The area that is up for annexation. Photo: city of Banks Rumors that an annexation measure for voters in the city of Banks has appeared on the ballot for registered voters outside of city limits could not be verified by the Washington County Elections office, according to Washington County spokesperson[Read More…]
Elections
Two county measures on Washington County ballot
A ballot is dropped off in Forest Grove on Sunday, October 18. Photo: Chas Hundley Registered voters in this newspaper’s territory will see two measures from Washington County on their ballots in October; Measure 34-300, which would change how the five members of the Washington County Board of Commissioners pay[Read More…]
Washington County voters surpass 100,000 ballots cast
Two ballots are dropped off in Forest Grove. Photo: Chas Hundley Ballot returns in Washington County as of 12 p.m. Friday, October 23 numbered 106,660, an amount representing about 27.7% of the total number of registered voters in the county, according to the Washington County elections office. Statewide, the office[Read More…]
Early voting turnout puts Washington County at 19.2%, below statewide average
A 24-hour ballot drop site at the Banks Public Library. Photo: Chas Hundley Ballot returns in Washington County as of 9:09 a.m. Thursday, October 22 numbered 73,803, an amount representing about 19.2% of the total number of registered voters in the county, according to the office of the Oregon Secretary[Read More…]
Oregon voters will vote on bill to allow limiting of campaign contributions
A ballot is dropped off in Forest Grove on Sunday, October 18. Photo: Chas Hundley While President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden dominate the news during this October of 2020, here in Oregon there is a measure on the November 3 ballot that could change the state[Read More…]
Errors printed on Washington County ballots muddle ballot impact text
One of the ballot measures showing the error. Photo: Chas Hundley Another set of errors by the Washington County Elections department has been discovered in election materials, this time in the form of random “yes” and “no” statements placed in the explanation text of four statewide measures on the ballot. [Read More…]
Voting underway in Washington County
A ballot is dropped off in Forest Grove on Sunday, October 18. Photo: Chas Hundley The election is underway in Washington County. With ballots mailed to registered voters on Wednesday, October 14, the county elections department said that 1,252 ballots had been received as of Friday, October 16, out of[Read More…]
A brief history of Oregon’s vote-by-mail system
Two ballots from a previous election. File photo: Chas Hundley Voting by mail exclusively became the standard mechanism for casting ballots in Oregon in 1998 by a citizen’s initiative, Measure 60, which voters overwhelmingly approved by a 70 percent margin. A little more than 1 million eligible voters voted on[Read More…]
Voter registration deadline is Tuesday
A 24-hour ballot drop site at the Banks Public Library. Photo: Chas Hundley The deadline to register to vote or update your registration is Tuesday, October 13. To register or to make a change to your voter registration, visit and complete the online form at oregonvotes.gov/register before midnight on Tuesday,[Read More…]
Letters to the editor: Concerning a political mailer and Timber Unity
Two letters to the editor have been submitted this week; for the duration of the electoral season, we will publish letters we receive every Wednesday in an effort to consolidate them in one post. Jan Mitchell is an Astoria resident. A consultant- created large mailer from the Republican candidate for[Read More…]