Vancouver, Wash. ‒ Every election, the Clark County Auditor’s Office provides a voters’ guide with information about candidates and ballot measures for voters to make an informed decision when voting. The voters’ guide includes statements by and photographs of candidates for elective offices as well as local ballot measures with supporting and opposing statements written by citizens.

A legislative body placing a measure on the ballot can appoint a committee to write a supporting statement and another committee to write an opposing statement. But often, the Elections Office receives only a supporting argument for a local ballot measure. If the group cannot identify anyone to oppose the ballot measure, no opposing statement is written or submitted.

If the Elections Office does not receive a supporting or an opposing statement for a local ballot measure, the staff attempts to identify citizens interested in authoring such a statement. For the 2020 August election, the Elections Office, as the jurisdictional filing officer, has received four propositions: a proposition from Ridgefield School District for a bond; a ballot proposition from Clark County Fire & Rescue for City of Woodland annexation; a proposition from Clark County Fire Protection District 6 for a Single Year Permanent Lid Lift; and a proposition from East County Fire & Rescue for a continuation of a Six Year EMS Levy.

These districts have not been able to identify people to write statements against their measures. To review the complete text of the resolution, ballot language and other resolutions for the August election ballot, visit clarkvotes.org and follow the link to Aug. 4, 2020, Primary and Special Election Information located near the top of the page.

Any resident who wants to write an opposing statement is asked to contact Cathie Garber of the Clark County Elections Department at (564) 397-2345. Those writing the statement must reside in the jurisdiction for which they are writing the opposition. Please call soon; the deadline is 4 p.m. Friday, May 15.

“The public is best served by providing information which presents a fair and balanced debate on the merits of local measures submitted for a vote,” said Auditor Greg Kimsey. “We urge anyone interested to help us get their opposing statements to these local measures into the online voters’ guide."

CONTACT
Cathie Garber
Elections Director
Elections
564.397.2078