Election Day is upon us again and this time Oregonians will be voting on hyperlocal matters, mostly related to education. Voters in all 36 counties will be choosing representatives for school boards, local government entities and funding for some K-12 and community college building projects.
A voter drops a ballot outside of the Multnomah County Elections Division in Portland, Ore., Nov. 8, 2022. Oregon voters can vote by mail-in ballot or drop ballots at secure sites.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Secretary of State Tobias Read said that though the May 20 special election may not be as prominent as a general election, there are critical candidates and tax issues on Oregonians’ ballots.
“We’re going to determine who’s running schools, how we’re going to fill potholes and how we’re fighting fires,” said Read. “These are things that really direct the daily lives of Oregonians.”
All registered voters in Oregon should have already received their ballots in the mail. Finished and sealed ballots can be dropped off at official drop boxes across the state by 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
Oregon is a 100% vote-by-mail state, but it’s getting a little late to vote by mail now. For a ballot to be counted, it needs to have a May 20, 2025, postmark. At this point, it might be safer to submit your ballot at an official dropbox, Read said.
There are no statewide measures in the current election, but some counties are polling high-profile items.
Voters in Oregon’s largest school district will make a decision on a nearly $1.83 billion construction bond. The Portland Public Schools measure would continue a property tax to fund building construction, safety maintenance and technology improvements, including the complete reconstruction of six high schools.
Mount Hood Community College is vying for voters in its district — from East Portland to Government Camp — to approve a $136 million general obligation bond. Funds from the proposed home property tax would go toward facility improvements and safety upgrades.
You can find more information on your local elections and find your county’s official ballot drop-off sites on the Oregon secretary of state’s website.
