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.
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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
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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