As of Thursday, voter turnout for next week’s special election in Oregon was at 13%.
There are no statewide elections on the ballot for next Tuesday. But all Oregon counties will be electing representatives for local offices, like school boards, water districts and transportation districts.
FILE - Ballots for the May 16, 2023, Multnomah County special election were delivered to some Portland-area homes on Tuesday, May 2.
Courtney Sherwood / OPB
The latest numbers show voter turnout is lowest in Umatilla County at 8.7%. Turnout is highest in nearby, and much smaller, Wallowa County at 28.5%.
Less than 10% of Multnomah County voters had returned their ballots by Thursday. For comparison, the county has averaged about 25% voter turnout in May special elections over the last 10 years.
Oregon ballots must be received at any county elections office in Oregon or Official Ballot Drop Site location May 16 by 8 p.m., or mailed and postmarked by May 16, and received within seven days to be counted.
If mailing ballots, voters should check to see what time the mail carrier typically picks up mail.
Related: After ballot misprint delay, Multnomah County voters start receiving ballots
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the exact time for mailing ballots on May 16. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by May 16, so they need to be in mail boxes before the carrier’s normal pickup time, which varies between mailboxes.