GOVERNMENT
A8 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2022
Umatilla County sees early trickle of ballots
By JOHN TILLMAN
Hermiston Herald
Umatilla County Commis-
sioner George Murdock hopes
to boost turnout for the 2022
general election in November.
“For some reason, which
is difficult to explain, Uma-
tilla County ranks 36th among
Oregon’s 36 counties (in turn-
out),” he said Tuesday, May 3,
in his weekly public officials
update. “It’s embarrassing,
and for those of us who trea-
sure the right to vote in the first
place, it’s also a conundrum.”
The Oregon Secretary of
State’s Office reported turn-
out for the 2020 general elec-
tion of 78.5%. Umatilla Coun-
ty’s rate was 72%. In the May
primary, the state rate was
46.1%, and the county 36.8%.
The primary election is
May 17. Umatilla County
had 48,476 registered voters.
County Elections Manager
Kim Lindell sent out ballots
April 27.
“I hope we reach about
Voters
decide
on bonds
27% turnout,” Lindell said.
“There’s not a lot of interest in
this election. I hope that some
of the local races, as for com-
missioners, might increase
interest.”
Dan Lonai, director of
county administrative ser-
vices, said midterm primary
elections tend to have lower
turnout. The 2018 primary, for
example, he said, had a turn-
out around 31%.
Record low turnout for
a recent primary election in
Umatilla County was just
29% in 2014. For that primary,
statewide turnout was 35.9%.
The recent high in a general
election was 58.3% turnout in
2008, when Umatilla Coun-
ty’s rate was 47.9%.
Turnout in Republican pri-
maries is typically higher than
in Democrat races. For 2020
in Umatilla County, Democrat
voter turnout was 49%, while
Republican was 59.6%. Turn-
out for nonpartisan ballots was
16.8%.
“In Oregon, unaffiliated
voters generally lack interest,”
Lindell commented. “They
open their ballots, see so lit-
tle to interest them, that they
don’t bother.”
To enhance voter turnout,
Oregon has changed the rules
for mail-in ballots. Previously,
elections offices had to receive
all by 8 p. m. on Election Day.
Now, the ballots just have to
be postmarked on or before
that day.
tors,” she said, “but it will slow
down finalizing the results for
media and elections workers.”
She also said Oregon using
postage-paid envelopes so
voters didn’t have to use a
stamp to mail ballots didn’t
seem to lower drop box use.
“Some older voters still
like to drop their ballots off
rather than mailing them in,
since it’s more like voting at
a polling place,” Lindell said.
“But that’s declining.”
Lonai agreed, but thought
that perhaps over time the
change
might
improve
turnout.
Since the ballots went out
on a Wednesday, people had a
weekend to vote.
“While doing their other
paperwork at the kitchen
table,” added Lindell, “they
might decide to fill out ballots
as well.”
On May 2, the Uma-
tilla County election office
received a batch of 755 ballots
— 1.6% of the total ballots the
county mailed. Lindell said
it’s not a good start, but maybe
more would be in leading up
to the election.
“They have to go to Port-
land first,” she said.
Interest is liable to be
higher for the general elec-
tion in November, whether
the county’s voter turnout pro-
gram succeeds or not.
— East Oregonian news editor Phil
Wright contributed to this report
Chamber of
Commerce
PO Box 1 • 101 Olson Rd. • Boardman, OR 97818 • 541-481-3014
www.boardmanchamber.org • email: info@boardmanchamber.org
This newsletter proudly sponsored
by the following businesses:
Hermiston Herald
Local voters decide
on three ballot measures
for bonds in the Tuesday,
May 17, primary election,
and the biggest by far is in
Morrow County.
The Morrow County
School District has pro-
posed Measure 25-87,
a $138 million bond to
remodel and improve
existing educational facil-
ities and build new ones.
The bond also would allow
the district to upgrade
technological infrastruc-
ture and make facilities
accessible for people with
disabilities. The school
district has a website with
more information about
the measure here: www.
morrow.k12.or.us/page/
bond-information.
The 20-year bond would
cost $2.67 per $1,000 of
assessed value per year. A
home valued at $200,000
would pay $534 annually.
If voters pass the mea-
sure, the school district
would receive a grant from
the Oregon School Capi-
tal Improvement Matching
Program of $4 million.
The other two local
measures are in Umatilla
County communities.
Voters in Milton-Free-
water consider a $500,000
bond to improve recre-
ational facilities, Helix
voters weigh a $1 million
bond to install a new pub-
lic pool and the Morrow
County School District
has proposed a $138 mil-
lion bond to improve its
facilities.
Measure 30-150 in Mil-
ton-Freewater is asking
voters to consider renew-
ing a tax measure of
$100,000 a year for five
years at a rate of 32 cents
per $1,000 of assessed
value to replace or repair
city recreation facilities,
according to the “Uma-
tilla County Voters’ Pam-
phlet,” including the Joe
Humbert Family Aquatic
Center, Yantis Park Play-
ground equipment and city
ballfields.
If the measure passes,
the city would begin the
capital projects in fiscal
year 2024.
The Helix Park & Recre-
ation District has proposed
Measure 30-151 to raise $1
million to design and build
a new public pool, splash
pad, pump house, improve
the bathhouse and exterior
restrooms and pay the cost
of bond issuance.
According to the bond
information, Helix property
owners would pay 37 cents
per $1,000 of assessed
value. The bond would
mature in 21 years or less
from the date of issuance.
If the bond passes,
the project needs another
$500,000. Park & Recre-
ation is looking toward
fundraising and grants to
provide the funds.
For voters who prefer to
deliver their ballots in per-
son, Umatilla County also
maintains drop boxes in larger
communities. Outdoor loca-
tions with drive-up ballot
deposit boxes are available
24 hours a day, seven days
a week, and close at 8 p.m.
on Election Day. Umatilla,
Hermiston, Stanfield, Echo,
Pilot Rock, Pendleton, Mis-
sion, Athena and Milton-Free-
water have drop boxes. Lonai
said the county lacks staff to
close a box in Ukiah at 8 p.m.
in November.
Lindell said she doesn’t
think the postmark law change
will improve turnout much.
“It might bring in a few
more ballots from procrastina-
MAY 18, 2022
CHAMBER
LUNCHEON
12pm at the Port of Morrow
Riverfront Center
We will be spotlighting the Boardman
Chamber of Commerce Scholarship
recipients
Box lunches available to grab after
presentation.
Pre-registration required. Please visit
boardmanchamber.org/events to register.