Ballots are on the way to registered voters in Canby and Clackamas County for the May 16 special district election. Among other issues, area voters will weigh in on a hotly contested race for three seats on the Canby School Board and a replacement operating levy for the Canby Fire District.
According to new Clackamas County Clerk Catherine McMullen, ballots went out in the mail beginning the morning of Wednesday, April 26, and every registered voter in the county should receive a ballot. Registered voters who haven’t received a ballot by May 4 should contact Clackamas County Elections for a replacement.
Depending on the voter’s address, the off-year election will include board of directors seats for local school districts, community colleges, education service districts, fire districts, water districts, and other special districts.
There are also city offices and district levy and bond measures for voters in some jurisdictions. Where a particular voter lives determines what districts, measures and contests are on their ballot. There are no statewide races or ballot measures in special district elections.
Clackamas County residents will notice that their ballot envelope looks different than in years past (see photo). It will be marked with the county’s logo and colors and the date of the election. It will include only the name of the Clackamas County Clerk’s Office and not McMullen’s.
Former Clerk Sherry Hall had previously and controversially printed her own name on official county ballots, including in elections in which she was a candidate, until the Legislature prohibited the practice in 2020.
Countywide voters’ pamphlets were mailed out earlier this month, but digital versions are available on the county’s website.
Ballots can be mailed back with a valid postmark or returned to an official ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day, May 16. No postage is necessary if mailed in the United States or returned to an official drop box.
Drop boxes are open 24/7 until 8 p.m. on Election Day and available in Canby at the Canby Civic Building, 222 Northeast 2nd Avenue, and Arneson Garden behind Fred Meyer, 249 South Sequoia Parkway; in Molalla at the Molalla Public Library, 201 East 5th Street; and in Oregon City at the county elections office, 1710 Red Soils Court, and City Hall, 625 Center Street.
For more information about the election, visit bit.ly/ClackCoMay2023Election.
