If you haven’t voted – it may be too late to mail in your ballot to be counted on May 15, but you can still vote. Here’s a guide to what the candidates have said when visiting outer East Portland – and, vital information about where you can take your ballot to drop it off …
It’s probably too late to mail your ballot! Take it to this secure, handy ballot drop box at in the back of the parking lot of Midland Library, 805 S.E. 122nd Avenue, a block south of SE Stark Street.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Because all ballots must be received by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15, to be counted – postmarks don’t count – Multnomah County Elections Division’s spokesman Eric Sample advises, “Make sure your vote is, indeed, counted. Take your ballot to a secure drop-off site.”
Your vote matters
We hear it over and over – people say they feel that their vote doesn’t make any difference in these primary elections for City and County officials.
But, your vote really does count in these City of Portland and Multnomah County elections.
Here’s why: If every registered voter in outer East Portland cast their ballot – we would be the ones electing our next Portland City and Multnomah County commissioners – not someone living downtown or on the west side!
Even a candidate doesn’t get the “50% plus one vote” to clinch the election – requiring a runoff election in the fall for their seat – the successful candidate in each race will have direct control of how millions of tax dollars, collected from you, will be spent.
Here’s “instant background” on several of the candidates, in their own words, by reading the following East Portland News articles about recent Candidate Forums:
- Portland Mayor: Hales vs. Brady vs. Smith in Parkrose: CLICK HERE.
- Meet Portland City Council candidates who appeared in Gateway: Position #1 Fritz vs. Altizer and Position #4 Mark White: CLICK HERE.
- Multnomah County Commissioner: Shiprack vs. Burkett: CLICK HERE.
At any Multnomah County Library, such as Midland in outer East Portland, you can drop off your ballot.
Official drop-off sites
You can travel to the Multnomah County Elections Office on the north side of SE Belmont, between SE 10th Avenue and 11th Avenue, or south on SE 11th Avenue (on the east, or driver’s side). Or, just drive to your local library instead.
24-hour ballot drop sites and ballot drop-off boxes are located in all 17 Multnomah County Libraries, including one for outer East Portland residents at Midland Library, 805 SE 122nd Avenue. (Box location: parking lot).
Or, East County readers may want to use one of these libraries:
- Fairview-Columbia: 1520 NE Village Street, Fairview
- Gresham: 385 NW Miller Street, Gresham
- Rockwood: 17917 SE Stark Street
- And, East Portland readers, check out one of these libraries:
- Belmont: 1038 SE 39th Avenue
- Gregory Heights: 7921 NE Sandy Boulevard
- Holgate: 7905 SE Holgate Boulevard
- Hollywood: 4040 NE Tillamook Street
- Sellwood-Moreland: 7860 SE 13th Avenue
- Woodstock: 6008 S.E. 49th Avenue
Ballot drop boxes are official and secure places for voters to deposit ballots for receipt at the Multnomah County Elections Division. Boxes will be emptied as needed, and then for the last time promptly at 8:00 p.m. on Election Night.
© 2012 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News