Voter’s Pamphlet ‘huh?’ –they’re not typos

If you’ve flipped through your Voter’s Pamphlet, you may have experienced some confusion about why some candidates were nominated by more than one party – in fact, in three local cases, by both the Republicans and Democrats.

Huh?

No, it’s not a typo, but part of a growing trend, this year including Republican incumbent state lawmakers John Huffman and Gene Whisnant, and Deschutes County Commissioner Tammy Baney, all unopposed and having secured both major-party nominations.

Others, meanwhile, like legislative candidate Knute Buehler have the Republican, Independent and Libertarian Party nods.

A few years ago, lawmakers passed legislation allowing candidates to have multiple party nominations in a general election. That means a relative handful of write-in votes can give one major party’s nominee the other party’s nomination as well.

Baney wrote in an e-mail, “After learning this, I was given the option of accepting the (Democrat) nomination or not. I was honored by the double nod and gladly accepted.”

What that means in terms of the influence of party politics is probably debatable. It also comes as Oregon voters decide on Measure 90, which would make major changes in the election process, sending the top two primary election vote-getters on to the fall ballot – irregardless of party.

But whatever changes are afoot (or why), as always, election officials encourage voters to do your homework.

“Read the Voter’s Pamphlet, and then do as much research as you can,” Deschutes County Clerk Nancy Blankenship said Tuesday. “Nowadays, there’s a lot more availability of research online that you can do.”

This year might feature the most multi-party nominees seen so far, Blankenship said, as the option is becoming more popular with minor parties.

Tuesday was the last day to register to vote, and ballots go out starting Wednesday, to be returned by 8 p.m. on Nov. 4 th .