ELECTION BALLOTS ARRIVE IN MAILBOXES BEGINNING FRIDAY, OCT. 19

 

Ballots for the Nov. 6, 2012 General Election will be mailed out to all Clatsop County voters starting Friday, Oct. 19.

The election features federal and state contests including races for President, Representative in Congress, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Attorney General, Commissioner of Bureau of Labor and Industries, State Representative, Judge of the Oregon Supreme Court Position 3 and Judge of the Oregon Court of Appeals, Position 6. There will also be nine state measures on the ballot.

Also on the ballot are the race for Clatsop County Sheriff and city council contests in Astoria, Cannon Beach, Gearhart, Seaside and Warrenton, as well as for the boards of the Clatsop Soil and Water Conservation District and Clatskanie People’s Utility District. The City of Seaside is seeking a five-year levy for fire equipment and personnel, and the City of Warrenton has two measures on the ballot – a five-year library operations levy, and a city charter amendment requiring a vote by the public for the Mayor’s position. The Knappa-Svensen-Burnside Rural Fire Protection District is seeking a five-year bond for equipment and facilities improvements.

You can now track your ballot over the Internet by going to www.OregonVotes.org. From this site you can find out whether you are registered to vote, learn about the voting process, and after you have mailed or dropped off your ballot, confirm that your county elections office received your ballot.

The deadline to register to vote for first-time voters or those new to Oregon has passed, but people already registered in Oregon who have changed their name, address or party affiliation have until 8 p.m. Election Day to update their registration and receive a ballot.

If you have a valid Oregon driver’s license or permit, you can go to www.OregonVotes.org and register online. Otherwise, you may fill out a voter registration card and bring it to the Clatsop County Elections office at 820 Exchange St. in Astoria or mail it to Clatsop County Elections, 820 Exchange St., Ste. 220, Astoria, Oregon 97103. Voter registration cards can be found local post offices or at www.co.clatsop.or.us.

Ballots must be received at the county elections office or an official drop site location by 8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 6.  Postmarks DO NOT count. If you are mailing your ballot, please be sure to include sufficient postage to ensure it is received. Ballots with insufficient postage will not be delivered by the post office and will be returned to you.

Completed ballots can be dropped at the following sites:

·   Clatsop County Clerk’s Office, Public Services Building, 820 Exchange St., Astoria -or- 24-hour drop box in front of office.

·   Cannon Beach City Hall, 163 Gower St., Cannon Beach

·   Gearhart City Hall, 698 Pacific Way, Gearhart

·   Seaside City Hall, 989 Broadway, Seaside

·   Warrenton City Hall, 225 S. Main Ave., Warrenton

·   Knappa High School, 41535 Old Highway 30, Knappa

·   Mist-Birkenfeld Fire Hall, 12525 Oregon Highway 202

·   Clatskanie Library, 11 Lillich St., Clatskanie

If you have questions about registration, filling out your ballot, or getting a replacement ballot if you make a mistake, go to the Clatsop County website at www.co.clatsop.or.us or call the Clatsop County Clerk’s Office at (503) 325-8511.