Amy Vandegrift removes ballots from their envelopes at the Marion County Elections Office on Tuesday, May 19. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
As a vote-by-mail state, Oregon’s May 19 primary election went on largely as planned in the midst of a pandemic, but the Marion County elections office made some changes to their usual processes.
Election workers processing ballots sat farther apart, many wearing masks as they ensured thousands of votes were counted.
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A stack of counted and signed ballot envelopes at the Marion County Elections Office on Tuesday, May 19. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Aaron Strong, of Creative Security, accepts ballots at a drive-up ballot drop site on Court Street, in front of the the Marion County Elections Office on Tuesday, May 19. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Elections staff pre-inspect ballots at the Marion County Elections Office on Tuesday, May 19. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
A ballot box on Tuesday, May 19. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Pam Panther unfolds and stacks ballots at the Marion County Elections Office on Tuesday, May 19. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Pam Panther and Cindy Belden work as a team to remove ballots from their envelopes and stack them at the Marion County Elections Office on Tuesday, May 19. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Elections staff process ballots at the Marion County Elections Office on Tuesday, May 19. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Ballots wait to be processed at the Marion County Elections Office on Tuesday, May 19. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Barbara Fuller pre-inspects ballots at the Marion County Elections Office on Tuesday, May 19. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Cindy Belden removes ballots from their envelopes and secrecy sleeves at the Marion County Elections Office on Tuesday, May 19. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Elections staff process ballots at the Marion County Elections Office on Tuesday, May 19. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Frank Pauley wears a mask while unfolding and stacking ballots at the Marion County Elections Office on Tuesday, May 19. This year workers are more spread out and work at stations with fewer other staff to promote social distancing. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
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