PAC-2002 Challenges County on Signature Count

The Multnomah County Elections office informed the Police Accountability Campaign (PAC-2002) that a mathematical sample showed only 25,841 of the 31,000 signatures they turned in were from valid, registered voters­a total less than 1% shy of their "magic number." Eliminating duplicates, people whose information didn't match their voter registration, and "inactive voters," the County's random sampling said the Campaign needed 259 more signatures to qualify.

Since the margin of error listed by the county is 1.5%, it is strange that the Campaign wasn't given the benefit of the doubt. Moreover, volunteers discovered a number of signatures which had been improperly disqualified, bringing the total needed closer to 170 names.

PAC-2002 mounted legal challenges to the County's count. Coming up against the final deadline of March 21 to get on the ballot, Oregon Circuit Court Judge David Gernant ruled March 18 that the County had no obligation to recount the signatures. However, the judge made it clear that the law was "an embarrassment," and that his decision was made solely on the basis of the current statutes. In other words, he wanted to help the Campaign, but his hands were tied by bad legislation. PAC-2002 vowed to work on initiative reform and was considering other next steps as the People's Police Report went to press.

For more information contact PAC-2002 at 503-287-2255 or info@pac-2002.org

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