Vote-by-mail in Oregon

Vote-by-mail ballot from a 2006 special election

The U.S. state of Oregon established vote-by-mail as the standard mechanism for voting with Ballot Measure 60, a citizen's initiative, in 1998. The measure made Oregon the first state in the United States to conduct its elections exclusively by mail. The measure passed on November 3, 1998, by a margin of 69.4% to 30.6%.[1] Political scientists say Oregon's vote by mail system contributes to its highest-in-the-nation rate of voter turnout, at 61.5% of eligible voters.[2]

History of postal voting in Oregon

Vote-by-mail had already been implemented to a lesser degree in Oregon:

  • 1981 The Oregon Legislative Assembly approves vote-by-mail for local elections, at the discretion of the county; at least one polling place in the county had to remain open on election day.[3] The move came after efforts by Del Riley, the County Clerk for Linn County.[4]
  • 1987 Vote-by-mail becomes permanent, with the majority of Oregon's counties making use of it.
  • 1989 A House bill to extend vote-by-mail to include the 1990 primary elections was defeated in a 33–27, non-party-line vote.[3]
  • 1992 Governor's Task Force on Local Government Services identifies statewide vote-by-mail as one of the most significant opportunities to save money on conducting elections.[5]
  • 1995 Oregon becomes the first state to conduct a federal primary election totally by mail.
  • 1996 U.S Senator Ron Wyden is elected by mail with a 66% turnout, succeeding Bob Packwood.
  • 1998 Oregonians confirm their overwhelming support for vote-by-mail by passing Measure 60.
  • 2000 Oregon becomes the first state in the nation to conduct a presidential election entirely by mail. About 80% of registered voters participated.
  • 2019 Oregon becomes the first state not to require paid postage on ballot return envelopes.

Measure 60 eliminated restrictions on vote-by-mail and established it as the single form of voting for elections in Oregon. It also required vote-by-mail to be used for biennial primaries and general elections as well as eliminating polling places.

Ballot Measure 60 results by county:

County Yes Votes No Votes Total
Baker 66.12 4,097 33.88 2,099 6,196
Benton 64.35 18,271 35.65 10,123 28,394
Clackamas 71.40 80,103 28.60 32,080 112,183
Clatsop 69.87 8,855 30.13 3,819 12,674
Columbia 70.39 11,653 29.61 4,902 16,555
Coos 62.92 14,930 37.08 8,800 23,730
Crook 71.09 3,860 28.91 1,570 5,430
Curry 65.55 5,843 34.45 3,071 8,914
Deschutes 76.27 29,554 23.73 9,196 38,750
Douglas 64.04 22,921 35.96 12,870 35,791
Gilliam 71.01 556 28.99 227 783
Grant 61.17 1,840 38.83 1,168 3,008
Harney 60.36 1,626 39.64 1,068 2,694
Hood River 64.89 3,742 35.11 2,024 5,766
Jackson 70.65 40,620 29.35 16,875 57,495
Jefferson 70.14 3,504 29.86 1,492 4,996
Josephine 67.86 18,169 32.14 8,605 26,774
Klamath 62.90 11,560 37.10 6,817 18,377
Lake 70.71 2,165 29.29 897 3,062
Lane 64.88 71,539 35.12 38,727 110,266
Lincoln 75.32 13,009 24.68 4,262 17,271
Linn 60.43 19,785 39.57 12,958 32,743
Malheur 60.98 4,473 39.02 2,862 7,335
Marion 71.26 61,373 28.74 24,748 86,121
Morrow 63.92 1,644 36.08 928 2,572
Multnomah 71.86 146,899 28.14 57,534 204,433
Polk 63.16 13,135 36.84 7,663 20,798
Sherman 63.16 535 36.84 312 847
Tillamook 72.76 7,248 27.24 2,714 9,962
Umatilla 66.27 9,456 33.73 4,812 14,268
Union 69.78 6,054 30.22 2,622 8,676
Wallowa 62.92 1,980 37.08 1,167 3,147
Wasco 74.60 6,215 25.40 2,116 8,331
Washington 72.58 91,368 27.42 34,523 125,891
Wheeler 67.94 464 32.06 219 683
Yamhill 69.02 18,158 30.98 8,151 26,309
In addition to being returned by mail, ballots may be deposited in special ballot return boxes. Using these boxes does not require postage, and allows citizens to vote until 8:00 pm on election day.

Supporters

Organizations which supported the initiative included the League of Women Voters of Oregon, the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, AARP of Oregon, and Oregon Education Association. Individuals which supported the measure included then-Governor John Kitzhaber, Oregon Secretary of State Phil Keisling, and former U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield. Supporters of the measure asserted that it would increase voter participation and make elections more convenient for voters. The State of Oregon would also save an estimated $3 million a year, in years which a primary and general election occur.[6]

Opponents

Notable opposition to the measure included State Representative Lynn Snodgrass and anti-tax activist Bill Sizemore. Opponents claimed the system would invite election fraud as well as the possibility of people pressuring each other in terms of how they vote.[6]

Lasting popularity

Vote-by-mail in Oregon has maintained a high level of support since it was passed in 1998. A survey done in 2003 by Dr. Priscilla Southwell, a professor of Political Science at University of Oregon, shows that 81% of respondents favored the vote-by-mail system while 19% favored traditional voting at poll booths. The poll also shows high favorability among registered Democrats (85%) and registered Republicans (76%) alike. Thirty percent of respondents said they voted more often since vote-by-mail was enacted.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Oregon Vote-by-Mail Timeline Results, Facts and Figures page 10 - State Measure 60
  2. ^ Frost, Allison (3 January 2023). "Oregon leads nation in voter turnout rates". OPB. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b Ota, Alan K. (March 22, 1989). "House kills vote-by-mail for primary". The Oregonian.
  4. ^ "Another note of appreciation for Del Riley". Corvallis Gazette-Times. September 10, 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  5. ^ Hortsch, Dan (August 5, 1992). "Panel sees major savings if vote-by-mail is extended". The Oregonian.
  6. ^ a b Voter's Pamphlet November 3, 1998 Includes text of measure, explanatory statement and arguments for and against.
  7. ^ Southwell, Priscilla L. "Vote by Mail: Voter Preferences and Self-Reported Voting Behavior".
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