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Ballot Returns Low For Tuesday Election

BY ROB MANNING

Portland, OR May 18, 2009 6 a.m.

Ballots are due by 8 p.m.Tuesday night for Oregon’s spring election. To date, the turnout has been relatively low - with barely double-digit returns in urban counties, and in the low 30 percent range in some rural counties. Rob Manning has more.

Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown has been fighting to gain attention for this May’s election, even as the economy and the state budget are grabbing headlines. She says there are more voters casting ballots outside the Willamette Valley than in places like Portland.

Brown: “We’re seeing higher turnout in rural communities than in urban communities, and so we just think it’s important for folks to get their ballots in and vote.”

In last fall’s election, Oregonians limited a law that made it harder to pass tax measures in off-year elections. The old law required at least half of registered voters to cast ballots in those elections - as well as a majority to vote "yes" - to pass a tax measure. This week’s election is the first test of the new law.

Tax measures in places like Jefferson and Crook counties are helping drive turnout there.

Ballots are due by 8 p.m. Tuesday.