CLATSOP COUNTY TO ISSUE SUPPLEMENTAL BALLOTS FOR COLLEGE BOND, CANNON BEACH RACE

  

   The Clatsop County Clerk’s Office will issue supplemental ballots to county voters as a result of errors in the Nov. 4 mail-in election ballot affecting a Clatsop Community College bond measure and a Cannon Beach City Council race.

For Ballot Measure 4-176, the Clatsop Community College bond, the ballot incorrectly lists the amount of the bond as “not exceeding $8,200,00.” The correct figure is $8,200,000.

In the Cannon Beach race, the ballot instructs voters to vote for one candidate in the contest between George Vetter and Mike Benefield for an at-large position on the city council. The instruction should have read “Vote for Two.”

On Monday the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office issued a directive requiring the county to issue supplemental ballots for both issues.

Supplemental ballots, including an explanatory letter, will be sent to the approximately 21,000 voters in the county later this week. The ballots will contain the Clatsop Community College bond measure question; ballots for the approximately 970 Cannon Beach voters will also include the city councilor race with the corrected instructions.

Voters are asked to vote their original ballot as well as the supplemental ballot when received.

Ballot tallying for the original ballots will be conducted for all races, excluding Measure 4-176 and Cannon Beach councilor positions.  Ballot tallying for the supplemental ballots will be conducted for Measure 4-176 and Cannon Beach councilor positions.

If you have already cast your ballot, your vote will be counted for all but the two ballot items with errors, so please be sure to vote and submit your supplemental ballot as well.

If you have not yet voted, please vote both your original ballot and the supplemental ballot.

On Monday, Clatsop County Manager Scott Somers placed County Clerk Maeve Kennedy Grimes on administrative leave while the county conducts an internal investigation of the ballot error. Valerie Crafard, Clerk of the Board, has been appointed Interim County Clerk.

“In accordance with the state Directive, we will take the steps necessary to make sure every voter has the opportunity to cast their ballot with all the correct information,” Somers said.

Ballots must be received by the Elections Division no later than 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4 in order to be counted. To find ballot drop sites and other information go to www.co.clatsop.or.us or call (503) 325-8511.