Mock Election 2020
November 2, 2020
Welcome to Mountainside’s Mock Election! Please read the articles carefully, and take your pick as to which presidential candidate you would like to (mock) vote for, and whether to vote yes or no on Measure 108!
Here is the ballot when you’re ready to vote.
Presidential Election
Before committing to a presidential candidate, read where they stand on each of America’s most important issues.
Sources:
“Build America Back Better.” Joe Biden for President: Official Campaign Website, 23 Oct. 2020, joebiden.com/joes-vision/.
“Important Issues in the 2020 Election.” Pew Research Center – U.S. Politics & Policy, Pew Research Center, 8 Oct. 2020, www.pewresearch.org/politics/2020/08/13/important-issues-in-the-2020-election/.
“Trump Campaign Announces President Trump’s 2nd Term Agenda: Fighting for You!” Trump Campaign Announces President Trump’s 2nd Term Agenda: Fighting for You! | Donald J. Trump for President, www.donaldjtrump.com/media/trump-campaign-announces-president-trumps-2nd-term-agenda-fighting-for-you/.
Measure 108: Tax raise on Tobacco and E-cigarettes
This measure will increase the tax on tobacco products. The tax money will go to the state’s Medical Assistance Program and other health-related programs. Cigarette tax will cost $3.33 instead of $1.33.
Smoking is the number one leading cause of preventable death in Oregon. With the rise of teens using e-cigarettes and vapes, the chances of teens becoming more addicted will become higher and so will the death rates.
If you vote no, that means that the cigarette tax will stay the same. The argument supporting voting no explains that taxes are an unreliable source of revenue. Oftentimes, when the sale price increases, the sales tend to decrease then, affects the tax revenue. This will also affect the small businesses that are already struggling during this pandemic.
If you vote yes, the tax rate will increase and occur in January of 2021. Many healthcare providers support this measure such as Kaiser Permanente, Providence, and many more. The goal of this measure is to lower the number of people who smoke and hope to decrease the rate of people who die by smoking.
Sources:
OPBWeb. (2020, October 15). Oregon Measure 108 explained. Retrieved November 03, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfH0fxB_Tx4
Oregon Measure 108, Tobacco and E-Cigarette Tax Increase for Health Programs Measure (2020). (n.d.). Retrieved November 03, 2020, from https://ballotpedia.org/Oregon_Measure_108,_Tobacco_and_E-Cigarette_Tax_Increase_for_Health_Programs_Measure_(2020)