Merkley visits ahead of election

HOOD RIVER CO. — “All eyes are on elections these days, and our team is doing a phenomenal job,” said County Administrator Allison Williams at the board of commissioners’ Oct. 19 meeting, prompting the board to recap Sen. Jeff Merkley’s recent visit to the county’s election office.

“It’s such a regimented, well-orchestrated process, and that’s what Senator Merkley got to see,” said Commissioner Arthur Babitz, who tagged along. “We’ve been doing elections for 100 and some odd years now in Hood River County. The state has very solid sets of dates and rules and supporting structures, and we have competent and qualified and experienced staff that are carrying out those processes.”

The county had the second highest voter participation in Oregon in the May Primary, said Commissioner Leti Moretti — 53%, and almost 9,000 ballots. “Sixty-eight percent of those ballots were dropped off at a drop box, and 31% were mailed in,” she added.

Williams also said the state has a new ballot tracker system, meaning voters can sign up with the Secretary of State’s office to track ballots (www.sos.oregon.gov/elections/pages/track-your-ballot.aspx).