Oregon Public Broadcasting

Two more initiatives qualified for Oregon’s November ballot Monday. That means voters will have at least 11 ballot measures to consider.  Salem correspondent Chris Lehman reports.

The latest two to qualify are a proposal to dedicate 15 percent of lottery revenues to crime fighting, and an effort to create a top two primary system.  That’s where anyone could vote for any candidate in a primary regardless of their party.

Washington voters approved their own version of a top two primary in 2004, but it was bogged down for several years by court challenges.

Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed says that  court drama could defuse controversy in Oregon.

Sam Reed:  “Since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled by a 7-2 margin that top two is constitutional, I don’t think that Oregon would have any problem.”

Political parties in Oregon have expressed opposition to the proposal, so this ballot measure could be the subject of intense debate over the coming months.

State workers are still counting signatures for a final possible initiative.  It’s for merit pay for teachers.