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Portland resident Harry P. Henderson votes for the very first time in his life, at the North Portland Library on Nov. 4. 2008
The Skanner News Editorial Board
Published: 03 November 2014

 

Portland resident Harry P. Henderson votes for the first time in his life, at the North Portland Library on Nov. 4. 2008. Photo by Brian Stimson

Here's where to drop off your ballots: scroll down for our endorsements:

Portland

Multnomah County Elections Office - 24-hour ballot drop slot available to pedestrians on the north side of the building as well as a drive-up box located on both SE 11th and SE Belmont. Voters may use the office to vote at any time during the voting period. The Elections office is the only location in the county that can issue a replacement ballot to a voter in Multnomah County.

Address:
1040 SE Morrison St.
Portland, OR 97214 (location map)
Phone: 503-988-3720
Fax: 503-988-3719
1-800-735-2900 (Oregon Relay Service)
Open: 8 am - 5 pm, M - F
Election Day: 7 am - 8 pm

 

Official 24-hour ballot drop boxes

24-hour ballot drop sites listed below are open and available beginning the day ballots are mailed out (20 days prior to election day) until 8:00 PM on Election Day.

A-Boy Supply - 7365 SW Barbur Blvd, Portland 

Goodwill Store - 3134 North Lombard St, Portland 

Gresham Library - 385 NW Miller Ave, Gresham 

McDonald's Restaurant - 2010 NE Cesar Chavez Blvd, Portland (drop box located on west side of NE 40th Avenue between NE Tillamook and NE Hancock and near the Hollywood Library) 

Midland Library - 805 SE 122nd Ave, Portland 

Multnomah County Elections - 1040 SE Morrison St., Portland (location) (drop box located on the East side of SE 11th between SE Morrison and SE Belmont and drop box located on the North side of SE Belmont between SE 10th and SE 11th) Walk/bike-up drop slot also located at the corner of SE 11th and Morrison on SE Morrison.

Pioneer Courthouse Square - 700 block of SW Broadway next to Starbucks and across from Nordstrom 

Regal Cinemas Movie Theater / M & M Car Wash - SE Division St & SE 165th Ave, Portland - drop box located in Regal Cinemas parking lot behind M & M Car Wash

 

Ballot drop boxes in Multnomah County Libraries

Voted ballots may be delivered to any Multnomah County library until 8 PM on Election Day, but NOT ALL LIBRARIES ARE OPEN UNTIL 8pm Tuesday so see the list below.  For 24-hour access, please use the 24-hour drop box sites or the ballot/book return at Central Library.

Central Library - 801 SW 10th Ave. (location)

Monday 10 am - 8 pm

Tuesday noon - 8 pm

Wednesday noon - 8 pm

Thursday 10 am - 6 pm

Friday noon - 6 pm

Saturday 10 am - 6 pm

Sunday 10 am - 5 pm

Belmont Library - 1038 S.E. César E. Chávez Blvd. (location)
Gresham Library - 385 NW Miller Ave., Gresham (location)
Hillsdale Library - 1525 SW Sunset Blvd.  (location)
Hollywood Library - 4040 NE Tillamook St  (location)
Midland Library - 805 SE 122nd (location)

Monday 10 am - 6 pm

Tuesday 10 am - 8 pm

Wednesday noon - 8 pm

Thursday noon - 8pm

Friday 10 am - 6 pm

Saturday 10 am - 6 pm

Sunday 10 am - 5 pm

Albina Library - 3605 NE 15th Ave. (location)
Capitol Hill Library - 10723 SW Capitol Highway (location)
Fairview-Columbia Library - 1520 NE Village St. Fairview  (location)
Gregory Heights Library - 7921 NE Sandy Blvd. (location)
Holgate Library - 7905 SE Holgate Blvd.  (location)
Kenton Library  - 8226 N. Denver Ave. (location)
North Portland Library - 512 N Killingsworth St. (location)
Northwest Library - 2300 NW Thurman St. (location)
Rockwood Library - 17917 SE Stark St.  (location)
St. Johns Library  - 7510 N Charleston Ave. (location)
Sellwood-Moreland Library - 7860 SE 13th Ave. (location)
Troutdale Library - 2451 SW Cherry Park Rd., Troutdale (location)
Woodstock Library - 6008 SE 49th Ave. (location)

Monday noon  - 8 pm

Tuesday noon  - 8 pm

Wednesday 10 am - 6 pm

Thursday 10 am - 6 pm

Friday 10 am - 6 pm

Saturday 10 am - 6 pm

Sunday noon - 5 pm

 

Seattle

Washington law allows you to vote by mail. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 4 or sooner.

SeaTac City Hall
4800 South 188th Street
SeaTac 98188

Dates Open: November 1, 3, 4
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Election Day Hours: 
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Ballard Branch Library
5614 22nd Ave NW
Seattle 98107
Corner of NW 57th St and 22nd Ave NW

Dates Open: October 16 - November 4
Hours: 24 hours
Election Day Hours: 
Close at 8 pm

King County Administration Building
500 4th Avenue
Seattle 98104

Dates Open: October 16 - November 4
Hours: 24 hours
Election Day Hours: 
Close at 8 pm

Magnuson Park
6344 NE 74th Street
Seattle 98115
Use NE 74th Street entrance 

Dates Open: November 1, 3, 4
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Election Day Hours: 
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Rainier Community Center
4600 38th Avenue South
Seattle 98118

Dates Open: November 1, 3, 4
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Election Day Hours: 
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

University of Washington
4000 15th Ave NE
Seattle 98105
Red Square; no parking/vehicle access

Dates Open: November 1, 3, 4
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Election Day Hours: 
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

West Seattle Stadium
4432 35th Avenue SW
Seattle 98126

Dates Open: November 1, 3, 4
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Election Day Hours: 
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Shoreline-Aurora Square Shopping Center 
15505 Westminster Way North 
Shoreline 98133

Dates Open: November 1, 3, 4
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Election Day Hours: 
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Vancouver and Clark County

Clark County Elections
1408 Franklin Street, Vancouver 98660
Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Permanent Ballot Drop Box (available 24 hours a day)
W 14th & Esther Streets, Vancouver 98660
Hours: Available 24-hours a day

Temporary Ballot Boxes available on Election Day Only

Battle Ground City Hall 
109 SW 1st Street, Battle Ground
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Battle Ground High School
300 W Main Street, Battle Ground

Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Burton Elementary School
14015 NE 28th Street, Vancouver
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Chinook Elementary School
1900 NW Bliss Road, Vancouver
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Crestline Elementary School
13003 SE 7th Street, Vancouver
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Dorothy Fox Elementary School
2623 NW Sierra Street, Camas
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary School
2921 Falk Road, Vancouver
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Ellsworth Elementary School
512 SE Ellsworth Road, Vancouver
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Felida Elementary School
2700 NW 119th Street, Vancouver
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Fisher's Landing Elementary School
3800 SE Hidden Brook Drive, Vancouver
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Glenwood Heights Primary School
9716 NE 134th Street, Vancouver
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Grace Foursquare Gospel Church
717 SE Everett Road, Camas
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Hazel Dell Elementary School

511 NE Anderson Road, Vancouver
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Helen Baller Elementary School
1954 NE Garfield Street, Camas
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Hockinson Middle School
15916 NE 182nd Avenue, Brush Prairie
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Image Elementary School
4400 NE 122nd Avenue, Vancouver
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

La Center Community Center
1000 E 4th Street, La Center
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Lincoln Elementary School
4200 Daniels Street, Vancouver
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

M.L. King Elementary School
4801 Idaho Street, Vancouver
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Mill Plain Elementary School
400 SE 164th Avenue, Vancouver
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Minnehaha Elementary School
2800 NE 54th Street, Vancouver
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Pleasant Valley School
14320 NE 50th Avenue, Vancouver
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Prune Hill Elementary School
1601 NW Tidland Street, Camas

Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Ridgefield Nazarene Church

747 Pioneer Street, Ridgefield
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Riverview Elementary School

12601 SE Riveridge Drive, Vancouver
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Salmon Creek Elementary School
1601 NE 129th Street, Vancouver
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Sarah J. Anderson Elementary School
2215 NE 104th Street, Vancouver
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Sifton Elementary School
7301 NE 137th Avenue, Vancouver
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Sunset Elementary School
9001 NE 95th Street, Vancouver
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Walnut Grove Elementary School
6103 NE 72nd Avenue, Vancouver
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Washougal Community Center
1681 C Street, Washougal
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Yacolt Primary School
406 W Yacolt Road, Yacolt
Election Day Hours: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

 

Our Endorsements

Systematic attacks on voting rights around the country, alongside exploding issues of street violence and racial justice, are bringing the public focus firmly to the ballot as a tool for making our communities better places to live and work. We at The Skanner News believe strongly in voter participation. We encourage you to support these ballot measures and vote on Nov. 4. 

 

We are watching this Election Day with interest, because the critical measures on the ballot point to a more interesting midterm election than usual. Will there be a large voter turnout? We sure hope so – with gun control and transit funding on the line in Washington State, as well as retail cannabis and legal driving cards for undocumented motorists in Oregon, there are game-changing initiatives awaiting your participation.

 

Oregon Candidate Endorsements

 

U.S. Senator

 

In a field dominated by unknown candidates, we are supporting the one who has shown himself to be responsible, accessible and surprisingly progressive in the tough terrain of the Capitol. Sen. Merkley spends quality time with our local communities, and is responsive to issues facing our community—he returns phone calls. He has been very aggressive on consumer protection issues. We need him to continue fighting for Oregonians. We endorse Sen. Jeff Merkley.

 

U.S. Representative, 1st District

 

As a consumer protection attorney with years of experience in the state legislature, our candidate made the jump into Congress squarely on the side of everyday people. Her big issues are taking care of the elderly, supporting small business, clean energy – and bipartisan cooperation. We endorse Rep. Susanne Bonamici.

 

U.S. Representative, 3rd District

 

Having worked at every elected level in the state – city commissioner, county commissioner, state legislator, and finally Congressman – our candidate has helped burnish Oregon’s reputation as a progressive state. He has endorsed universal healthcare, fought for the environment including the safety of bees, supported legalization of cannabis and more. We endorse Earl Blumenauer.

 

U.S. Representative, 5th District

 

A steady leader who has made bipartisan cooperation his hallmark, our candidate is credited with bringing real benefits back to his constituents in Oregon. We endorse Kurt Schrader.

 

Governor of Oregon

 

We are faced again with a lack of choices for state leadership. Gov. John Kitzhaber has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Cover Oregon should have been his golden moment – but his lack of oversight in the $250 million of federal funds for the healthcare system resulted in one of the biggest scandals in Oregon history. We believe the incumbent is unresponsive to the needs of diverse communities, but at the same time, candidate Dennis Richardson’s views on women’s issues are extremely conservative, and he has no record of working on issues critical to people of color. Oregon has a leadership vacuum at the very top. We challenge our state’s political parties to do better. That is why at this juncture in history we cannot endorse any of the candidates for governor.

 

The Skanner News endorses these unopposed candidates:

 

State Senator, 23rd District, Michael Dembrow

 

State Representative, 43rd District, Lew Frederick

 

State Representative, 44th District, Tina Kotek

 

State Representative, 45th District, Barbara Smith Warner

 

State Representative, 46th District, Alissa Keny-Guyer

 

State Representative, 47th District, Jessica Vega Pederson

 

 

Oregon State Ballot Measures

n   Measure 86 amends the Oregon Constitution to create a fund for Oregonians pursuing post-secondary education; authorizes debt to finance.

If passed this law would allow the legislature to sell bonds for a higher education loan fund benefitting college students as well as career training programs; it would not raise taxes, but it would give state lawmakers more tools to help college and trade school students get the best education they can. We vote YES.

n   Measure 87 allows judges to be hired by the National Guard and public universities; allows school employees to serve in the legislature.

This is little more than a housekeeping measure, brushing cobwebs out of our state Constitution. It would have no financial impact; why shouldn’t state court judges join the National Guard or take a teaching job at a college if they choose? We vote YES.

n   Measure 88 upholds four-year driver licenses for those who cannot prove legal presence in the United States.

Our communities are far from reaching a consensus on improving our immigration laws and processes; but whatever you may think about the reform debate, this measure would make our roads safer and encourage a more humane attitude towards working families across the state. We vote YES.

n   Measure 89 guarantees equal rights regardless of sex.

Some people say Oregon doesn’t need an Equal Rights Amendment for women; at the same time, women are at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder, with lower pay, less political representation and few corner offices in the corporate sector. Four retired state Supreme Court justices have made an open appeal for passage of this measure. We vote YES.

n  Measure 90 creates an open, top-two primary election system.

We are leery of changing the state elections system, especially after a sketchy campaign in which the ‘Yes on 90’ camp filed fake Voters Guide statements and even created a fake website to lampoon its opponents. Top Two has not resulted in less contentious elections or more ethnic representation in the two states in which it has passed – despite claims to the contrary. We vote NO.

n  Measure 91 legalizes recreational marijuana; tasks Oregon Liquor Control Commission with regulation of its sale.

Of all ballot measures facing voters in Oregon, this might be the most far-reaching. As the so-called War on Drugs has failed to stem their use and has filled our jails and prisons with low-level offenders – all at taxpayer expense – this measure might be the best chance we have to restore some sanity to the system. Legalize it, regulate it like alcohol, and create a new revenue stream for the state. We vote YES.

n  Measure 92 mandates labeling of certain foodstuffs that contain genetically modified organisms.

We want to know what’s in the food we’re eating – what’s wrong with that? We vote YES.

City of Portland

n  Measure No: 26-159 continues bonds to fix playgrounds, trails; improve park facilities, safety, and accessibility.

This measure continues the already-existing parks bond, which is modest and has so far been very well spent by Portland Parks & Recreation. Funding parks is one of the best investments we can make in community health, violence prevention and quality of life. We vote YES.

METRO District

n   Measure No: 26-160 would retain the prohibition on Metro-required single-family neighborhood density increases.

If passed, this measure would continue a voter-imposed limitation on Metro’s planning power – specifically it keeps Metro from requiring more infill homes in neighborhoods for the next 16 years. We are all for affordable housing, but our concern is that so many beautiful houses are being torn down to make room for multiple, overpriced, cheaply constructed homes. We vote YES.

PORTLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT #1JT

n  Measure No: 26-161 continues Portland Public Schools levy renewal for schools and educational programs.

We don’t support every single thing the Portland Public Schools does, nor do we support an avalanche of bond measures pouring additional costs on every single household in the district. But this is, at its heart, a tool for creating and maintaining jobs – one of the best ways taxpayers can invest directly in our local communities. We vote YES.

.

Washington Statewide Ballot Measures

n  Initiative 1351 would lower class sizes in public schools.

Why vote for a measure without any funding included? Unlike Portland Public Schools’ bond measure, this isn’t going anywhere. We vote NO.

n  Initiative 591 would prohibit government agencies from requiring background checks on firearm recipients unless a uniform national standard is required.

We believe in gun control, even the most modest measures can save lives. Because this measure was crafted to prevent realistic gun control measures, we vote NO.

n  Initiative 594 would require universal background checks on gun purchases.

This is a baby step for an issue that has torn communities apart for years. We vote YES.

City of Seattle Ballot Measures

Early Learning programs, Proposition Numbers 1A and 1B

This is going to be a wildcard for voters. Struggling to fire up an early learning system from a dead stop, a lot of well-meaning people have compiled their ideas into what looks like two competing measures; now voters must sort that out. First, voters tick the box for whether either of the plans should be implemented – THEN voters tick the box that says WHICH MEASURE SHOULD BE ENACTED.  The clunky instructions don’t help. “Simple Majority as to the first question; if first question is approved, then the option with the most votes as to second question,” the ballot says.

Faced with Proposition 1A (submitted by Initiative Petition No. 107), which has many great ideas to recommend it including limiting the cost of childcare and requiring an effective wage floor, we instead support Proposition 1B because it has built-in yet limited funding – a new tax for the next four years. We vote YES on WHETHER EITHER OF THESE MEASURES SHOULD BE PASSED, and then, YES on Proposition 1B.

Seattle Transportation Benefit District Proposition No. 1 -- Transportation Funding

Seattle is one of the most transportation-plagued big cities in the country. But do voters support public transit? This measure would increase the tax on vehicle tags by $60 per year with a 0.1 percent sales and use tax – including a $20 rebate for low-income riders – to shore up crucial bus routes set to be cut in 2015, with modest support for low-income riders. The fee and the tax would sunset Dec. 31, 2020. It’s a real financial bite – but is it worth it to avoid ever-growing traffic snarls in the Emerald City? We vote YES.

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