Thursday, October 12, 2022

Dear Portlanders, 

On Monday (10/17) at 5:00pm, I'll deliver the annual State of the City Address. I hope you'll join me. Access is both in person, and by Zoom. Link to Agenda which contains the Zoom link

While we all get ready to cast our ballot - whether by mail with an absentee ballot, early and in person at City Hall, or at the polls on November 8th - I implore you to get engaged. Democracy requires and engaged and critical electorate.
I have never seen a ballot like the one we face this fall.
Each absentee ballot is accompanied by a separately mailed envelope with 42 pages of small-font text to accompany the 13 questions posed to voters for consideration.
This is a lot to ask of voters, and I hope you're able to take the time to read, understand, ask questions, and seek to understand the proposed changes. 

If you plan to vote in person - either early at City Hall, or on November 8th at the polls, this 42-page packet will be available to you.
Please ask anyone working at or volunteering at City Hall or at your voting location to see the proposed amendments to City Ordinance and to the City's Charter so that you can be sure you understand all of the proposals. 
And, the full text of all questions is here, too.

Haven't requested your absentee ballot yet? Click here to get that done.
Or - call the City Clerk's office M-F from 8:30am to 4:30pm at 207-874-8677 for more info and for help.

As I prep for the address I'll give Monday, I look back at recent voter turnout.

• July 2020, 32% of registered voters turned out - and the majority approved the creation of a Charter Commission;
• In November 2020, 65% of registered voters came out - it was a Presidential election year...
• June 2021, 14% of registered voters turned out - Charter Commissioners were elected;
• November 2021, 34% of registered voters had their say.