| Q. |
When can
districts vote on a bond levy? |
|
A. |
There are four election dates each year:
- Second Tuesday in March
- Third Tuesdays in May and September
- The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November
|
|
|
| Q. |
Is the double
majority a requirement for all elections? |
|
A. |
No. There is no turnout requirement for the November
general election in even numbered years. |
|
|
| Q. |
Is there any limit to the number of times a district can submit a measure to voters? |
|
A. |
No. However, the county does charge the district for
election costs. |
|
|
| Q. |
Is there a disadvantage to voting by
mail? |
|
A. |
Not anymore. Voting by mail increases voter turnout and
may assist districts in reaching the 50 percent turnout requirement. In addition, the
majority of voters who vote are now voting by mail in the primary and general elections,
Oregon’s only polling place elections. |
|
|
| Q. |
Which election is the best
for school bond measures? |
|
A. |
Statistics indicate that school bond levies do better in
the May, March and November elections. September elections are difficult because ballots
often are mailed before school is in session. (For a detailed listing of election results
see our Election Results page.) |
|
|
| Q. |
What can a district tell
voters about the election? |
|
A. |
Districts can provide factual information about the
measure and tell voters what the results will be if the measure passes or doesn’t
pass. |
|
|
District information must be impartial and avoid
advocacy. For example, "The ABC district is asking voters to consider a bond
levy" is information. "The ABC district is asking voters to approve a
bond levy" is advocacy. |
|
|
| Q. |
Who decides what’s advocacy and
what’s information? What’s the penalty for violating the
law? |
|
A. |
The district has the responsibility to review all
election-related materials and activities paid for with public funds or involving public
employees to be sure they are advocacy free. If a citizen believes something the district
does advocates a positive or negative vote, that individual can file a complaint with the
Secretary of State. |
|
|
The Secretary of State’s Elections Division reviews the complaint. If the district and/or employees are found
in violation of the law, they may be fined. |
|
|
Or if a public official "expends any public money
in excess of the amounts, or for any other or different purposes than authorized by
law," that official can be sued by the county district attorney or taxpayer from that
district (ORS 294.100 (2)). |
|
|
| Q. |
Can school board
members engage in advocacy activities? |
|
A. |
Yes. They can engage in advocacy activities at any time
as long as no public funds are involved. |
|
|
School boards can pass resolutions in support of or in
opposition to measures. The action can be reported in board minutes and board reports, but
no public funds should be used for any further publication of the action. |
|
|
| Q. |
Can district employees
engage in advocacy activities? |
|
A. |
Yes, as long as these activities take place outside of
work hours and do not involve use of public resources. |
|
|
| Q. |
Can the campaign committee hold
meetings in district buildings? |
|
A. |
Yes, if the campaign committee is treated like other
community groups that use the same district facility. Districts should check and follow
board policies for facility use. |
|
|
| Q. |
Can the advocacy committee use a
district copy machine or make phone calls from the district? |
|
A. |
No. The advocacy committee should find non-district
sources. |
