Oregon: The cost of a voter’s signature

Wed, Jan 15 2014 — Source: KOIN

Professionals who gather signatures for ballot measures are common on statewide issues. They are less common on local issues, but one group is using the pros to collect enough voter sign-ups — and some are complaining about their tactics.

Since October, the Portlanders for Water Reform has been working to gather more than 29,000 signatures to put their measure on the ballot. The group wants a question on the ballot that will allow Portland voters to decide if an independent board should control the water and sewer departments instead of the city.

In the process, they’ve encountered allegations of lying and breaking the law to get people to sign. The complaints say signature gatherers have lied about what the measure would accomplish, gathered signatures from people too young to vote and lied about who was supporting the measure.

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