Opposing statements sought for Nov. 5 ballot measures

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Vancouver, Wash. ‒ The Clark County Auditor’s Office provides a printed voters’ guide with information about candidates and ballot measures for voters to make informed decisions when voting the ballot for each primary and general election. 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. Frequently, 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 opposing statement for a local ballot measure, the Elections staff attempts to identify citizens interested in authoring such a statement. For the 2019 November general election, the Elections Office has received 12 propositions: seven charter amendments from the city of Vancouver; a ballot proposition from the city of Camas for a recreation improvement bond; a proposition from the city of Woodland for a Levy Lid Lift; and replacement propositions from Clark County EMS District 1, Town of Yacolt and Green Mountain School District if their ballot measures fail in the August special election.

Committees have been appointed to write statements supporting these measures, but the city of Vancouver, Green Mountain School District, Town of Yacolt and Clark County EMS District 1 have been unable to identify people to write statements against their measures. To review the complete text of the resolutions and ballot language for the November general election ballot, visit clarkvotes.org and follow the link to Upcoming Nov. 5, 2019 General Election Information located near the top of the page.

Any resident who is a member of the district who wants to write an opposing statement to any of these measures is asked to contact Cathie Garber of the Clark County Elections Office at 564-397-2345. Please call soon; the deadline is 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12.

“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 voters’ guide."


CONTACT
Greg Kimsey
Auditor
Elections
564-397-2078
greg.kimsey@clark.wa.gov