Who’s Who? In Oregon Politics
Voting is a public way of saying, “Our families count, and our voices matter!”
Civic engagement means getting everyday folks involved in the decisions that affect our families and communities. Election season is an important time for us to speak up, and there are many ways we can all get involved in the process, regardless of our citizenship status.
Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities know the decisions elected leaders make impact our daily lives. Today, there are more than 250,000 APIs in Oregon, and our community is growing. API families come from more than 100 different ethnic, cultural, and linguistic groups—we have diverse needs and experiences.
Many API families are struggling with the rising cost of housing, being pushed out of our neighborhoods and communities due to high prices, struggling to support students in our schools, and trying to find affordable healthcare. Elected leaders have the power to pass policies, create and fund programs, and listen to API communities when coming up with solutions.
This guide focuses on Oregon’s statewide and locally elected positions. You can find information about federal elected office and who is on the ballot in your voter guide.
Can I Vote?
You must be a US citizen and at least 18 years of age at the time of the election. Oregon’s expanded Motor Voter law makes voter registration automatic when an eligible, unregistered voter visits the DMV to apply for, renew, or replace an Oregon driver’s license, ID card, or permit.
In 2016, 20,000 API voters, about 50% of the unregistered API voters eligible to vote, will be enrolled through the new Motor Voter law.
If you have a past felony conviction, you may re-register after release from prison, and people on parole and probation can vote. Not sure if you’re registered? Check at: sos.oregon.gov.
Regardless of your voting status, you can still make a difference!
- Encourage and educate people who can vote.
- Share this guide at your church or with your neighbors.
- Write letters to your local paper about issues you care about.
How To Vote In Oregon
- Complete your ballot, place it in the secrecy envelope, seal it and put it in the return envelope.
- Sign the return envelope after double checking your name and address are correct.
- Place stamp on the envelope and mail it back.
If it’s after November 5, you’ll need to drop off your ballot at an official ballot site. All ballots must be received by 8:00pm on Election Day in order to be counted.
Oregon Statewide Elected Positions
Governor
Key Responsibilities
- Chief of the state military and armed forces.
- Appoints representatives to commissions and vacant agency positions.
What This Means For You
Signs bills into law.
Can veto legislation, recommend laws, and ensures existing laws are being executed properly.
Attorney General
Key Responsibilities
- Represents the state in legal matters.
- Supports statewide crime victim service programs.
What This Means For You
Represents the state’s position in all legal matters in court, including housing discrimination and racial profiling.
Issues opinions and interpretation of Oregon law or proposed laws, including voting rights, immigration, and healthcare implementation.
Secretary of State
Key Responsibilities
- Helps ensure the right to participate in federal, state, and local elections.
- Serves as the state’s auditor, ensuring public money is used appropriately.
What This Means For You
Helps ensure that no Oregonian is unfairly denied the right to vote.
OREGON STATE LEGISLATURE • The Oregon Legislature is divided into two houses: the Oregon State Senate and the Oregon State House of Representatives. During odd years, Oregon Legislators meet for 160 days, and meet for 35 days during even years.
Oregon State Senator
Key Responsibilities
- Enacts state laws in areas such as state taxes, education, child care and conservation of natural resources.
- Shares budget-making responsibilities with the Governor.
What This Means For You
Makes decisions about funding priorities, such as Oregon public schools and other services, including English Language Learning programs throughout the state.
Can expand healthcare access for API communities facing barriers due to citizenship status or income.
Can change planning regulations to ensure development of low and moderate income housing.
Oregon State Representatives
Key Responsibilities
What This Means For You
Local Elected Positions
Positions in local government may be elected by voters in a specific district or city/county wide. City governments in Oregon have different structures, in some the Mayor is the most powerful and in others the City Council has more power. Learn more about your city government structure to cast your vote.
City Mayor
Key Responsibilities
- Determines policies for all city services and proposes the budget for a city.
What This Means For You
Can provide financial support to community services which support low income families.
Makes zoning and budgetary decisions that could promote or prevent development of affordable and temporary housing, such as emergency homeless shelters for mothers and children.
Can introduce a new tax or fee for a council vote.
City Council
Key Responsibilities
- Determines policies for all city services, such as building codes, zoning, and managing public services.
- Responds to emerging community needs and issues.
What This Means For You
Can provide financial support to community services which support low income families.
Makes zoning and budgetary decisions that could promote or prevent development of affordable and temporary housing, such as emergency homeless shelters for mothers and children.
City Commissioner
Key Responsibilities
- Determines policies for all services provided by county agencies.
- Provides community services like county health departments, public transportation, public housing and libraries.
What This Means For You
Sheriff
Key Responsibilities
- Provides law enforcement for unincorporated areas of a county, but sheriffs do not normally patrol in cities which have their own police agency.
- Maintains the county jail.
What This Means For You
Serves warrants and civil papers.
Has enforcement discretion regarding federal immigration detainers in county jails.
Makes arrests.
District Attorney
Key Responsibilities
- Screens, files, and prosecutes all criminal cases in the county.
- Has discretion to decide which cases to pursue and how to pursue them.
- Provides assistance to victims including navigating the Victims Compensation program.
What This Means For You
Decides what to charge in prosecuting cases from domestic violence to drugs.
Decides if cases should be referred to drug court or other alternative sentencing or diversion programs.
Local School Board
Key Responsibilities
- Adopts policies to guide the school district.
- Hires and evaluates the superintendent for the district.
- Approves the annual budget.
What This Means For You
Decides what is taught in local public schools, such as Ethnic Studies, which APANO successfully campaigned for in 2016.
Makes decisions about campus security including the level of police interaction with youth.