Election 2006 - Measure 43: Parental Notification

Vote "NO" on Ballot Measure 43: it could be harmful to teens and punish educators and other people on the front lines of providing support to students in crisis.

Harmful for Student Health & Safety

It is unusual for OEA to take positions on issues such as this, but after much investigation it is clear that Measure 43 provides for no exceptions when requiring doctors to notify parents before granting an abortion to a minor. This measure does not provide an exception for rape and incest. Measure 43 does not allow for a physician waiver or other family members to fulfill the notification requirements, even when it is in the best interest of the teen. One of OEA's major goals as an organization is to advocate for student health and safety. With no exceptions in place, Measure 43 jeopardizes student health and safety in certain circumstances.

Ineffective

New studies show that parental notification and consent laws do not reduce the number of teen pregnancies nor do they decrease the number of abortions (New York Times, 2006). Additionally, such laws cause teens to delay medical care and increases the rate of second trimester abortions (New England Journal of Medicine, 2006).

Opposed by Medical Experts

Leading medical organizations such as the American Nurses Association, American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists publicly oppose parental notification measures like Measure 43 because they cause teens to delay medical care and put some teens at risk for family violence and abuse.

Oregon Newspapers Oppose Parental Notification

Leading newspapers in Oregon have regularly opposed parental notification legislation in the past. These include opposing editorials in the following papers: The Oregonian, the Eugene Register Guard, the Medford Mail Tribune, and other publications.

Complicated and Unworkable

This measure introduces an untried method of judicial bypass utilizing administrative law judges within the Department of Human Services. No other state has instituted a similar method of judicial bypass. These administrative law judges have no special training in reproductive health care and usually deal with licensing and permit disputes.

Vote "NO" on Measure 43.

Voter Mobilization Organizations
Links to voter mobilization groups.

Ballot Drop Box Locations
A listing of official ballot drop boxes, by county.

Voter Registration Kit
(deadline was October 17 to vote in November)
- Voter Registration Card (PDF, from Oregon Secretary of State's office)
- Locations of County Elections Offices (for mailing Voter Registration Card)
- OEA Voter Registration Cover Sheet  (Word)  (PDF)
- OEA Voter Registration Drive Instructions  (Word)  (PDF)
- OEA Voter Registration One-on-One Script  (Word)  (PDF)