Low Voter Turnout Ahead of May 20 Special Election in Oregon
Oregon’s special election scheduled for May 20 is facing notably low voter turnout, particularly in Multnomah and Clackamas counties. As of this weekend, Multnomah County has recorded a turnout of just 12.1%, while Clackamas County is slightly behind at 11.4%. Tim Scott, Multnomah County’s elections director, indicated that participation in special district elections typically fluctuates between 16% to 40%. “Unless we see a surge of ballots coming in, we’re likely to end up around 21% turnout,” Scott predicted.
Clackamas County Clerk Catherine McMullen noted that approximately 35,000 voters had returned their ballots by Thursday and expressed hope for a last-minute influx. “I’d love to see another 35,000 ballots come in before Election Day ends,” McMullen remarked.
Voter engagement efforts included extended hours at voting centers over the weekend, where residents like Diane Herson took advantage of the convenience to drop off their ballots early. Multnomah offers 32 official drop-off sites, while Clackamas has 25, alongside a pop-up vote center in Happy Valley.
Voters are reminded that ballots must be submitted by 8 p.m. on Election Day or postmarked by May 20 to be counted. While voter service locations in both counties are closed on Sunday, they will reopen on Monday and remain operational through Election Day.
Ballots in Portland feature significant decisions for local schools, including four seats for the Portland Public Schools board of directors and a critical bond renewal measure. In Washington County, voters will also cast ballots for four out of seven seats on the Beaverton School Board.
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