Stickers on top of a ballot box on Wednesday, September 30. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
With one day left to turn in ballots, just under 20% of Marion and Polk county voters have voted to determine the makeup of local school boards and fire services.
For Salem voters, Tuesday’s election will decide four of the seven seats on the Salem-Keizer School Board.
Voters in Marion County Fire District #1, which covers the area just east and north of Salem and Keizer city limits, will decide on a levy that could fund additional firefighter positions.
Voter turnout is generally lowest for local elections in even-numbered years, when there are no contests for governor or president to draw in voters.
By midday on Monday, Polk County elections had received 11,488 ballots, or just shy of 19% of those mailed to eligible voters. Marion County had received 40,849, or 19.16%, with several drop box pickups not yet tallied for the day.
The results mean Marion County will likely surpass its turnout for local races in 2019, the last time voters selected local school board members. Just 19.73% of county voters cast a ballot in 2019. Polk County turnout in 2019 was higher – about 28%.
Election results will be available Tuesday shortly after 8 p.m. on county election websites, though early tallies won’t include many ballots returned Tuesday.
Because Salem-Keizer School Board races include voters in both Marion and Polk counties, the Oregon Secretary of State will post results shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday so voters don’t have to add up tallies from each county website.
Voters have until 8 p.m. May 18 to return ballots to a drop box in either Marion or Polk counties. A list of Salem-specific locations is below.
Voters who need additional information or a replacement ballot should contact their county elections office by visiting in-person or calling.
Marion County: (503) 588-5041 or 555 Court St. N.E.
Polk County: (503) 623-9217 or 850 Main St. in Dallas
SALEM DROPBOXES – MARION COUNTY
Marion County Clerk, 555 Court St. N.E., Ste 2130, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Election Day
Marion County Health, 3180 Center St. N.E. – Curbside (24 hours) until 8 p.m. Tuesday
Roth’s Fresh Market, 3045 Commercial St. S.E. – 6 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
Roth’s Fresh Market, 4555 Liberty Rd. S. – 6 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
Roth’s Fresh Market, 4746 Portland Rd. N.E. – 6 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
Marion County Public Works, 5155 Silverton Rd. N.E. – 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Election Day
POLK COUNTY
Roth’s Fresh Market, 1130 Wallace Rd N.W. – 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
-Rachel Alexander
