Voter registration: It’s all over on October 12

See why, if you’ve moved since you’ve last voted – or if you haven’t voted in a while – now is the time to take action to make sure you can vote in November. Here’s why it’s critically important that you do vote …

Whether you’re plan to mail your envelope, or drop it off in a secured box like this one at Midland Library – you won’t even get a ballot, if you aren’t currently registered! East Portland News archive photo

Story and photo by David F. Ashton
You might as well complain about the weather, because the winter season is upon us whether we like it or not. But, don’t complain about City, County, State or national politicians and referendums if you don’t vote!

Why you should register to vote
True, most City and County officials were voted into office during the springtime primary election, and will not face a run-off vote in November. You may not have strong feelings about any of the candidates running for office on the State or national level. Or, maybe you’re “sick and tired” of politics already.

Or, maybe you feel disenfranchised – that your vote “simply doesn’t count”.

The truth is that every ballot does count. To our leaders, a low voter turnout in a “precinct” – or voting area – indicates a low level of interest in what City or County government does, and therefore, in how they spend YOUR tax dollars!

Registration check
“Voters already registered do not have to re-register unless they move,” says Eric Sample of Multnomah County Elections. “Voters can check their registration status, and track their ballot at a State of Oregon website. Oregon voters can also register there, online.”

Anyone qualified to vote can go to this State of Oregon website and register, online.

Sample listed the ways those qualified to vote in Oregon can register to participate in the upcoming election:

Register in person – by October 12 at 6:00 p.m. at the Multnomah County Elections office, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 600;
Register by mail – registration cards are available at the Multnomah County Elections office, DMV offices, post offices and libraries – just make sure it has a USPS postmark of October 12; or,
Register online – make sure you do it by 11:59 p.m. on October 12. An eligible voter must have a valid Oregon driver’s license, permit, or ID card, to use this system – which also allows registered voters to make a change in address and party affiliation.

To visit the registration website, called “Oregon Votes”, just CLICK HERE to open their page. When you click on “Register” – you will be redirected through a secure system to complete your registration.

Ballots will be mailed to voters on October 15. Have questions? Multnomah County voters are invited to call l Multnomah County Elections at (503) 988-3720.

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