NORTHWEST
East Oregonian
Page 2A
Thursday, May 5, 2016
Getting young voters to
turn out is elusive goal
Refuge occupiers concerned
about liberal Portland jury
By STEVEN DUBOIS
Associated Press
By HILLARY BORRUD
Capital Bureau
PORTLAND — Lawyers
for those who occupied the
Malheur National Wildlife
Refuge earlier this year are
concerned a jury comprised
of people from liberal Port-
land won’t be impartial.
Andrew Kohlmetz, who
represents defendant Jason
Patrick, suggested a change
of venue for the September
trial, and asked a federal
judge Wednesday to approve
funding for an analysis
of the media attention the
case received and, possibly,
a survey of community
attitudes. The two requests
would total nearly $130,000.
Kohlmetz
said
the
“almost constant” media
coverage of the 41-day
protest was far different
from a typical case, when the
alleged crime happens out of
the public eye.
“For 41 days — and even
before — there was lives-
treamed media coverage
that I expect the government
sees as amounting to an
immediate and ongoing
confession,” he said.
U.S. District Court
Judge Anna Brown seemed
inclined to reject the funding
unless the need was apparent
after a thorough jury selec-
tion process.
She seemed more agree-
able to a request from lawyers
and defendant Ryan Bundy,
who’s representing himself,
that the jury includes people
from throughout Oregon.
Brown, however, said
it’s “totally speculative” to
suggest a jury from the Port-
land district would be too
liberal. The district includes
Oregon’s entire northwest
quadrant, and is a “far more
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 politicians, who have
pitched a variety 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 elections, according
to data from The Bus Project,
a nonproit in Portland that
encourages young people
to participate in politics and
elections.
In the 2008 presiden-
tial election, turnout for
Oregon’s voters aged 18
to 29 reached nearly 65
percent. Turnout among
these voters dipped to 40
percent during the midterm
elections. By contrast, 93
percent of registered voters
ages 60 to 69 participated in
the 2008 presidential elec-
tion, according to data from
The Bus Project.
AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File
In this Jan. 5 ile photo, Ammon Bundy speaks during
an interview at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
to face the spectators. He
proposed the trial be moved
to a convention center.
Also Wednesday:
• Occupier Jason Patrick
told Brown that a U.S.
Marshal physically accosted
him and threatened to harm
his mother. Brown said she
would bring his concerns to
the head marshal.
• Arnold said Ammon
and Ryan Bundy have been
underfed in jail and are losing
weight. He asked for a boost
in their rations. The lawyer
also asked for better pens
to aid in their legal defense,
saying the jail-issued pens
are uncomfortable to write
with.
• Occupier Blaine Cooper
suffered chest pains and
had to be escorted out. He
returned 30 minutes later.
• Occupier Kenneth
Medenbach renewed his
concern that the judge never
took an oath, despite her
insistence that she took it
in 1999. Arnold interjected
that perhaps the judge could
“renew her vows.” The
exasperated judge replied:
“Mr. Arnold, please take
your seat.”
conservative crowd” than
the city of Portland.
The armed occupiers
led by Ammon Bundy took
over the Malheur National
Wildlife Refuge on Jan.
2, demanding that the
government turn over the
land to locals and release
two ranchers imprisoned for
setting ires.
Bundy and 25 others were
indicted on federal charges
of conspiracy to impede
employees at the wildlife
refuge from performing their
duties. Many face additional
charges.
Though short of a circus,
the atmosphere was lively
during the monthly status
hearing. Brown said she’s
leaning toward modifying
the courtroom for the trial,
perhaps by seating the media
and spectators in a separate
room.
“Right now, there’s not
even a way for a witness to
approach the witness stand,”
she said.
Mike Arnold, Ammon
Bundy’s lawyer, objected,
saying his client deserves
the right to a public trial
and witnesses should have
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REGIONAL CITIES
Forecast
FRIDAY
TODAY
SATURDAY
A shower or
t-storm in spots
Mostly cloudy and
comfortable
73° 52°
80° 52°
Very warm with
sunshine
SUNDAY
Mostly sunny,
breezy and warm
MONDAY
Partly sunny and
pleasant
PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST
83° 56°
78° 50°
71° 41°
HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST
78° 53°
86° 55°
PENDLETON
through 3 p.m. yesterday
TEMPERATURE
HIGH
LOW
75°
68°
92° (1966)
53°
43°
22° (1897)
PRECIPITATION
24 hours ending 3 p.m.
Month to date
Normal month to date
Year to date
Last year to date
Normal year to date
0.00"
0.00"
0.13"
4.40"
3.13"
5.28"
HERMISTON
through 3 p.m. yesterday
TEMPERATURE
HIGH
Yesterday
Normals
Records
LOW
76°
70°
90° (1966)
57°
43°
29° (2011)
PRECIPITATION
24 hours ending 3 p.m.
Month to date
Normal month to date
Year to date
Last year to date
Normal year to date
Trace
Trace
0.16"
2.98"
1.79"
4.18"
SUN AND MOON
Sunrise today
Sunset tonight
Moonrise today
Moonset today
New
First
May 6
May 13
82° 51°
76° 44°
Seattle
68/52
ALMANAC
Yesterday
Normals
Records
89° 58°
Full
5:37 a.m.
8:08 p.m.
5:15 a.m.
6:57 p.m.
Last
May 21
May 29
Today
Spokane
Wenatchee
72/55
75/55
Tacoma
Moses
69/45
Lake
Pullman
Aberdeen Olympia
Yakima 77/57
70/53
65/48
71/43
79/55
Longview
Kennewick Walla Walla
70/48
74/54 Lewiston
80/57
Astoria
76/56
65/48
Portland
Enterprise
Hermiston
72/52
Pendleton 69/48
The Dalles 78/53
73/52
76/54
La Grande
Salem
71/52
72/49
Albany
Corvallis 70/48
70/49
John Day
70/49
Ontario
Eugene
Bend
83/55
68/48
62/45
Caldwell
Burns
83/53
72/43
Astoria
Baker City
Bend
Brookings
Burns
Enterprise
Eugene
Heppner
Hermiston
John Day
Klamath Falls
La Grande
Meacham
Medford
Newport
North Bend
Ontario
Pasco
Pendleton
Portland
Redmond
Salem
Spokane
Ukiah
Vancouver
Walla Walla
Yakima
Hi
65
74
62
62
72
69
68
70
78
70
59
71
68
68
60
61
83
80
73
72
66
72
72
65
70
74
79
Lo
48
46
45
51
43
48
48
50
53
49
45
52
49
52
48
50
55
55
52
52
43
49
55
46
49
54
55
W
pc
c
t
sh
c
pc
pc
c
c
c
sh
c
c
c
pc
c
pc
c
c
pc
t
pc
c
c
pc
c
c
NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY
Fri.
Hi
70
75
68
67
71
70
79
76
86
72
68
75
73
76
65
65
81
87
80
83
75
82
78
69
81
80
87
Lo
50
46
48
54
47
47
51
51
55
53
47
50
49
54
50
53
53
59
52
56
47
52
55
45
52
58
58
Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day.
W
s
c
c
pc
pc
t
pc
c
c
c
t
c
c
c
s
pc
pc
pc
c
s
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pc
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s
c
s
WORLD CITIES
Today
Beijing
Hong Kong
Jerusalem
London
Mexico City
Moscow
Paris
Rome
Seoul
Sydney
Tokyo
Hi
82
87
73
66
81
57
67
71
79
74
74
Lo
51
79
54
49
52
42
45
50
59
56
60
W
s
t
s
pc
t
r
s
s
pc
s
s
Fri.
Hi
77
88
68
71
81
67
74
71
67
77
71
Lo
49
79
53
55
51
42
53
51
51
58
60
W
s
pc
pc
pc
pc
s
pc
pc
sh
s
c
WINDS
Medford
68/52
(in mph)
Klamath Falls
59/45
Boardman
Pendleton
REGIONAL FORECAST
Coastal Oregon: Periods of clouds and
sunshine today; a couple of showers in
the south.
Eastern and Central Oregon: Mostly cloudy
today with a shower or thunderstorm
around.
Western Washington: Partly sunny today,
except more clouds across the south. Clear
tonight.
Eastern Washington: A shower or thunder-
storm around today; however, dry toward
the Cascades.
Cascades: Mostly cloudy today and tonight;
a couple of showers, but dry across the
north.
Northern California: A shower or thun-
derstorm today, but rain and drizzle in the
interior mountains.
Today
Friday
WNW 4-8
WNW 4-8
NNE 8-16
N 6-12
UV INDEX TODAY
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
1
3
4
4
3
are both of voting age — if
they have a stamp, they look
at me like I have three heads
because they don’t use the
mail very often,” Hoyle said
during a hearing on the bill.
According to the legisla-
tive staff, the proposal would
cost $1.8 million over then
next two-year budget cycle.
The Legislature didn’t
pass the free postage
proposal, but did approve
legislation that will require
a ballot drop box within four
miles of every public univer-
sity and community college
campus in the state.
Gronke said he was
skeptical of the claim it is
inconvenient 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 commissioner, wants to
revive the state-paid postage
proposal. He also wants to
require mock elections and
a new civics curriculum
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.”
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 participa-
tion.
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the paper, please call 541-966-0818.
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— Founded Oct. 16, 1875 —
Nikki Fisher, the group’s
executive director, said she
hears from young people
that political candidates do
not share their experiences
or values, but “this year in
particular, I think there are
a lot of candidates who are
relective.”
Paul Gronke, a political
science
professor
and
director of the Early Voting
Information Center at Reed
College, offered a different
perspective. Gronke said
Oregon has a highly educated
electorate and attracts large
crowds to political 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 congres-
sional races this year, and
many of the candidates have
been 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 oficial in
charge of elections — want
the government to begin
paying for postage for vote-
by-mail ballots. The proposal
was included earlier this year
in a bill sponsored by state
Sen. Richard Devlin, R-Tu-
alatin, and Rep. Val Hoyle,
D-Eugene, each a candidate
for secretary of state.
“When I go to my chil-
dren and ask them — who
1
8 a.m. 10 a.m. Noon 2 p.m. 4 p.m. 6 p.m.
0-2, Low
3-5, Moderate 6-7, High;
8-10, Very High;
11+, Extreme
The higher the AccuWeather.com UV Index™ num-
ber, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.
Forecasts and graphics provided by
AccuWeather, Inc. ©2016
-10s
-0s
showers t-storms
0s
10s
rain
20s
flurries
30s
40s
snow
ice
50s
60s
cold front
70s
80s
90s
100s
warm front stationary front
110s
high
low
National Summary: Many areas from North Carolina to Ohio and Maine will be unsettled
with clouds and showers today. Showers and thunderstorms are forecast to spread inland
across California, Oregon and Washington.
Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states)
High 102° in Gila Bend, Ariz.
Low 14° in Cabin Creek, Colo.
NATIONAL CITIES
Today
Albuquerque
Atlanta
Atlantic City
Baltimore
Billings
Birmingham
Boise
Boston
Charleston, SC
Charleston, WV
Chicago
Cleveland
Dallas
Denver
Detroit
El Paso
Fairbanks
Fargo
Honolulu
Houston
Indianapolis
Jacksonville
Kansas City
Las Vegas
Little Rock
Los Angeles
Hi
82
65
54
57
84
70
84
50
75
56
60
57
80
80
67
90
59
86
85
82
64
77
72
85
75
66
Lo
55
51
49
48
56
49
57
46
51
46
41
45
57
50
45
64
41
57
73
54
44
50
50
59
50
57
W
pc
pc
r
sh
pc
pc
pc
sh
t
sh
pc
sh
s
pc
pc
pc
pc
s
sh
s
pc
s
s
pc
s
sh
Fri.
Hi
81
73
56
58
62
75
78
56
75
63
75
64
83
79
70
93
61
81
85
83
70
77
80
70
79
66
Lo
49
53
50
49
48
52
55
48
53
47
58
47
61
48
50
61
44
43
72
56
55
52
61
55
56
56
Today
W
pc
s
r
r
c
s
c
sh
pc
sh
s
c
pc
s
s
s
pc
pc
pc
s
s
s
s
t
s
t
Louisville
Memphis
Miami
Milwaukee
Minneapolis
Nashville
New Orleans
New York City
Oklahoma City
Omaha
Philadelphia
Phoenix
Portland, ME
Providence
Raleigh
Rapid City
Reno
Sacramento
St. Louis
Salt Lake City
San Diego
San Francisco
Seattle
Tucson
Washington, DC
Wichita
Hi
64
71
85
56
75
64
78
56
78
77
58
95
51
51
65
85
64
72
68
85
69
65
68
94
58
79
Lo
50
51
65
43
57
48
59
50
52
52
50
65
42
44
49
51
45
53
48
60
59
53
52
61
51
50
W
c
s
s
s
pc
pc
s
sh
s
s
r
pc
sh
c
t
s
pc
t
s
pc
sh
t
pc
pc
sh
s
Fri.
Hi
73
75
83
70
85
74
78
57
81
84
58
78
57
61
63
81
63
70
81
74
68
63
76
80
60
82
Lo
56
58
62
55
55
52
62
51
58
57
51
60
43
48
49
47
46
52
61
54
59
53
55
54
52
60
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain,
sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.
W
s
s
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s
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s
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