GMO labeling on the Ballot in Oregon

[A. Havnes]

This is what we need to happen.

Their own PR clout will wane when people see just how greedy and corrupt they are.

 

[Natural Citizen]

Oregon election officials are refusing to count more than 4,600 ballots...

Aside... Emergency Lawsuit Filed in Oregon GE Labeling Recount

Portland, Oregon (December 8, 2014) – Today, Oregon citizens whose votes were not counted filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon to ensure that their votes and those of approximately 4,600 others are not unfairly rejected. Oregon is currently undergoing a mandatory statewide hand recount of Measure 92, the genetically engineered (GE) food labeling initiative. With more than 1.5 million votes cast, the difference was less than a tenth of a percentage point (812 votes).

 

[invisible]

And now the fix is in.

 

[ghengis86]

And now the fix is in.

If not Diebold, some other way.

What the hell happened to sealed ballot boxes, opened on election night, in the polling location, read aloud and counted by one person, verified by two others?

 

[invisible]

If not Diebold, some other way.

What the hell happened to sealed ballot boxes, opened on election night, in the polling location, read aloud and counted by one person, verified by two others?

That's essentially what they're doing! Apparently OR uses actual paper ballots, but it sounds like now they're simply refusing to actually (re)count them.

 

[Natural Citizen]

These 4,600 ballots aren't recounts. These are original ballots with signature rejections. And these ballots are coming from heavilly favoring YES counties. If these are counted, one can comfortably predict that the thing will pass. But the important thing here is for these citizens to learn the legal process given the situation that is in front of them. They're learning what they need to do given these kinds of ...oh...hurdles. Is that the word? Heh...

 

[invisible]

These 4,600 ballots aren't recounts. These are original ballots with signature rejections. And these ballots are coming from heavilly favoring YES counties. If these are counted, one can comfortably predict that the thing will pass. But the important thing here is for these citizens to learn the legal process given the situation that is in front of them. They're learning what they need to do given these kinds of ...oh...hurdles. Is that the word? Heh...

Of course they come from "yes" counties, would you actually expect any differently? What was it again that stalin said about he who counts the votes? And it's not likely that anyone responsible for letting the out of state monsanto shills with be fired for it, either. Sure enough, here's the lawsuit, just as I predicted.

 

[Natural Citizen]

GMO labeling loses court fight to count rejected ballots. 4600 voters disfranchised...

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Backers of Oregon's measure to require labeling of genetically modified foods have lost a court fight they hoped would help them garner enough votes to pass the measure in an ongoing recount of ballots.

Supporters of Measure 92 argued that election officials should count about 4,600 ballots that have been rejected because voters' signatures on the vote-by-mail return envelopes didn't match those on their registration cards on file at the elections office.

On Monday, they asked a judge for a temporary restraining order to stop certification of the recount so they could argue that the signatures be accepted.

But Multnomah County judge Henry Kantor on Tuesday denied their request, saying he did not find the state's rules on matching ballot signatures to be unreasonable or illegal.

The state identified more than 13,000 ballots statewide that had signature matching issues. The process includes a 14-day period during which voters are notified their ballot is rejected and are able to rectify the situation.

About 8,600 voters responded and matched their signatures. The remaining 4,600 ballots were rejected.

Lawyers for the measure's backers argued in court that if a person is found eligible to vote, then the state should not be able to reject the vote solely because the voter's signature does not match.

"A mismatched signature is not a reason under Oregon law to disenfranchise 4,600 Oregon voters," attorney Keith Dubanevich told the judge.

He also said voters are never informed that they will be required to match the signature on file. And he said some voters may not be able to challenge their rejected vote because they are disabled or are out of town.

"We're certainly disappointed," said Paige Richardson, the Yes on 92 measure's campaign manager. "We still believe those 4,600 votes are valid and those voters have been denied their rights in this election."

Continued - GMO labeling loses court fight to count rejected ballots


Aside - View stories from Oregon voters who want their vote to be counted

Plaintiff Christine Seals, right, is joined by fellow plaintiffs Cameron Alderman, left, and George Harris at a press conference in Portland, Ore., Monday, Dec. 8, 2014. Sponsors of an Oregon ballot measure that would require labels on genetically modified foods filed a lawsuit today to force state elections officials to count 4,600 ballots disqualified because signatures on the vote-by-mail envelopes didn’t match those on registration cards. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)

One of the eight plaintiffs named in the lawsuit, Christine Seals of Multnomah County, is a quadriplegic who said her signature was rejected after she signed her ballot with a signature stamp - which she had used to successfully vote in previous elections. Though voters whose signatures did not match had the opportunity rectify the problem by mail or in person, Seals said she assumed her ballot rejection was a mistake and didn't challenge it.

Another plaintiff, George Harris of Multnomah County, said his signature was altered as a result of a stroke he suffered this year. He said he couldn't correct his signature, because he was undergoing treatment during the allotted time.

And Ramon Ramirez, president of an Oregon-based farmworker union, said the issue also impacts Latino immigrant voters who are confused as to why their votes are being rejected.

"For many of these folks who are new citizens and first time voters, it's very disenfranchising to be told your vote doesn't count," Ramirez said.

 

[Natural Citizen]

We'll see this one back in Oregon.

On to Ohio. Ought to be a hoot...

 

[angelatc]

Well, it looks like they get the automatic recount. Either way, I think it'll end up going to a lawsuit.

You win the internet.

http://www.capitalpress.com/Oregon/20160516/judge-strikes-down-gmo-ban-in-oregons-josephine-county

[h=1]Judge strikes down GMO ban in Oregon’s Josephine County[/h]

“The state law says that the localities may not legislate in this area; and the voters of Josephine County have attempted to legislate in the exact same area. It is impossible to read the two enactments in harmony; so that the local ordinance must give way,” Wolke said in the May 16 ruling.

Farmers Robert and Shelley Ann White challenged the legality of the GMO ordinance last year, arguing it had prevented them from planting biotech sugar beets on 100 acres of leased property.

 

[PRB]

You win the internet.

http://www.capitalpress.com/Oregon/20160516/judge-strikes-down-gmo-ban-in-oregons-josephine-county

Judge strikes down GMO ban in Oregon’s Josephine County

SO excited to get muh Monsanto checks in the mail!!!

 

[Natural Citizen]

SO excited to get muh Monsanto checks in the mail!!!

He just ruled that state law overrules the county’s prohibition. As was also mentoned there in the piece that angela shared, the judge refused to disregard an Oregon Supreme Court precedent dealing with conflicts between state laws and county ordinances, saying he lacked the authority to do so. This is true. He does lack that authority.

And it's true that Lane is preparing for a similar Ballot Initiative.

Now, Sygenta and some others packed up and moved to other counties after this particular county ordinance was implimented. They basically just abandoned their buildings and whatnot. Will be interesting to see if they show up in town again and how that pans out.

As far as Josephine County, there is a law that was approved by the Oregon Legislature banning local bans on genetically modified crops specifically.

Of course, people in Jackson weren't affected by that law since they got their initiative in before it was enacted. In the case of Jackson, a federal judge rejected a claim by farmers that Jackson's ordinance violated their “right to farm” under state law.

Actually, there is quite a growing list of Ballot initiatives on the radar. I just haven't bothered with mentioning much about them around here. Of course, this is also a geo-political issue as is supportd by updates on current events here in this other thread... http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showth...reign-Policy&p=6018415&viewfull=1#post6018415. That's another thread where a lot has been happening on the international front lately. Just haven't added to it.

 

[Natural Citizen]

Hey, what happened to invisible, btw? He hasn't been around in a few months. I liked invisible. He was was one of the old schoolers from back in the day when we physically pounded pavement instead of this new age keyboard jockey shizit.

 

[invisible]

You win the internet.

Cool! I've never won the internet before!

 

[invisible]

Hey, what happened to invisible, btw? He hasn't been around in a few months. I liked invisible. He was was one of the old schoolers from back in the day when we physically pounded pavement instead of this new age keyboard jockey shizit.

I'm not around that much these days. A lot of stuff has gone on here that I really don't care to be associated with, and I have better things to do than argue with shills. I've been dealing with a crisis on a personal level. And been pouring a lot of effort into getting a very bad piece of state-level legislation successfully defeated. And helping a religious exemption to real id get through the state legislature, it's almost there and will know next week if it gets through before the end of session.