On Jan. 1, 2005, The Washington Post published an op-ed by Bill Bradbury (at the time, Oregon’s secretary of state) in praise of the state’s vote-by-mail system. Bradbury called it “a low-tech, low-cost, reliable and convenient system that makes it easier to vote and easier to count votes.”
Almost six years later — during which time Washington state adopted vote-by-mail — Bradbury’s definition remains as accurate as ever. This should be abundantly clear to Clark County voters during this window between Oct. 13 (when ballots are mailed) and Nov. 2 (the postmark deadline for voting). “Election Day,” unless created by an individual, no longer exists. Voters now have an election season of almost three weeks, ample time to study the ballots, learn about the procedure, ponder the choices, research the candidates and issues and vote.
Vote-by-mail is imperfect, but it’s the best voting system we’ve ever seen, and occasional problems have been quickly fixed. For example, a few years ago, many Clark County voters found the ballot’s double-fold envelope to be awkward. The envelope was redesigned, and in 2006, a new and easier envelope debuted.
Another problem emerged this year as many local voters received their mailed ballots a day or two (perhaps even more) later than in previous years. As Kathie Durbin reported in Wednesday’s Columbian, explanations vary. County Auditor Greg Kimsey says he was told by postal service officials that they were hit with a “perfect storm” of mail including ballots, political campaign material and other items, and the distribution center in Portland has reduced its processing capabilities. Kimsey said Thursday that postal officials in Vancouver had “apologized profusely.”
However, postal officials in Portland said this year was no different than any other year. But that contention seems to be refuted by a story in the Corvallis Gazette-Times. Clark County was not alone in the ballot-delivery delay. The newspaper reported that the Oregon secretary of state’s office “is investigating the holdup at the Portland office of the U.S. Postal Service that delayed delivery of ballots” to voters in Benton, Polk, Marion, Multnomah and Clackamas counties.
All Clark County voters should have received their ballots by today. If not, contact the elections office: 360-397-2345. Even with the delivery delay, voters have two weeks or more to study their ballots. For critics who complain about the demise of the patriotic “Election Day” experience — Bradbury called it a traditional “communal experience” — the quick response is that it’s been replaced by a new family experience. Many voters enjoy gathering with children to share the research, deliberation and voting experiences. It’s a great civics lesson for the kids, and no one has to stand in line at a polling place.
Another advantage to vote-by-mail is that the elections office no longer has to recruit, train and oversee 600 polling place workers.
Here is where vote-by-mail critics lose all of their steam: It’s optional. Those who don’t like it are welcome to take their ballots to drop-off sites on election day or to the 24-7 ballot drop box in the center of 14th Street, one block east of Franklin Street. In fact, about one-fourth of voters in the Aug. 17 primary did not mail their ballots.
The vote-by-mail option has been embraced by 38 of the state’s 39 counties. It’s working well, and we trust this year’s postal delivery delay will be prevented in future elections.
