2022 general election results

You can see results for elections in Oregon at results.oregonvotes.gov. I’m not going to post individual results: the State of Oregon’s results page is the most reliable source of such information and I encourage you to check race outcomes there. I am going to check in a couple of specific races below, however. The timeline for… Continue reading 2022 general election results

Oregon’s election laws are really more suggestions

As the 2022 general election cycle comes to an end, we’re seeing a variety of complaints, lawsuits, and judgments concerning violations of Oregon election laws. These cases are often included in campaign coverage as just a normal part of the business of elections. But these violations and their outcomes can have an outsized impact on… Continue reading Oregon’s election laws are really more suggestions

Are you registered to vote? Time to check

As of today, there’s just sixty days until the general election ending November 8. If you’re planning to vote, you’ll want to double check your voter registration, ideally before the end of September. The deadline to register to vote, change party affiliation, or to update your address is Tuesday, October 18. Technically, you’re able to update… Continue reading Are you registered to vote? Time to check

Unofficial results of the August special election

While official results won’t be available until September 19, the Clackamas County Election Office reported yesterday that they’ve tallied all ballots that were submitted so far for the August special election. Voter turnout was over 17 percent. There are a few ways that the final count could change: Any ballots postmarked on or before August 23 and… Continue reading Unofficial results of the August special election

Portland’s failure to learn from the 2021 heat dome

Portland set a new record for the city’s longest heat wave last week: we experienced seven consecutive days with recorded temperatures at or above 95° Fahrenheit from Monday, July 25 to Sunday, July 31. The State of Oregon is currently reporting at least 15 related deaths, with at least seven deaths in Multnomah County alone. That number is… Continue reading Portland’s failure to learn from the 2021 heat dome

July State of the Ballot

This month has been busy, politically speaking. Lift Every Voice Oregon collected enough signatures to put gun control on the November ballot, the Oregon Secretary of State ordered an extensive audit of Clackamas County’s primary votes, and the U.S. Supreme Court handed down enough decisions to fill a book. It’s a good time to check in on what… Continue reading July State of the Ballot

PPB’s directives up for feedback, closing Friday, July 15

The Portland Police Bureau has SIX directives with public comment periods ending tomorrow, Friday, July 15. Another closes on Saturday, July 16. These policy changes may not represent real change in the department, but they are an opportunity to look at how PPB thinks about force and speak out about the consequences of PPB’s actions. Before we… Continue reading PPB’s directives up for feedback, closing Friday, July 15

Impending deadline for ballot petitions

Voters in Oregon can send initiatives to the ballot without going through the state legislature, a county commission or a city council. Instead, someone wanting to propose a change to existing laws can collect signatures to send a measure directly to voters. The deadlines to collect those signatures for the upcoming general election are fast approaching: July… Continue reading Impending deadline for ballot petitions

What’s next in the Portland City Charter Review Process

The City of Portland convened a charter review commission to update the city charter in 2020. The charter is the document empowers city officials to do their work and outlines what that work should be. On June 14, the charter review commission voted to send a single ballot measure to voters that includes three major changes to local government:… Continue reading What’s next in the Portland City Charter Review Process

Defund the narrative

The “Portland Police have been defunded!” talking point is really absurd and needs to stop The title of this piece gives away the game, I guess. But it’s a really silly game. The “defund” narrative has been used to attack or support various political candidates, characterize the residents of Portland in the national press, and… Continue reading Defund the narrative