Your vote counts – really!

DO NOT MAIL YOUR BALLOT! Learn where you can safely drop it off …

Don’t dally! Take time to fill in your ballot – and take it to a ballot drop-off box.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Because all ballots must be received by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 6, to be counted – postmarks don’t count – Multnomah County Elections Division officials advise you to take your ballot personally to one of their secure drop-off sites.

There are lots of reasons not to vote in this year. You may not feel strongly about either mayoral candidate – or presidential candidate, for that matter. But, there are initiatives on the ballot which, if approved, will take cash out of your pocket.

So, your vote really does count right here, in the various important local elections.

Some folks whine about “dirty campaigning” or offensively derisive commercials. Others say they’re “sick of politics” or that “their vote doesn’t make any difference” in these races.

But, you owe it to other outer East Portland folks to vote!

Here’s why: If every registered East Portlander cast their ballot – it would be the citizens here, in our part of town, who elect Portland’s next mayor or commissioner, and not someone living downtown or on the west side! Those who are elected next Tuesday will have a direct voice on how billions of your tax dollars are spent.

If you’re having trouble sorting out whether to vote for a candidate or measure, some suggest looking to see who is endorsing them – or taking sides “for” or “against” an issue. Are your values in line with the endorsers? If so, this may help you quickly decide how to vote.

> Or, read how the candidates responded to questions about outer East Portland issues when they appeared in Gateway a couple of weeks ago: CLICK HERE.

> Or, take a look at how Mayoral candidates responded to our East Portland business community when they debated last month: CLICK HERE.

STOP! If you mail your ballot now, it probably won’t be counted! Instead, take it to this secure, 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 – or at any other Multnomah County Library branch.

Official drop-off sites
If you don’t want to drive over 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) – just drive to your local library, instead.

A couple of 24-hour ballot drop sites and additional 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 (during regular hours):

Fairview-Columbia: 1520 NE Village Street, Fairview
Gresham: 385 NW Miller Street, Gresham
Rockwood: 17917 SE Stark Street

And, East Portland readers will find ballot boxes at these libraries (during regular hours):

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 are emptied as needed, and then one last time promptly at 8:00 p.m. on Election Night.

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