SALEM, Ore. — Hand sanitizers. Social distancing. Licked envelopes containing ballots.
Tuesday’s primary in Oregon amid the coronavirus pandemic and other challenges has created some unprecedented issues for officials and workers handling the vote-by-mail election.
“We are all very busy and focused on making this election work in spite of the pandemic, heightened cybersecurity threats, misinformation, disinformation and lack of public attention to this election understandably due to pandemic health and economic concerns,” said Bill Burgess, president of the Oregon Association of County Clerks.
At this point, all ballots must be taken to official drop-off sites because it’s too late for mail delivery. Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. Tuesday to be counted.
Despite the challenges, Burgess, the county clerk for Marion County, expects to have initial results at 8 p.m. Tuesday and to certify final results within a predetermined 20-day window.