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
Tag: Multnomah County
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
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
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
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
Early summer election nuts and bolts
Early summer can seem like a quiet time for political campaigns. The primary season is over and campaigns for the general election are only just getting started. But while there may be fewer visible campaign activities going on right now, there’s a lot happening on the procedural level — steps that must be completed as… Continue reading Early summer election nuts and bolts
When do we get primary results?
Today is the last day to return your ballot for this year’s primary. We already know the outcomes for uncontested races, but it may be a couple of weeks before we get results in other races. The key factor is always how many ballots each county needs to count. As of Monday evening, state turnout hit… Continue reading When do we get primary results?
Primary Ballot Review: How Metro fits into Portland politics
If you live in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties, you have something on your ballot that no one else in the U.S. has — a directly elected regional government in the form of Metro. Metro is also the only directly elected metropolitan planning organization in the U.S. While knowing our local government is unique can make… Continue reading Primary Ballot Review: How Metro fits into Portland politics