We know you’re probably sick of campaign ads by now. To help you cut through the noise and make an informed decision, we’ve rounded up all our election coverage in one place so you know what’s on your ballot.
What to know about voting
New to vote by mail or have questions about the process? We put together an explainer here about common issues with ballots and how local election workers make sure your vote is counted and each registered Oregonian gets only one vote.
Here’s a video explanation from the 2020 election about how Marion County processes your ballot.
Local Salem and Marion County races
All Marion County voters have three countywide races to weigh in on.
Two county commissioner seats are up for election, both featuring incumbent Republican commissioners and Democrat challengers.
County voters will also select a Marion County Circuit Court judge, with Judge Erious Johnson, who was appointed earlier this year, running against longtime deputy district attorney Amy Queen.
Salem voters will have several uncontested city races listed on the ballot, including mayor. City council seats and the mayor’s race are generally decided in the May primary election, but the top vote-getter appears on the November ballot and voters can write in a candidate of their choosing.
One city race is contested – the city council seat for Ward 4, south central Salem. That’s because the candidates finished just six votes apart in the May primary, triggering a runoff election.
Local ballot measures
Most Salem voters will have two ballot measures to vote on.
The first is the city’s infrastructure bond – a $300 million package that will pay for street and sidewalk repairs, a fleet of new fire trucks, park improvements and land for new fire stations and a branch library.
If voters approve the measure, the city would issue new bonds to pay for the projects. Those bonds would replace older city debt that’s being paid off, so property tax rates wouldn’t increase. If voters don’t approve the measure, property tax rates would decline.
Salem voters will also have a chance to weigh in on ballot measure banning psilocybin facilities. While the city of Salem isn’t pursuing a ban, both Marion and Polk counties have measures on the ballot which would ban those facilities in unincorporated areas of each county. Keizer and many other cities in the area also pursuing similar bans.
State legislative races
All seats in the Oregon House of Representatives and half the state Senate are up for election this year. Our team interviewed every candidate with a district that includes part of Salem.
Depending on where you live, your ballot may include:
House District 19 (south central and southeast Salem) – TJ Sullivan, R, and Tom Andersen, D, both former Salem City Councilors
House District 20 (southwest and west Salem, Monmouth, Independence) – Dan Farrington, R, and Rep. Paul Evans, D
House District 21 (north Salem) – Ramiro Navarro, D, and Kevin Mannix, R
House District 22 (northeast Salem, Gervais, Woodburn) – Anthony Medina, D, and Tracy Cramer, R
Senate District 10 (south Salem) – Sen. Deb Patterson, D, and Rep. Raquel Moore-Green
Senate District 11 (north Salem, Keizer) – Sen. Kim Thatcher, R, and Richard Walsh, D
Other resources
Want to learn more about local candidates?
The Oregon Secretary of State’s office publishes a voter guide for statewide races and legislative races, as well as ballot measures.
CC:Media, in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Marion and Polk Counties, has interviews with local candidates and a program about local ballot measures available online.
