Cure the campaign insanity

Election season got you down? You don't have to suffer -- protect yourself with these tips

There's no question that elections can add to the stress of our everyday lives. Just ask Katy Daily, who faced relationship meltdown over some lawn signs.

Katy is political director for the Oregon League of Conservation voters. So it's only natural that every other spring her front yard sprouts campaign signs along with the tulips.

But she shares the house with boyfriend Stuart McDougall,who really dislikes the clutter.

So when a fourth candidate asked Katy to add his sign to her yard, she e-mailed Stuart.

His reply: "Katy, we're not going to be like those people."

For the sake of their relationship, she agreed to put out one sign at a time. Then, Katy came home to find that Stuart had built her four signs into a flip chart on a wooden stake, allowing her to go out every morning and flip to a different name.

Problem solved. Meltdown averted.

Here are some other election survival tips to get you and your loved ones through the next few weeks:

He's for Clinton, she's for Obama?

To avoid turning political debates into marital argument, licensed professional counselor Mark Schorr advises couples to respect each other's differences and practice good listening skills.

If you know the conversation could get heated, Schorr suggests putting a 15-minute limit on political debate or agreeing not to talk about your different presidential picks in front of the kids.

He also suggests you avoid debating politics at work. A lot is at stake and people may be feeling overwhelmed, he says.

Turn down the noise by turning in your ballot.

Tired of getting phone calls and a mountain of mail from candidates? Turn in your ballot and it will stop.

Yep. Oregon political consultants say a busy campaign won't waste any more time on voters who have turned in a ballot.

Don't know who is running for what?

That's easy. Check out http://oregonlive.com/politics. The Voter Guide on the top right will help you sort out your races from all the others.

Don't answer the door. Or, you could . . .

Tell candidates who come to your door promising to work hard for you that they can start right away. Snap a leash on Fido and ask them to return the dog after they've finished canvassing your neighborhood.

Deal with those pesky phone calls.

The Oregon Legislature tried to outlaw automated "robo" calls. But lawmakers may have created more confusion than clarity.

It's illegal to make an automated call to numbers already on the "no-call" list. But it is still legal for live candidates and their campaign workers to call.

What can you do? It takes 30 days to get on the national "do-not-call registry" -- call 888-382-1222 or go to www.donotcall.gov. You're too late for the primary but not for the November election.

Campaign commercials making you crazy?

Here's a tip: Most of them surround local news.

We're not telling you to click off the news -- but you might miss a slew of ads if you turn on the TV after the broadcast has started.

Don't fill out your spouse's ballot.

It's tempting but illegal.

What if you get two ballots in the mail?

You might, if you're among the tens of thousands of Oregonians who switched parties in the past few weeks.

Do yourself -- and election officials -- a favor: Turn in only the ballot that reflects your new party. Election officials say bar codes on ballots will prevent double voting -- but duplicated ballots slow them down.

Go ahead, eat the free pizza.

Campaigns are allowed to serve food at political gatherings. But state law does not allow a campaign to advertise "free food" to get you there or to get your vote.

The law is kind of quirky about other stuff the candidates can give away. Example: It's OK to offer voters a free bookmark or refrigerator magnet. But it's not OK to give them a free postage stamp.

Send out your own mailer.

Hey, why not? You don't even have to put your name on it. A state law that required identification on political material was repealed by the 2001 Legislature because of constitutional concerns.

Still, state officials strongly advise candidates, groups and individuals to identify who is behind that pamphlet.

Complain, complain.

If something a candidate says or does strikes you as not quite correct or even legal, state law gives voters the right to complain.

Your complaint must be made in writing to the Secretary of State and it must be signed. Questions about what's appropriate? Call the Secretary of State's elections office at 503-986-1518 or visit www.sos.state.or.us/elections.

Mellow out and remember . . .

An even bigger election is coming in November.

Share your election survival tips: 503-294-5143; michellecole@news.oregonian.com