In 1998, after bits of experimentation and testing, Oregon Voters made Oregon a permanent vote by mail state by a margin of 69% to 31% through ballot measure 60. Just over two years prior, in March of 1996 Oregon held the country’s 2nd vote by mail presidential primary with 58% turnout -- edged out by the first vote presidential primary held by North Dakota, just a few weeks earlier.

One of the promises of vote by mail -- a promise that was held to be almost axiomatic by its supporters was that vote by mail would increase turnout. In fact, voter turnout is more a function of voter excitement or apathy and has more to do with whether an incumbent is running than whether voters can return ballots by mail.

A good example was the historic 2008 Democrat primary, featuring Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, coupled with an arguably nearly exciting Republican primary featuring John McCain, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul, all vying for an open seat. A more recent example was the 2016 Republican primary with Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, John Kasich and a full slate of many others competing with Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, all also competing for an open seat. Both these contests had large turnouts.



As large as the draws of these contests were in an age of entrenched vote by mail, they were overshadowed by the dramatic turnouts of every presidential primary turnout from 1960 to 1976 -- even in years where there was an incumbent running for re-election to the White House.

The promises of increased voter turnout due to vote by mail were nearly universal. A sampling from the arguments in favor from the 1998 Voters Pamphlet reveals breathless predictions:

• "It Increases Voter Turnout! Election after election has shown that more people vote when they receive their ballots in the mail. Over 50% of all those who vote are now absentee voters! These same elections have shown that neither party benefits from Vote by Mail. We all benefit from more people voting!"
• "It is the common sense thing to do. Why? Our 16 year history with conducting elections by mail shows that voter turnout improves with elections by mail, tax dollars are saved when elections are conducted by mail and elections by mail help keep our voter registration files among the cleanest in the nation.
• "Increases Voter Participation. We support the efforts to promote and enhance the ability of all Oregonians to vote. Vote By Mail assures greater voter participation. AARP favors increasing the number of citizens voting in elections. Our system of government depends on a majority of citizens voting.
• Measure 60 would likely increase voter participation because it’s convenient. If you are a registered voter, you simply receive your ballot in the mail. You vote. You put it back in the mail. End of story. No more juggling your schedule. No worries about the weather. No questions about polling location. No hassle. -Oregon Education Association
• Vote-by-Mail increases turnout. Compared with polling place elections, voter turnout is dramatically higher with Vote-by-Mail. Rapidly rising use of absentee ballots in recent years indicates that voters prefer to vote by mail. Even though there is a nostalgia about going to the polling place, the reality is that we currently have a costly and complicated dual system of elections. The dual system is confusing for many voters. Vote-by-Mail gets more people to vote. -Oregon State Public Interest Research Group.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Then State Representative Lynn Snodgrass, a Republican, penned these words in opposition to Measure 60 for the same Voters Pamphlet.

Intimidation, coercion, thousands of ballots sent from inaccurate and outdated registration lists, counties lacking the ability to daily and accurately exchange or compare data with each other, and lack of privacy all potential for dramatic corruption.

While some suggest that mandatory vote by mail will encourage voter participation, the fact is, the most responsible way to encourage voter participation is to deliver what was promised on the campaign trail. Mandatory vote by mail will not guarantee that result.

The prediction of corruption may have been prophetic.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-01-02 23:40:52

Last Update: 2023-01-02 12:00:31