*Who: Democratic Candidates for Secretary of State Kate Brown, Rick Metzger and Vicki Walker,

Election Integrity Advocates and Portland area voters

*When: Saturday, May 3, 2008 from 10 am – 1 pm

10 AM – 12 N: Election Integrity Forum with Democratic candidates for Secretary of State

12 N - 1 PM: Reception. Meet Candidates and Election Integrity Advocates

*Where: First Unitarian Church at 1211 SW Main

** PORTLAND AREA VOTERS TO QUIZ CANDIDATES FOR SECRETARY OF STATE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY ISSUES **

[Portland, OR] As May 20th primary ballots hit mailboxes, Portland area voters and citizen activists will raise election integrity issues with Democratic candidates for Secretary of State. Contenders for what many call the “second most important elected office in Oregon” will be asked their views on issues including big money in elections, how to increase voter choice, and the reliability of corporate-owned ballot counting software and hardware. A reception for candidates will follow the forum, with booths by over a dozen election advocacy organizations that are already grappling with these issues.

Study after study reveals that Oregonians are concerned about the health of our democracy and the election process in particular.

“I’m tired of having to vote for the lesser of two evils”, said David Delk of the Alliance for Democracy. “People want real choice, they want elections that focus on issues and elected officials who do what we elect them to do”.

Recent revelations about electronic voting software and hardware being decertified in other states, and hostile takeover bids in the voting machine industry, only add to voter concerns.

“In Oregon our mail-in ballots are counted by optical scanners run with corporate-owned software so secret even the Secretary of State can’t see it. How can I be sure my vote is counted as cast? Am I just supposed to take it on faith?”, asked Linda Schmoldt, a member of First Unitarian’s Democracy Action Group.

Oregon’s next Secretary of State could play a vital role in making elections fairer, more transparent and more reliable, but Oregon’s democracy will only flourish so long as citizens do the work of keeping it healthy.

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Hosted by: Democracy Action Group of Portland’s First Unitarian Church and Portland Chapter of Alliance for Democracy

For more information contact: Judy Barnes at 503-232-1911 or visit www.afd-pdx.org/SOS.htm

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**** Excellent visuals: all three Democratic Secretary of State candidates, just in time for the mail-out of primary ballots; booths by over a dozen election advocacy groups; participants voting in a “mock” election, using an Instant Runoff ballot.