HB 3387
Permits a precinct committeeperson who appears on the ballot to volunteer as personnel to assist a county clerk with counting ballots.
Jurisdiction
Oregon
Session
2025 Regular Session
At the request of
(at the request of Oregon Association of County Clerks)
Committee
Rules
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
20%
Oppose
80%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill allows candidates running for election and their household members to volunteer and assist county clerks with counting ballots. Specifically, precinct committeepersons who are also on the ballot can volunteer to help with this task. The bill makes an exception for incumbent county clerks seeking re-election and their associated precinct committeepersons.
Key provisions
- Allows candidates on the ballot to volunteer.
- Permits precinct committeepersons on the ballot to volunteer.
- Makes an exception for incumbent county clerks.
- County clerks can employ personnel to open envelopes, handle ballots, and count ballots.
- Personnel employed must not all be from the same political party.
- Household members of candidates are generally prohibited from volunteering.
- Defines ‘member of the household’ using existing Oregon law.
- Addresses the role of county clerks in ballot counting.
Who is affected
- Candidates running for election
- County Clerks
- Precinct Committeepersons
- Voters
- Political Parties
Notable changes
- Expands the pool of potential ballot counters to include candidates and their household members.
- Creates a specific exception for incumbent county clerks and their precinct committeepersons.
- Clarifies rules regarding the political affiliation of ballot counting personnel.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
House Committee On Rules
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of the proposal believe that enabling counties to employ PCPs as election staff would offer a flexible solution for County Clerk's Offices, alleviating some administrative burdens. This approach would also maintain essential checks and balances by leveraging county security measures and involving multiparty election boards in the process. Proponents argue that this arrangement would promote local autonomy and efficiency while ensuring the integrity of elections. By giving counties more flexibility in managing their election staff, supporters hope to improve the overall voting experience and reduce costs associated with traditional staffing models.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of the proposed provision believe it would increase the risk of partisan manipulation and bias in the electoral process. They argue that allowing precinct committee members to oversee election staffing creates a conflict of interest, undermining election integrity, particularly for voters who are not affiliated with PCPs. Furthermore, critics contend that this change disproportionately affects certain voters, including those from parties without PCPs, and suggest alternative solutions, such as providing additional funding for temporary election staff or promoting positive advertising about the importance of impartial election oversight.