Two more initiatives qualify for Ore. ballot
By BRAD CAIN
Associated Press
Tuesday, July 22, 2008 10:08 AM PDT
SALEM — Independent voters, currently not allowed to vote in Oregon’s Republican and Democratic primary elections, would have a say in picking candidates under an initiative measure that will appear on the state’s November ballot.
The secretary of state’s office announced Monday the measure had attracted enough petition signatures to gain a spot on the fall ballot, as did another one to dedicate 15 percent of lottery profits for crime prevention, investigations and prosecutions.
In all, seven citizen-sponsored initiatives have won a place on the fall ballot. Secretary of state spokesman Don Hamilton said officials will announce soon whether an eighth measure — to tie teacher pay to classroom performance — will qualify as well.
The ‘‘open primary’’ measure, sponsored by two former Oregon secretaries of state — Democrat Phil Keisling and Republican Norma Paulus — would essentially abolish party primaries in Oregon.
