3A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2016
Getting young voters to turnout is elusive goal
History of low
participation
By HILLARY BORRUD
Capital Bureau
SALEM — Oregon is
among the easiest places in the
nation to vote, with a vote-by-
mail system and an automatic
voter registration program.
Still, turnout among the
state’s youngest voters has
lagged behind other age
groups for years, just as it does
nationally.
That disparity is a popular
target this year for state politi-
cians, who have pitched a vari-
ety of ideas aimed at getting
more young people to vote.
However, their proposals are
limited to things government
can control, from free ballot
postage to mandatory mock
elections in public schools.
Some observers said young
people are also looking for
something else that is often
missing: Exciting candidates.
Turnout among voters ages
18 to 29 was lower than any
other age group in the last two
presidential and midterm elec-
tions, according to data from
The Bus Project, a nonprofi t
in Portland that encourages
young people to participate in
politics and elections.
In the 2008 presidential
election, turnout for Oregon’s
voters aged 18 to 29 reached
nearly 65 percent. Turnout
among these voters dipped
to 40 percent during the mid-
term elections. By contrast,
93 percent of registered vot-
ers ages 60 to 69 participated
in the 2008 presidential elec-
tion , according to data from
The Bus Project.
Experience and values
Nikki Fisher, the group’s
executive director, said she
hears from young people that
political candidates do not
share their experiences or val-
ues, but “this year in particular,
I think there are a lot of candi-
dates who are refl ective.”
Paul Gronke, a political
science professor and director
of the Early Voting Informa-
Oregon’s young voter turnout
Voter turnout for Oregonians ages 18 to 29 has been lower than
among older voters, according to figures from The Bus Project, a
nonprofit focused on young voters in Portland. Of approximately 2.2
million registered Oregon voters in 2014, roughly 70 percent voted,
although just 40 percent of voters aged 18-29 voted that year.
Age 18-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
EO Media Group
60-69
70+
100 percent
80
Hillary Borrud/EO Media Group
Willamette University student Nastja Nykaza, 19, said she
plans to vote this year but is not sure whether her vote will
make a difference.
60
64.8%
57.8%
40
40.2%
20
40.2%
NOTE: Percentages are derived from matchback data which is preliminary.
2008
2010
Source: The Bus Project
tion Center at Reed College,
offered a different perspec-
tive. Gronke said Oregon has a
highly educated electorate and
attracts large crowds to politi-
cal rallies.
“But then when you look at
the political leadership, it’s so
bland,” Gronke said. “Who’s
the next hot shot in Oregon
politics? I don’t know.” There
are few competitive state
or congressional races this
year, and many of the candi-
dates have been in politics for
decades.
State politicians have
pitched a variety of ideas to
boost young voter turnout in
Oregon.
All three Democrats in the
May 17 primary for secre-
tary of state — the offi cial in
charge of elections — want
the government to begin pay-
ing for postage for vote-by-
mail ballots. The proposal was
included earlier this year in a
bill sponsored by state Sen.
Richard Devlin, D -Tualatin,
and Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Eu-
gene, each a candidate for sec-
retary of state.
“When I go to my children
and ask them — who are both
of voting age — if they have
a stamp, they look at me like I
2012
2014
EO Media Group graphic
have three heads because they
don’t use the mail very often,”
Hoyle said during a hearing on
the bill.
According to the legislative
staff, the proposal would cost
$1.8 million over the next two-
year budget cycle.
Ballot drop box
The Legislature didn’t pass
the free postage proposal, but
did approve legislation that
will require a ballot drop box
within 4 miles of every public
university and community col-
lege campus in the state.
Gronke said he was skep-
tical of the claim it is incon-
venient or unfamiliar for
young people to purchase
stamps, which are available
at grocery stores and other
locations.
Democratic candidate Brad
Avakian, the state’s labor com-
missioner, wants to revive the
state-paid postage proposal.
He also wants to require mock
elections and a new civics cur-
riculum in public middle and
high schools.
According to Avakian’s
website, “This education will
lead to higher voter turnout,
greater civic engagement, and
stronger communities.”
Coast Guard
warns of
consequences
for false
mayday calls
Hillary Borrud/EO Media Group
Willamette University stu-
dents Nick Wagener, 21,
and Taneesh Sra, 21, said
they are excited to vote in
the November presidential
election.
The League of Women
Voters of Oregon already has
a mock election program in
many schools, and Gronke said
there is some evidence that
mock elections can encourage
voter participation.
‘Kind of scary’
Across the street from
Oregon’s Capitol, students
relaxing at a coffee shop at
Willamette University said
they were excited to vote in
the presidential election.
“It’s been kind of scary,
because I didn’t think (busi-
nessman Donald) Trump
would make it this far,” said
Taneesh Sra, 21, who said
this will be the second elec-
tion in which she votes.
Nick Wagener, 21, said he
voted in 2012 and is excited
to vote again this year,
even though “you see both
sides getting more radical,
which isn’t good.” Wage-
ner said this prevents politi-
cians from tackling import-
ant issues.
Nastja Nykaza, 19, said
she plans to vote but does not
feel like she can make much
of a difference. “I would like
to think so, but I’m kind of
pessimistic about that type
of thing,” Nykaza said.
Miles MacClure, 19,
agreed and said news cov-
erage gave some candi-
dates an unfair advantage.
“The corporate media is an
advertising tool for candi-
dates backed by large cor-
porations, like Trump and
(Democratic
presidential
front-runner Hillary Clin-
ton),” MacClure said.
The Capital Bureau is a
collaboration between EO
Media Group and Pamplin
Media Group.
WARRENTON — The
Coast Guard issued a warn-
ing that there are serious
legal consequences for mak-
ing false mayday reports.
Coast Guard Sector
Columbia River Command
Center personnel received
four potentially false may-
day calls in a recent two-
week period.
“Hoax calls waste valu-
able time and resources, but
most importantly it poten-
tially puts responding per-
sonnel in danger and can
interfere with legitimate
search and rescue cases,”
said Lt. Cmdr. Erika Barron,
command center chief, Sec-
tor Columbia River. “With
busy spring and summer
boating seasons, false dis-
tress calls can divert essen-
tial resources when they are
needed elsewhere to ensure
the safety of the public.”
Making a hoax call to the
Coast Guard is a crime pun-
ishable by up to six years in
prison; a $250,000 criminal
fi ne, a $5,000 civil fi ne and
reimbursement to the Coast
Guard for operating costs
incurred. The hourly stan-
dard rates for Coast Guard
assets can be found at Coast
Guard Reimbursable Stan-
dard Rates. A motor life boat,
for example, costs $3,578
an hour. An H-60 helicopter
bills $15,562 an hour.
Boaters are encouraged
to contact their local Coast
Guard unit and relay any
mayday calls they hear.
z
i
l
e
F
Fresh veggies from the food bank
The Daily Astorian
Free fruits and vegeta-
bles are again being distrib-
uted to qualifying low-income
residents in Clatsop County
on Thursdays through Sept.
29. This project, done in the
style of a road side vegetable
stand, is a direct result of the
Food Bank Fresh initiatives
launched by the Clatsop Com-
munity Action Regional Food
Bank.
Times and locations are:
• Astoria: 9 to 10:30 a.m.,
parking lot between Second
and Third streets on the north
side of Marine Drive.
• Seaside: 12 to 1:30 p.m.,
Factory Outlet Center, 1111 N.
Roosevelt Drive.
• Warrenton: 3 to 4:30 p.m.,
CCA Regional Food Bank
parking lot, 2010 S.E. Choke-
berry Ave.
“These free fruits and veg-
etables are in addition to the
food people receive during
their regular visit to a food
pantry, and are designed to
complement the fresh whole -
food activities in motion at
CCA Regional Food Bank
partner agencies in Clatsop
County,” Marlin Martin, food
bank director, said.
Much of the fresh pro-
duce received at the food
bank comes directly from
the Oregon Food Bank and
the Network of Regional
Food Banks. Truckloads of
product, typically rejected
from the retail markets, are
donated or rescued to avoid
wasting food that, although
not perfect, is still fresh and
consumable. The products
are shipped directly CCA
each week. Fresh produce
donations are also received
from local industry donors
through the Fresh Alliance
program, and from a grow-
ing number of gardeners,
farmers and backyard apple
trees.
In addition, as many
as 70,000 packets of gar-
dens seeds are being given to
low-income residents inter-
ested in growing fresh vegeta-
bles at their homes. The seeds
will be available at the Mobile
Produce Pantries and at food
pantries throughout Clatsop
County.
Fifteen to 20 volunteers are
needed. Volunteers may serve
as many days as they want to,
but those who can commit to at
least one morning or one after-
noon shift each Thursday are
especially sought. For infor-
mation, or to volunteer, call
503-861-3663.
Plaza Jalisco
A UTHENTIC M EXICAN C UISINE
Cinco de Mayo Celebration
All M eat Dishes
4 10
$ 1 OFF
M a rga rita Special
a ll da y
Coronitas
$
f o r
W A NTED
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK • DINE IN OR ORDERS TO GO
FAMILY DAYS SUNDAY AND MONDAY
Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber
212 8TH AVE., ASTORIA • 503-338-4440
N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A
S TOP IN FOR A C INCO DE M AYO SURPRISE
Contact: Steve Axtell • 360-430-0885 or John Anderson • 360-269-2500
Cinco de
Mayo
s
D o n’t m is
FIES TA
TIM E
in
ch
Lo ng Bea
at
Specials
COMPADRE
E L
O u r W a rren to n lo ca tio n w ill be clo sed ,
bu t w e w ill still be o pen in Lo n g B ea ch !
1900 PACIFIC AVE. N . • LO N G B EACH 360-642-8280
Certain specials may not be available in Long Beach
REAS O N ABLE PRICES , GREAT S ERVICE AN D LARGE PO RTIO N S
Ma
& rgar
Co it
F i e rona a
s t a
wi
t
of h lot
o
spe the s
cia r
ls!