POLITICS

Get help registering to vote Tuesday at Salem Public Library

Oregonians have until Oct. 18 to register to vote in the 2022 general election, but the League of Women Voters is getting the word out early.

The Marion and Polk chapter of the nonpartisan civic engagement organization will celebrate National Voter Registration Day Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Salem Public Library, 585 Liberty St. S.E.

Volunteers with the league will staff the table and provide voter registration information and assistance, as well as a Voters’ Bill of Rights and U.S. Constitution booklets.

“Every eligible American deserves the chance to participate in this year’s pivotal elections,” said Barbara Sellers-Young, President of the League of Women Voters of Marion and Polk Counties, in a statement. “Voter registration is the first step to ensuring your voice is heard. We want to make sure every Marion and Polk County citizen who wants the opportunity to vote on Election Day is registered by October 18.”

The nonprofit also operates the Vote 411 website, where voters can learn what’s on their local ballots and get information about checking voter registration and other voting-related issues. Locally, the Marion and Polk chapter partners with CC:Media to conduct interviews with local candidates, which are available online.

Oregonians can register to vote online through the Secretary of State’s office, or check voter registration status and track their ballot using the state’s MyVote website.

Marion County in August had 219,559 registered voters, up 1.25% from one year ago, according to data from the Secretary of State’s office. The county had a nearly even split between registered Democrats, at 61,944, and Republicans, at 61,769 – each 28% of the electorate. Non-affiliated voters made up the largest share, at 37%, with the remainder registered with minor parties.

Polk County had 61,973 registered voters, an increase of 2% from the same month in 2021, according to data from the Secretary of State’s office. That total includes 19,103 registered Republicans, 31% of the electorate, 17,546 registered Democrats, at 28%, and 21,117 non-affiliated voters, 34%.

The 2022 general election, where Oregonians will select a new governor, is Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.

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Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers city news, education, nonprofits and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for a decade. Outside of work, she’s a skater and board member with Salem’s Cherry City Roller Derby and can often be found with her nose buried in a book.