VOTE NOW! (But not by mail)

If you haven’t voted yetSTOP! Don’t mail your ballot!  Be sure your ‘voice’ is heard in electing Portland’s next Mayor and proposed increased taxes by personally taking your ballot to an official, secure drop-off site by November 3 …

It’s now too late to be sure a mailed ballot will arrive to be counted in time for the November 3 General Election!  Instead, take it to an official ballot drop-off site.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

There are elected offices to fill – including that of Portland’s Mayor. And, of the many issues to be decided in this selection, some of them may raise your taxes.

But, if you’ve dragged your feet in voting and mailing in the postage-paid ballot  – STOP! It’s now considered too late to drop it in the mail because postmarks don’t count; it has to be there no later than Tuesday. Instead, take it to one of the below-listed drop-off points, by November 3.

Voting is vitally important for deciding City of Portland and Multnomah County issues, and electing city and county candidates.

It’s your civic duty to vote, as a citizen of the United States of America; and as a resident of Oregon, Multnomah County, and Portland.

But, here’s the shocker: Many areas of outer East Portland continue to have low voter registration and turnout. For this reason, planners and politicians tend to pay lip service – instead of providing real support – and keep ignoring the will of East Portland residents. And, sadly – according to Multnomah County voting records – while just a bit less than HALF of all Portland residents live in outer East Portland, fewer than half of those there, who can vote, actually do!

Many sites are “drive through”, making it easy to cast your vote.

You can choose Portland’s next Mayor
If all outer East Portland residents were to register and voted, we would be electing the city’s next Mayor – instead of voters who live west of the Willamette River.

Can you afford to pay higher taxes now? Check your ballot; then look over your Multnomah County Property Tax bill. Several measures up for vote have the potential to increase your taxes – and most of these are in addition to the taxes you already pay.

Not too late to vote
Voters don’t have to travel to the Multnomah County Elections Office, at 1040 SE Morrison Street, or to use the Official Drop Box on SE 11th Avenue at Belmont Street – but you certainly could, if you want to do so.

Use the 24-hour drop box at Midland Branch Library – 805 SE 122nd Avenue, a block south of SE Stark Street.

“Ballot drop boxes like these are ‘official and secure’ places for voters to deposit ballots bound for at the Multnomah County Elections Division,” Multnomah County Elections Division Program Communications Coordinator Eric Sample told East Portland News not long ago.

“This box, and others like it at libraries and other sites around the area, will be emptied promptly at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, November 3,” Sample said.

There are additional official ballot drop-off sites:

  • Parkrose neighborhood – 4390 NE 102nd Ave. – Official Ballot Drop Box located in the east parking lot across the street from Mt. Hood Community College Maywood Park Center, on NE 102nd Avenue and Prescott Street.
  • Holgate Library (Library Book Drop) – 7905 SE Holgate Boulevard.
  • Regal Cinemas Movie Theater SE Division Street and 165th Avenue, in the parking lot, behind M & M Car Wash
  • Gregory Heights Library (Library Book Drop) – 7921 NE Sandy Boulevard.
  • Rockwood Library (Library Book Drop) – 17917 SE Stark Street.
  • “Voting Center Express” – inside the Multnomah County East Building, 600 NE 8th Street, in Gresham

 

Thank you for voting!

© 2020 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™

 

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