Citizens in Charge

Some of Oregon’s newly elected leaders are making noises about cracking down on ballot initiative fraud and vowing to return control of the initiative and referendum system to the people. While these are high-sounding goals, there is a simpler reform that would help voters and avoid a pitched legal battle.
Oregon Secretary of State-elect Kate Brown and Attorney General-elect John Kroger, both Democrats, say they will vigorously prosecute fraud in signature gathering — as they should. But proven incidents of fraud have been rare.