Boiler Bay Beacon
SALEM, OR — The Tuesday, Nov. 4th Special Election is less than one week away, and elections officials from Lincoln County to Salem are urging voters across the state to make a plan to return their ballots on time.
Only one question is on local ballots, but it could prove to be a barnburner: Measure 21-235 would remove the Veterans Service Office from the general fund and put it to voters as a 5-year property tax levy, instead. Troublesome questions about the validity of the measure have been raised, and one county commissioner has withdrawn his support.
There are about 40,000 registered voters in Lincoln County, with turnouts running from 30 to 90 percent or more, depending on the issues. According to Amy A. Southwell, county clerk, the major voting factions are:
• Non-Affiliated, 15,537
• Democrats, 13,113
• Republicans, 8,641
•Independents, 2,429
Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read called Tuesday a day of destiny.
“Election Day is almost here, Oregon,” he stated. “This is your chance to shape the future of your community. When Oregonians vote, their government has to listen. Don’t wait. Make a plan right now to drop off or mail your ballot today.”
Voters can return their ballot to any secure, 24-hour official drop box site or mail it in using the enclosed return envelope – no postage required. Ballots must be in a drop box or postmarked by 8 p.m. on November 4th to be counted. Due to changes at USPS, ballots mailed in after October 30th may not receive a postmark on time. Voters can request a manual postmark no later than Election Day, November 4th.
More than one million Oregonians have the opportunity to vote on local issues that directly impact their daily lives, including:
• Msr. 21-235, Lincoln County Veterans Service Office 5-Year Local Option Tax;
• Bonds to improve the safety and security of buildings and classrooms in the Lake Oswego and West Linn-Wilsonville School Districts;
• An increase to the transient lodging tax in the City of Medford;
• and dozens of levies that would affect your local taxes and provide funding for public safety, parks, libraries, and community centers.
Not every county is holding a special election. Voters will have only been mailed a ballot if they are eligible to vote for a contest on the ballot in their county. The following counties have a special election this November:
Baker County
Clackamas County
Columbia County
Coos County
Jackson County
Klamath County
Lane County
Lincoln County
Linn County
Marion County
Morrow County
Multnomah County
Polk County
Umatilla County
Union County
Washington County
Yamhill County
In Oregon, you must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of the state, and at least 16 years old to register to vote. Oregonians must be 18 years old by Election Day to cast a ballot.
For more information, visit: https://co.lincoln.or.us/686/Voter-Information.
