Banks City Hall. Photo: Brenda Schaffer Polls closed at 8 p.m., and moments later, the first wave of numbers were released on the Oregon Secretary of State’s election results website, confirming that the candidates running unopposed for a city council race — Jeff Thompson for CC2, Peter Edison for CC4,[Read More…]
Chas Hundley
As ballots are dropped off in Banks, Lauren Sheehan serenades voters
Lauren Sheehan and Reina. Photo: Chas Hundley In the Banks Public Library parking lot, more than 100 feet from the one of Washington County’s 21 ballot drop boxes, Lauren Sheehan is strumming a guitar. She’s there as a volunteer for the “Play For The Vote” organization, a nonpartisan group that[Read More…]
Want to vote? Do it by 8 p.m. today at a drop site or county elections office
A voter drops off a ballot on Saturday, October 31 in Forest Grove. Photo: Chas Hundley Those wishing to vote must do so today, at a ballot drop site or the county elections office. If you’re in line by 8 p.m., stay in line – you can still vote. “You[Read More…]
Portland man reported to be missing near Banks found dead in Warrenton area
Chase Stevens A Portland man who was last reported to be near Banks before disappearing on October 11 was found dead near Warrenton on Friday, October 30, the Portland Police Bureau said in a press release on Monday, November 2. Police said there was no indication of foul play in[Read More…]
County turnout is 64.2% four days from election’s end
A 24-hour ballot drop site at the Banks Public Library. Photo: Chas Hundley Oregon’s voters will likely surpass the total number of ballots cast in the 2018 midterm election this evening. At 8:55 a.m., Friday morning, the state said that 1,806,172 ballots had been cast statewide, representing a 61.2% turnout.[Read More…]
State loosens COVID-19 standards for some counties, school districts
The Banks Elementary School on August 5, 2020. Photo: Chas Hundley The state updated the “Ready Schools, Safe Learners” document Friday, October 30 to relax standards for reopening schools in Oregon, a move that Governor Kate Brown said could allow up to 130,000 students to return to in-person education right[Read More…]
Thursday vote tally sees Washington County surpass average state turnout by 1.5%
Two ballots are dropped off in Forest Grove. Photo: Chas Hundley Washington County voters have turned in 243,120 ballots as of 4:30 p.m. Thursday, October 29, according to the Washington County Elections office, which represents about 63.01% of eligible voters in the county. Broken down by the four largest registered[Read More…]
More than 1.5 million voters have cast a ballot in Oregon so far
Campaign signs line the median on Oak Way in Banks on Wednesday, October 28. Photo: Chas Hundley If you’re registered to vote in Oregon and you haven’t yet voted, you’re now in the minority. According to the Oregon Secretary of State’s office, there were 1,541,944 votes cast as of Wednesday[Read More…]
Gov. Brown extends declaration of a state of emergency into 2021
A face mask. File photo: Chas Hundley Governor Kate Brown has extended Oregon’s declaration of a state of emergency into 2021. The announcement came Tuesday, October 27 that the declaration would be extended by another 60 days, lasting until January 2, when it will almost certainly be extended further as[Read More…]
County officials: Today is last day to safely mail ballots; use drop site starting Wednesday
A 24-hour ballot drop site at the Banks Public Library. Photo: Chas Hundley The recommended deadline to mail a completed ballot through the United States Postal Service is today, Tuesday, October 27, and all ballots mailed must be received before 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. Oregon does not accept ballots[Read More…]