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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 24, 1985)
editorial Vote-by-mail causes too many problems Voter turnout in recent presidential and gubernatorial elections is way down from the levels of only 20 years ago. Many voters are disgusted with the alternatives offered by the major political parties, while others are just too lazy to go to the polls. As the result, many supporters of vote-by mail see the mailed ballot as the savior of our electoral system. The concept behind vote-by-mail is quite simple. Rather than voting at the polls, voters would receive their ballots through the mail, allowing them to vote at home. Oregon has experimented with vote-by-mail since 1981, when the state Legislature passed a bill calling for its limited use in local, county and special-district elections. Vote-by-mail proponents say figures that show an upswing in voter par ticipation with the mailed ballot’s use demonstrate its desirability as a tool for increasing, electoral participation. While it may increase the quantity of voter participation, there are some serious questions about the quality of voter participation in voterby-mail elections. The concept of one person, one vote is key to the American electoral system. But in many households where a husband, wife or child dominates the other voting-age members of the household, the one person, one vote concept would be in serious jeopardy. Who will guarantee that a domineering husband will not fill out his ballot as well as his wife? Who will guarantee that a son or daughter voting in his or her first election will have the right to cast his or her ballot free of parental harassment? Who will guarantee any individual’s right to a secret ballot? Vote-by-mail also diminishes the sanctity of the voting process. Voting in any election should not be as easy as entering the Readers’ Digest Sweepstakes. The act of voting is the ultimate legitimation of the American political system. Sitting at the kitchen table and voting for a county commissioner is much different than going to the polls, entering the voting booth and casting a ballot. While the mailed ballot may informalize the process, this informality may weaken the respect many have for the process. What is to guarantee that voters will receive their mail ed ballots in time to participate in the election? How will voters know whether the local board of elections actually received and counted their ballots? Who will guarantee that a candidate or his or her surrogates will not illegally elec tioneer as voters are casting their ballots? State Rep. Tom Mason, D-Portland, supports legislation that would make vote-by-mail a part of Oregon law. His bill, House Bill 2280, would give county clerks the right to im plement vote-by-mail in county, city and special-district elections, whenever the clerk determines its implementation would save money at the local level. The bill is undergoing hearings in the House State and Federal Affairs Committee. While vote-by-mail elections may often be cheaper than traditional elections, the vote-by-mail process leaves much to be desired. The mailed ballot may temporarily increase voter participation. Yet, recent decreases in voter participa tion go much deeper than the voters’ dissatisfaction for go ing to the polls. Many are frustrated with the nature of the system, not just the balloting process. As the novelty of vote-by-mail wears off, many will discard their ballots as easily as they do most junk mail. Supporters of the mailed ballot should reconsider their sup port for HB 2280 and ask whether the social costs of vote-by mail actually outweigh the financial savings. Q/iltf Vm*m. Mtt «««*< Yws 15THE RIGHT-WING CBS EVENING NEWS, JESSE HELMS REPORTING. ‘BIASED NEWS' CAS!ER,DAN RATHE* WASBURNED AS A GOMMIE WITCH TODAY. IN G1HER <3060 NEWS... letters Quite upset I would like to bring to the at tention of the general public the comment made by Ka-Yin Siew that appeared on the ASUO pro file “Eleven candidates vie for six IFC positions” (ODE, April 15). Siew said that his ex perience with violence and racial tension in Malaysia had helped him shape an attitude against discrimination. I wonder what exactly was meant by such a statement. Siew went to school in Singapore and 1 hope that he made regular trips home to Malaysia to justify his claim of violence and racial tension there. In all my 25 years in Malaysia, I don’t remember a single incident of violence ex cept the one of May 13, 1969 (if referring to racist incidents; the government forces are still fighting the communist threats along the border with Thailand). Even that incident couldn’t have amounted to a few days of violence in South Africa, forgive me for involving another country to show this comparison. Anyway, such things are in the past, which most Malay sians try to bury with a new at titude of racial harmony. We are only about 20 years away from that and there may still be sub tle racial tension as in many multi-racial countries, even those in the “more civilized West.” I hope Siew will use his memory of the violence of two decades ago in a positive way. 1 am sure Siew was in no way try ing to distort the situation in i Oregon daily _ _ emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co., at the University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, 97403. The Emerald operates independently of the Universi ty with offices on the tn.ri floor of the Erb Memorial Union and is a member of the Associated Press. General Staff Advertising Director Production Manager Classified Advertising Controller Susan Thelen Russell Steele Vince Adams Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales: Laura Buckley, Tim Clevenger, Jen nifer Fox, Marcia Leonard, Rick Martz, Nancy Nielsen, Brett Pickman, Tim Swillinger, David Wood. Production: Kelly Cornyn, Stormi Dykes, Manuel Flores, Kathy Gallagher, Dean Guernsey, Susan Hawkins, Grant Keltner, Rob Kraft, Ross Martin, Karin McKercher, Lauri Neely, Kelly Neff, Kara Oberst, Curt Penrod, Michele Ross Alyson Simmons, Peg Solonika, Karen Stallwood, Tim Swillinger, Colleen Tremaine, Hank Trotter. Editor Managing Editor News Editor Editorial Page Editor Photo Editor Sports Editor Sidelines Editor Friday Edition Editor Entertainment Editor Night Editor Associate Editors Administration Higher Education Politics ASUO Student Activities Community Features Micneie Maiassa Mike Sims Michael Kulaga Costas Christ, Dave Berns Brian Erb Brent De La Paz Sheila Landry Kim Carlson Michael Duncan Michael Kulaga Jolayne Houtz Scott McFetridge Paul Ertelt Julie Shippen Diana Elliott Cynthia Whitfield Lori Steinhauer Reporters: Sean Axmaker, Kirsten Bolin, Michelle Brence, Dave Carlson, Robert Collias, Thomas Henderson, Robin Joannides, Allan Lazo, Capi Lynn. Photographers: Dean Guernsey, Kirk Hirota, Jim Marks, Ross Martin, Karen Stallwood, Hank Trotter. News and Editorial Display Advertising and Business Classified Advertising Production Circulation 686-5511 686-3712 686-4343 686-4381 686-5511 Malaysia, but 1 thought it would be wise to clarify his position since a few people have been misled and some were even quite upset by it. Siti Mohd Nor Fellow Malaysian Shame shame Cheers to Lynn Pinckney for the victory in the ASUO elec tions but shame, shame on the Emerald for slipping the word “celebrates” into the caption of the Friday front page photo. Judging by Ms. Pinckney's ex pression in this pic, it hardly seems as if she and her friends are celebrating anything at all. Perhaps it would have been more appropriate for the cap tion to read something more along the lines of, "President elect Lynn Pinckney ponders her solid victory...’’ or “President-elect Lynn Pinckney ruminates upon her solid victory....” The word “celebrate” describes an atmosphere of gaiety and festive merriment where people wear hats and sil ly costumes, there are colorful banners and tablecloths adorn ing places like the Native Sons Hall, and people eat baked goods and barbecued things. Sometimes there are clowns that are hired to entertain the children and there is dancing and much laughter and confetti and mirth and pageantry. I don’t think that I’m speaking just for myself when I say that it would be tough to hold up that photo of Lynn Pinckney and her friends Mary Kay and Charles to the big brown and syrupy eyes of some innocent yet eager young kid and say, “Hey, look! It’s a celebration!” Anyway, it’s just something to think about. Geoff Ellsworth Romance Languages Some points I would like to take this op portunity to underscore some points made in your April 4th article by Diana Elliott re garding the millrace ducks and geese. The migration of wild fowl and the overbreeding of the birds at the Millrace contribute to the overpopulation of the area. Springtime mating rituals are forcing outnumbered female birds into the street to escape their ardent male suitors. If dumping/abandonment, breeding, and migration could be controlled, the quality of life at the Millrace would be greatly enhanced. Food is being provided to the birds through the efforts of the Friends of the Millrace Ducks and Geese. Donations to that group for the purchase of food would be greatly appreciated. Qualified adopters for ducks and geese should contact the Friends for possible placement. Persons concerned about the welfare of the Millrace flock are welcome to become active volunteers and join in the responsible and preventative ef forts of the Friends of the Millrace Ducks and Geese. Joan Walker Program Manager Lane County Animal Regulation Seminar In August of 1985, three U.S. senators will teach a two-week Comparative Public Policy seminar at the University of London in England. I will be donating my time to this effort as will Sen. Thomas Eagleton, D-Mo.,and Sen. Donald Riegle, D-Mich., who will teach the seminar along with Professor Kevin Gottlieb of Michigan State University. Guest speakers from the British public sector will also present lectures in the seminar to provide the comparative perspective. For decades, I have had a keen interest in both higher education and the legislative process. This political science seminar will be an opportunity for the pursuit of both interests. The course should be as en joyable as it is informative. Oregon State University and Michigan State University are cooperating to offer this seminar to the students of both institutions. Students who are interested in participating can do so by contacting the Office of Interna tional Education at OSU. Mark Hatfield U.S. Senator A-J O/i 1 HOC
