Turnout matters

Yesterday’s tally at 3 p.m. by the Multnomah County Elections Office showed 17% turnout so far. There is usually a late surge, but even so it seems likely Portland’s Charter changes – changes to our city’s Constitution – could be chosen as the preferred option by fewer than 15% of the electorate. This is not the way to make important (and potentially expensive) changes in the way we do business.

Contrast this with Jackson County, where voters are deciding whether to pass an operating levy for the County libraries. Fifty percent of the registered voters, plus one, must return a ballot for the measure to pass, even if more than 50% of those voting say Yes. And it looks like they just might achieve the target turnout. Yesterday’s count shows a little over 44% returned so far. Go Jackson County voters! Whether you vote it up or down, it’s good to see this level of participation.
Update 9:08 p.m. – they managed a 51% turnout, but the vote was a resounding No.

I expect Measure 26-89 to pass today, establishing many more Charter Commissions tinkering with Portland’s Charter at least every ten years. I hope the first additional change referred is one requiring at least 50% turnout of voters in order to amend the Charter.