Vancouver, Wash. ‒ Every election, the Clark County Auditor’s Office provides an online voters’ guide with information about candidates and ballot measures for voters to make an informed decision when voting. The voters’ guide includes statements by and photographs of candidates for elective offices as well as 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 receives only a supporting argument for a local ballot measure. If the group cannot identify anyone to oppose the ballot measure, no opposing statement is written or submitted.

If the Elections Office does not receive a supporting or opposing statement for a local ballot measure, the staff attempts to identify citizens interested in authoring such a statement. For the 2020 February election, the Elections Office, as the filing officer, has received six propositions: a ballot proposition from the City of Battle Ground to be annexed into Fire District 3; a proposition from Fire District 3 for City of Battle Ground annexation; a proposition from Ridgefield School District for a bond; two propositions from Washougal School District for an expiring educational programs and operations levy and an expiring capital levy for instructional technology; and a proposition from Vancouver Public Schools for a supplemental levy for maintenance and operations.

These districts have not been able to identify people to write statements against their measures. To review the complete text of the resolution, ballot language and other resolutions for the February special election ballot, visit clarkvotes.org and follow the link to Feb. 11, 2020, Special Election Information located near the top of the page.

Any resident who is a member of the jurisdiction and wants to write an opposing statement is asked to contact Cathie Garber of the Clark County Elections Department at (564) 397-2345. Please call soon; the deadline is 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20.

“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 online voters’ guide."

CONTACT
Cathie Garber
Elections Director
Elections
564.397.2345