Oregon GOP to be allowed in voter guide, judge says

The Oregon Republican Party will be allowed to include its policy statements in the state’s voters’ pamphlet after state officials initially said the party had missed the deadline by 29 seconds. 

Marion County Judge Channing Bennet ruled Monday that GOP Chairman Bill Currier completed his part of the transaction before the 5 p.m. deadline, and said that is more important than the time at which the state finished processing the filing, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported. 

The judge said Oregon law sees the policy statements of a major party as “necessary to a free and informed electorate” and that it overweighs the ambiguities in the election deadline, according to the outlet. 

Secretary of State Bev Clarno, a Republican, reportedly said in a statement she will accept the GOP statement for the voter’s guide, but she will appeal the decision to answer the legal questions about the deadline. 

“I still believe 5 p.m. is 5 p.m.,” she said in a statement Monday, according to Oregon Public Radio. 

A spokeswoman for Clarno had previously said the party’s statement would not appear in the guide because it had been submitted late. The party filed a lawsuit after the decision, with the communications director for the party arguing the GOP did get its statement in before the deadline. 

The voters’ pamphlet reportedly includes statements from the Democratic Party of Oregon and six other political parties.