May 2023 Voters’ Guide — Portland, Oregon

What to know before voting Your ballot is due back by 8:00 p.m. on May 16. You can mail back your completed ballot or drop it off at one of the many official ballot drop sites (most public libraries have one!). If you have not received your ballot by May 4 and you live in… Continue reading May 2023 Voters’ Guide — Portland, Oregon

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

November 2022 General Election Voters Guide

Table of Contents Federal offices US Senator Ron Wyden  Wyden has been a U.S. Senator since 1996. While an entrenched official isn’t the best for their constituency, Wyden has actively worked to tax billionaires, legalize cannabis, end surveillance, and curb climate change on levels we just don’t see from other long-time politicians. He’s done it with comparatively… Continue reading November 2022 General Election Voters Guide

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