Vote by Mail

Oregon

In 1981, the Oregon Legislature approved a test of VBM for local elections. By 1987, VBM was made permanent for local and special elections, and a majority of counties used it. In 1993 and 1995, the first and second statewide special elections were conducted using VBM. In the summer of 1995, the Republican-controlled legislature passed a bill expanding VBM to primary and general elections. Under pressure from the Democratic minority in the legislature, who were concerned that VBM could reduce the power of the state Democratic machine, and Clinton operatives, who were concerned about the president's re-election bid in Oregon, Governor John Kitzhaber vetoed the bill, stating that more study of the issue was the prudent course. This veto came despite calls from Democratic operatives who tracked local VBM elections and determined it was party-neutral and easier for campaign organizations.

In 1995, following the resignation of Senator Bob Packwood, Democratic Secretary of State Phil Keis-ling exercised the option to run the December primary, and January general special elections using VBM. After Democrat Ron Wyden defeated Republican Gordon Smith, both caucuses in the legislature reconsidered their previous positions. In the 1997 legislative session, Democrats, realizing their error, supported legislation to pass VBM.

Although it passed the house, the Republican majority in the Senate allowed the bill to die. The option for statewide VBM never re-visited Governor Kitzhaber's desk, who stated he would have signed the bill into law. However, legislation passed allowing voters to register [Page 826]for permanent absentee status and 41 percent took advantage of this option.

In the 1998 primary election, with a record-low turnout, absentee voters accounted for nearly two-thirds of all ballots cast. This election represented the first in the nation where absentee voters, with a 53 percent turnout, cast more ballots than poll voters who turned out at 22 percent. In June of 1998, Secretary of State, Phil Keisling spearheaded an initiative to move around the Oregon Legislature and successfully garnered the number of signatures required to qualify for the November ballot using no paid signature gatherers—only volunteers. Oregon voters approved the initiative to expand VBM to primary and general elections by nearly 70 percent.

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