Case Title: Marcus v. Myers

Citation: 

Docket Number: S48720

State: oregon

Court: Oregon Supreme Court

Date: 2001-10-18T00:00:00Z

Document:
FILED:  October 18, 2001
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON

LEWIS MARCUS,
	Petitioner,
	v.
HARDY MYERS,
Attorney General,
State of Oregon,
	Respondent,
	and
JAMES SAGER,
TRICIA BOSAK,
and OREGON EDUCATION ASSOCIATION,
	Intervenors.
(SC S48720)

	En Banc
	On petition to review ballot title.
	Submitted on the record August 24, 2001.
	Gregory W. Byrne, Portland, filed the petition for
petitioner.
	Jas. Jeffrey Adams, Assistant Attorney General, Salem, filed
the answering memorandum for respondent.  With him on the
answering memorandum were Hardy Myers, Attorney General, and
Michael D. Reynolds, Solicitor General.
	Margaret S. Olney, of Smith, Gamson, Diamond & Olney,
Portland, filed the intervenors' memorandum in support of
Attorney General's certified ballot title.
	PER CURIAM
	Ballot title certified.  This decision shall become
effective in accordance with ORAP 11.30(10).       
In this ballot title review proceeding, petitioner
challenges each aspect of the Attorney General's certified ballot
title for a proposed initiative measure, which the Secretary of
State denominated as Initiative Petition 66 (2002).  We review
the Attorney General's certified ballot title to determine
whether it substantially complies with the requirements of ORS
250.035(2)(a) to (d).  See ORS 250.085(5) (setting out standard
of review).
We considered each of petitioner's arguments and find
none to be well taken.  Accordingly, we certify to the Secretary
of State the following ballot title for the proposed measure:
AMENDS CONSTITUTION: REQUIRES INITIATIVE
PROPONENTS, BEFORE OBTAINING UNBIASED
BALLOT TITLE, TO SUBMIT 50% OF
NECESSARY VOTER SIGNATURES  

RESULT OF "YES" VOTE:  "Yes" vote requires
proponents of initiative measures, before obtaining
unbiased ballot title, to submit 50% of voter
signatures necessary to get measure on ballot.
RESULT OF "NO" VOTE:  "No" vote rejects
constitutional requirement that, before obtaining
unbiased ballot title, initiative proponents must
submit 50% of voter signatures necessary for placement
on ballot.
SUMMARY:  Amends constitution.  Current statutes
require proponents of statewide initiative measures to
obtain a ballot title, before circulating petition to
gather voter signatures necessary to get the measure on
the ballot.  Currently, process to obtain impartial
ballot title, including drafting and revision by
Attorney General and potential Supreme Court review,
commences when initiative proponent submits to
Secretary of State document signed by 25 persons
qualified to vote.  Measure requires that before ballot
title process can begin, proponents of initiative
measures must submit to Secretary of State for
verification 50% of the voter signatures necessary to
get measure on ballot.  Measure places in constitution
requirement that ballot title be unbiased.  Provides
that legislature shall prescribe form for ballot titles
and procedures for drafting and appealing them.
Ballot title certified.  This decision shall become
effective in accordance with ORAP 11.30(10).