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Worn boots attest to an Oregon farmer's time in the fields in Oregon's Jackson County, where voters in May banned genetically altered crops. On Nov. 4, Oregon voters statewide will be asked whether to require labels on genetically altered food.
(Yuxing Zheng/The Oregonian)
Oregon's Measure 92 to require labeling of GMO foods is behind by six points, according to a new poll released Tuesday, just a week before Election Day.
The measure has already made history, becoming the costliest ballot measure fight in Oregon history. Opponents have raised just over $16 million -- also a record for one side -- and backers have raised nearly $7 million.
The Oct. 26-27 survey of 403 likely voters showed the measure trailing 48 to 42, according to the poll, which was conducted by independent Elway Research of Seattle, and commissioned by The Oregonian and KGW. Seven percent of respondents said they were undecided.
The poll had a margin of error of five percentage points, plus or minus.
Dana Bieber, a spokeswoman for the No on 92 Coalition, said the poll's results reflect voter discontent with how the measure is written.
"We're delighted, of course," she said, "but it's exactly what we've said all along -- the more people know about Measure 92, the less they're going to like it. That's what this poll demonstrates."
Measure supporters said they continue to believe their side will prevail. They also indicated that their own polling shows a different result.
"That's not where we think the race currently stands," said Sandeep Kaushik, communications director for the Yes on 92 campaign. "We have known from beginning we were going to get vastly outspent and this would be a close election. We continue to think that's the case and that we're in a good position to win."
The issue has made Oregon ground zero in a national debate about genetically engineered foods. If the measure passes, Oregon will become the first state with a voter-passed GMO labeling requirement.
If it fails, the state will join California and Washington with defeated measures after expensive campaigns. Colorado has a similar GMO-labeling measure on this year's general-election ballot.
California voters narrowly turned down labeling in 2012. Washington voters followed suit in 2013. Both measures lost by nearly identical 51-49 margins.
As in those states, Oregon's campaign is attracting big bucks from out of state from such corporate giants as Monsanto Co. and DuPont Pioneer. Each has given more than $4 million.
On the other side, California-based Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps and the Center for Food Safety Action Fund in Washington, D.C., have each given more than $1 million.
Opponents of the measure argue that the labeling requirements -- on packaging, grocery bins and shipping containers -- would stigmatize food and create a costly burden for farmers, manufacturers and consumers.
Proponents, however, say the measure is about consumers' right to know what's in their food.
Both campaigns said they will continue knocking on doors and making thousands of telephone calls during the run-up to Nov. 4 in hopes to getting out the vote.
Of those polled, 48 percent said they had already voted, while another 48 percent said they will definitely cast ballots. The remaining four percent said they are likely to vote.
Among women voters, the measure is leading 51-39. Men are leaning against Measure 92, 59-33.
Younger voters, age 18 to 35, are in favor, 61-31, while those 65 and older are solidly against it, 57-33.
By party, 43 percent of respondents said they are registered Democrats. Republicans constituted 36 percent of those polled, with non-affiliated voters making up 14 percent of respondents.
-- Dana Tims