Title: Firearm permits

What does this mean to me?

Should a person who buys a gun have to get a permit? Should police track who buys guns and who gets permits for guns? Should we stop guns from holding more than 10 bullets?

A “yes” vote means that you support limits on buying a gun. Gun buyers need to get a permit for their gun. Police should track who buys guns and gets gun permits. Guns shouldn’t hold more than 10 bullets. A “yes” vote would change the law. A “no” vote means that you oppose limits on buying a gun. A gun buyer shouldn’t need to get a permit for their gun. Police shouldn’t track gun users. Guns should be able to hold more than 10 bullets. A “no” vote would leave the law the same.

How much would it cost?

A person getting a permit would have to pay a fee. The fees should cover the costs of running the permit program. People aren’t sure exactly how much it will cost overall.

People for this say: This measure will make people safer. It will keep people from having guns who shouldn’t have guns. It will keep people from killing lots of people in a short time with their guns. People will have to be trained to be safe with guns. The measure will save lives.

People against this say: This measure takes away people’s right to own guns. It will cost too much. It will let people ban guns by not funding the permit process. It lets the government track gun owners. It overlaps with the laws already in effect. It is unnecessary. Oregon already has good gun laws.

Title: Legislators with unexcused absences

What does this mean to me?

Should a state legislator be stopped from running for re-election if they miss ten days at work without a reason?

A “yes” vote means that you don’t want legislators to run for reelection if they miss ten days at work without a good reason. A “yes” vote would change the law. A “no” vote means that legislators should be able to run for reelection, no matter how many days at work they miss. A “no” vote would not change the law.

How much would it cost?

People don’t think this would cost any money.

People for this say:

Legislators should show up to work and do their jobs. When legislators walked out on their jobs, we didn’t get to vote on important laws. Most employed people have to show up and do their jobs. When legislators don’t show up for work, other legislators can’t pass laws. That’s unfair to everyone.

People against this say:

No one wrote in saying that they were voting no.

Title: Slavery and involuntary servitude

What does this mean to me?

Should we stop letting the state make a person work when they are found guilty of a crime?

Voting “yes” means that you don’t want anyone to be forced to work, even if they are found guilty in court. Voting “yes” would change the law and the Oregon Constitution. Voting “no” means that no one can be forced to work, except people found guilty in court. Voting “no” would not change the law.

How much would it cost?

People don’t know how much this would cost. People would probably have to go to court to change how prisons treat people.

People for this say:

Slavery is always bad. Nobody should be forced to work. Even when people are found guilty in court, they shouldn’t be forced to work. People in prison who want to work will still be able to work. Even after slavery ended in this country, racist people passed laws to force Black people to work. Lots of other states are getting rid of slavery laws.

People against this say:

Programs that let people work in prisons and jails are good. Prisons and jails might stop offering work to prisoners. Those programs are good, and they help people get out of prison sooner.

Title: Affordable healthcare

What does this mean to me?

If someone can’t afford to go to the doctor, should the state make sure that they can see a doctor?

Voting “yes” means the law would change. The state would have to make sure everyone can see a doctor or get other medical care. This would change the Oregon Constitution.

Voting “no” means the law would not change. The state would not have to help people see a doctor.

How much would it cost?

People think it would cost more money than it does today. People aren’t sure how much.

People for this say:

Everybody should be healthy. Everybody should be able to see a doctor if they need to. People who can’t afford to go to the doctor may get sicker. Waiting to get treatment may cost everybody more. People who are too sick won’t be able to work. Kids who are too sick won’t be able to go to school. Giving everybody health care will make Oregon healthier.

People against this say:

The government shouldn’t be involved in going to the doctor. The government will ask for too much paperwork. The government will make doctors work where it wants, not where doctors want to work. Paying for health care for everybody may cost too much.