type of in itiative, McMurdo says. To create or amend a state statute, 6 percent of the total votes cast in the last governor’s race is needed. Amending the state constitution takes 8 percent. But many more signatures must be gathered to account for signatures that are invalid because the signers were not registered to vote or have moved or died. McMurdo tells peti tioners to expect a 10- to 15-percent margin of error. The petitions are first counted by the state and then sent to respective counties for verification of validity. McMurdo says that although petitions are allowed two years to circulate, most don’t reach the necessary total until near the deadline, which was July 6 this year. For Textbooks Mon. * Fri. Smith Family Bookstore 768 E. 13th 1 Block From Campus 345-1651 I 2 O fr 3 O o 1 SY'S PIZZA . FREE DELIVERY COUPON | and In-Store Pick-Up Order any size pizza, Regular or Extra Thick Crust, or Deep Dish Sicilian and Receive 2 FREE Toppings O r & 2 FREE Lg. Cokes. V o o c ■p 686-9598 1211 Alder on Campus 5:30-Midnight Monday-Sunday mm I I — HMddd PiHUM aesTMMdT Featuring fine SZECHUAN & CANTONESE Dining Buffet: I 1:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m;. Mon. Thurs. 11:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Fri. & Sat. Dinner: 4:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.. Sun.-Thurs. 1 5:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 1275 Alder < Orders to Go 683*8886 sfcse Tune-ups - Brakes - Fuel Injection 1917 franklin Bird. Eugene,Or. 9749) 48S-SX26 • CLOSE TO CAMPUS • N.I.A.S.E. 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