By Aneesa Grant, The Portland Medium
The Portland City Council’s recent decision to approve changes to the election code on April 19 has set the stage for significant updates to the electoral process in Portland. The changes, which include the implementation of ranked-choice voting, have prompted city officials, the Multnomah County Elections Director, and a representative from the Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center to join forces in educating the public and ensuring a smooth transition.
Portland now becomes the third jurisdiction in Oregon to adopt ranked-choice voting, following in the footsteps of Benton County in 2016 and Corvallis in 2022. Other nearby cities, including San Francisco, Berkeley, and Oakland, have already implemented this voting system.
The approved Code Chapter 2.08 – Election of Candidates paves the way for several notable changes, which will be explained in a comprehensive voter education campaign leading up to the November 2024 election:
• Ranked-choice voting will be used to elect the mayor, the auditor, and 12 city councilor positions, with three representatives per newly established geographic district.
• The primary election for candidates will be eliminated.
• Special elections to fill council vacancies will also be eliminated.
Becky Lamboley, the City of Portland’s Interim Elections Officer, expressed enthusiasm for the changes and highlighted the collaboration between local and national experts in implementing them before the upcoming election.
“We are eager to deliver on the changes approved by voters to our election system and grateful for a strong partnership between local and national experts to implement them in advance of the November 2024 election,” said Lamboley.
For Portland voters, the voting experience will feature the following key aspects:
• Voters will receive their ballots in the mail, as usual.
• The ballot design will incorporate a new grid format to accommodate the ranking process.
• Voters will have the opportunity to prioritize and rank their top six candidates for each contest on the ballot, although they can choose to rank fewer if they prefer.
• Ballots can be returned by mail or at Official Ballot Drop Sites, as per usual procedures.
The administration of elections utilizing ranked-choice voting for City of Portland contests will be coordinated among the three counties where Portlanders reside: Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas. The City will produce voter education materials and launch an overall education effort to ensure voters are well-informed and capable of effectively utilizing their ballots. Additionally, candidate education resources, user guides, and training will be developed to support individuals running for office.
To reach out to hard-to-reach voters and residents of neighborhoods with historically lower voter turnout, the City invited proposals until May 3 from qualified individuals, teams, organizations, or firms to create and coordinate a comprehensive voter education, partnership, and outreach plan. The plan aims to align community efforts in educating Portlanders about ranked-choice voting and district-based elections ahead of the November 2024 general election. Sub-grants will be provided to community partners responsible for implementing voter education and outreach initiatives, with a total value of approximately $675,000.
The Multnomah County Elections Division will play a crucial role in updating the election system to accommodate ranked-choice voting. Responsibilities include updating the voting system software, designing the ballots, and reporting election results. Multnomah County, in collaboration with Washington and Clackamas Counties and the Secretary of State’s Office, will manage the tabulation of vote data from all three counties where City of Portland voters reside. The County is working with its vendor, Clear Ballot, to ensure that the software meets the City’s ranked-choice voting specifications and certification standards established by federal and state authorities before the November 2024 election. Unofficial election results will be published by the County, with updates and progress reported on Election Night.
The implementation of ranked-choice voting in Portland marks a significant step forward in the city’s democratic process. As the city prepares for the November 2024 election, comprehensive efforts are underway to educate voters, provide necessary resources, and ensure a smooth transition to the new election system. With the support of city officials, county authorities, and community partners, Portlanders can look forward to a more inclusive and representative electoral landscape.
As election preparations continue, voters are encouraged to visit the City’s official website for additional information and frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the upcoming election. With the historic adoption of ranked-choice voting and other significant changes, Portland is poised to set an example for other jurisdictions, demonstrating how innovative electoral reforms can foster greater voter engagement and enhance democratic processes.
