Often, the Elections Office does not receive a supporting statement or an opposition statement for a local ballot measure

VANCOUVER ‒ Every election, the Clark County Auditor’s Office provides an online and printed voters’ guide with information about candidates and ballot measures for voters to make an informed decision when voting. The November voters’ guide includes local ballot measures with supporting and opposing statements written by citizens. 

A legislative body placing a measure on the ballot can appoint a committee to write a supporting statement and another committee to write an opposing statement. But often, the Elections Office does not receive a supporting statement or an opposition statement for a local ballot measure. If the group cannot identify anyone to write a statement in favor or against the ballot measure, then the Elections Office staff attempts to identify citizens interested in authoring such a statement. 

For the November 2024 General and Special election, the Elections Office, as the filing officer, has identified four propositions that do not have citizens appointed to write either statement in favor or opposition. The City of Vancouver has four proposed charter amendments missing committees to write both a statement in favor and against: 

• Amendment No. 8 – Concerning Vancouver City Officer vacancies; 
• Amendment No. 9 – Concerning Methodology for Adjusting Vancouver council member salary;
• Amendment No. 10 – Concerning the duties of Vancouver’s City Manager; and 
• Amendment No. 11 – Concerning City of Vancouver contracting procedures. 

For the November 2024 General and Special election, the Elections Office, as the filing officer, has identified three additional propositions that do not have citizens appointed to write an opposing statement. 

• Clark County proposed charter amendment No. 16 concerning the Sheriff’s salary is missing a committee to write an opposing statement. 
• The City of Vancouver proposed charter amendment No. 12 – Concerning Initiative and Referendum Petitions and The City of Vancouver Proposition No. 4 – Concerning a levy lid lift to fund police and public safety, are missing committees to write an opposing statement. 

To review the complete text of the resolution, ballot language and other resolutions for the November General and Special election ballot, visit clarkvotes.org and follow the link to Nov. 5, 2024, General and Special Election Information located near the top of the page. 

Any registered voter interested in writing either a statement in favor of or an opposing statement is asked to contact Rich Cooper of the Clark County Elections Department at (564) 397-2345. Please call soon as the deadline is 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12. 

“The public is best served by providing information which presents a fair and balanced debate on the merits of local measures submitted for a vote,” said Auditor Greg Kimsey. “We urge anyone interested to help us get their opposing statements to these local measures into the voters’ guide.”

Information provided by the Clark County Elections Department.