Voter-Owned Elections

Voter-Owned Elections (variously called "Clean Elections," "Clean Money," or "Fair Elections") is term used to describe a particular system of publicly funded campaign schemes. A variety of voter-owned election systems are used in a small number of states and local political jurisdictions in the United States.

In the 2010 election cycle Measure 26-108 is the current publicly funded campaign scheme put before Portland's voters. Judging from recently reported campaign contributions, business interests are the measure's primary opponents while community organizations and labor unions are its primary advocates.

Measure 26-108 was defeated in November 2010, bringing an end to Portland's voter-owned elections.

Measure 26-108: Advocates and Adversaries

Primary Adversaries

• Portland Business Alliance

Primary Advocates

• Common Cause Oregon
• Western States Center Inc.
• AFSCME Council 75

Measure 26-108 is also supported by former White House press secretary Bill Moyers, Portland Mercury, ACLU of Oregon, Harvard professor Larry Lessig and Bus Project.