November 6 is right around the corner, and October 16th is even closer. That's the last day for new Oregon voters to register. So, if you're a new mamagonian, hop on it! The Multnomah County Department of Elections runs the show. You can do most anything related to voting on its web site (except actually vote), from registering or changing your address to locating drop boxes and reading ballot measure info. You can also download the voters' guide from its site, and learn about volunteering around elections, too. There's a FAQ that covers most any question you could possibly have about voting in Oregon. And if you just aren't sure if you are, in fact, registered, call the county at (503) 988-3270 - they know.
But the thing that I've wondered since moving here is whether the vote by mail system has increased turnout. I miss the hoopla around the voting booth, in a nostalgic kind of way, but if some other system is cheaper and increases voting rates, I'm all for it. Oregon was the first state to ditch the booth, going postal (so to speak) in 1998. A quick look on Wikipedia tells me that, not surprisingly, some see it as an improvement, some don't. Our early switch has been useful in assessing the option, a good example of why the state-as-policy-incubator concept works.
Waddya you think? Do you miss pulling the lever? Find the Pioneer Square drop box as convenient as I do at lunch on election day? Ever worry when you mail your ballot that it'll never get anywhere near the counting room?
And, since we are Activistas, after all, you're probably asking yourself how you can get in here and help, right? Well, thanks to Kristin for hatching the idea to invite Activistas to help other urbanMamas & Papas vote by picking up and delivering ballots to drop boxes on election day for those among us who just can't get there by 8 PM (2 sleeping children and your partner out of town...; just plain forgot to open the thing and it's 7 PM already, among the other 100 reasons I can think of). So, if you need the help, type your plea in the comments section on election day and we'll be checking regularly to see who we can help. Does this sound do-able, mamas? Ideas for fine-tuning? Do tell.
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