Local elected officials count. Our many local elected officials – City Councilors, County Commissioners, and County Clerk – make the decisions that have the biggest impact on our daily lives, from how to enact policy to setting budgetary priorities, from planning for emergencies to making decisions on day to day operations. Your local elected official is your direct link to local government and community level decision-making.

Local elections count. These local offices that make the most direct impact on your daily life will be found further down your ballot, after the federal and state positions, and even after the state judges. These are also nonpartisan offices with no party affiliation after the candidate’s name.

Many voters forget to vote across the whole ballot or don’t feel as prepared to vote for local races. The same effort, funds, or media coverage is not put into the city council race as the Governor’s race. Accurate and trustworthy information about local contests and candidates is more difficult to find.

As an experienced elections administrator and former public librarian, I recommend these nonpartisan resources for evaluating local candidates:

• Candidate statements in the State and County Voters’ Pamphlet. This pamphlet is mailed to all households mid-October and available online now.
• The League of Women Voters Voting Guide and candidate interviews are available online at Vote411.org.
• Election coverage in established and trusted media such as the local newspaper and news stations. You can do a Google search for the candidate or race and filter results by news.  
• Consulting with trusted family, friends, and neighbors. Voting is an act of community care and civic engagement.

Vote across your ballot. In the Clackamas County Clerk contest I urge you to use the resources above and make an informed choice for our next County Clerk. This important but overlooked office conducts elections, oversees the Recording office, and can choose to officiate weddings. The County Clerk is the critical connection between the citizen and their local government. This November we have the opportunity to elect a County Clerk that will ensure that local government works for us again, but we have to vote!

In 2018, the last time the current clerk was up for re-election more than 52,000 voters left the County Clerk race blank, choosing neither candidate. Clerk Sherry Hall won re-election by only 5,921 votes. That is a 35% undervote in a race that was won by less than 4%. What that means is that almost two out of every five voters who turned in their ballot, sat out on making a choice for County Clerk, the very office that is responsible for issuing, verifying, and counting that ballot. 

Tuesday, October 18 is the Voter Registration Deadline for the November 8 General Election. Ballots begin to be mailed to voters the next day. I urge you not to sit out on these important local decisions, but to step up and make an informed choice for County Clerk so that we can have the timely, transparent, and trusted elections all Clackamas County citizens deserve.

Catherine McMullen lives in West Linn with her family, is a certified election administrator and candidate for Clackamas County Clerk.

A version of this piece appeared in the Clackamas Review on October 3, 2022, Clerk candidate: Fill in Clackamas County races on your ballot. Sources for Opinion Editorial:

• November 8, General Election information from Clackamas County: https://www.clackamas.us/elections/nov-8-2022-general-election
• League of Women Voters Vote411.org:  https://www.vote411.org/
• 2018 Election Official Results: https://dochub.clackamas.us/documents/drupal/f4e7f0fb-250a-4992-918d-26c5f726de3c

September 27, 2022 Critics see opportunity to oust Clackamas County Clerk Sherry Hall after May election debacle

Read yesterday’s full article and then share in your networks via email and social media. Urge your friends and family to Vote Across their Whole Ballot and let’s tackle that undervote!

Will you be away from home during the 21 day voting period for the November 8 General Election? You can request an absentee ballot be mailed to the address where you are staying or you can pick up an absentee ballot at your county elections office starting today, Monday, September 26.

Any eligible voter traveling during an election or students attending an out-of-state college can still receive a ballot. Fill out the Absentee Ballot Request Form and return it to your county election office or update your voter registration at OregonVotes.gov, making sure to check “I will be away from home on Election Day.” to add your temporary mailing address for your ballot.

Ballots are mailed to all voters beginning October 19. Ballots cannot be forwarded by USPS. If you do not receive your ballot by October 26 contact your elections office for a replacement ballot.

Make a plan and vote across your whole ballot! Thank you for voting for County Clerk!

𝘼𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙫𝙤𝙩𝙚. 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚.

Today is UOCAVA Saturday, that is the day that ballots are mailed out to Uniformed and Overseas voters; to Americans all over the world. The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) requires that Elections Officials mail absentee ballots at least 45 days before Election Day (September 24) to U.S. citizens who are active members of the Uniformed Services, the Merchant Marine, and the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, their eligible family members, and U.S. citizens residing outside the United States.

If you need assistance with receiving your ballot, please contact the elections office. For more information about UOCAVA and voting from outside the U.S. go to FVAP.gov.

If you are going to be away from home during the 21 day voting period you can also request an absentee ballot be mailed to where you are staying or pick up an absentee ballot starting next week at the elections office (Monday, September 26).

Where are you voting from?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 20, 2022

Contact: Jaime Mathis, jaime.clackamasvoice@gmail.com 503-708-3249

West Linn, OR– The November 8 General Election is now just weeks away. Today, September 20 is National Voter Registration Day, a nonpartisan celebration of democracy and civic engagement. Today is a great time to make sure you, your family and friends are registered to vote at your current address. 

Checking your voter registration, updating your address, or registering for the first time is easy, quick and can be done online at the Oregon Secretary of State website oregonvotes.gov.

Catherine McMullen, candidate for Clackamas County Clerk and certified elections administrator encourages everyone to take 5 minutes today and invest in their democracy by confirming they are registered to vote. “For democracy to work, citizens have to participate and use their voices through voting. When I am clerk, I will continue to prioritize voter outreach and education so that qualified Clackamas County residents can choose their local and national leaders through our elections process.”

You can find out more about Catherine’s campaign at: ClackamasVoice.org. Read this press release in Spanish, Chinese, Russian, and Vietnamese.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 5, 2022

Contact: Jaime Mathis

jaime.clackamasvoice@gmail.com

503-708-3249

Catherine McMullen, Candidate for Clackamas County Clerk, Receives Strong Union Support

West Linn, OR.–Catherine McMullen, a Clackamas County resident, AFSCME Local 88 member, and elections official is running against 20 year incumbent, Sherry Hall, with an overwhelming majority of unions backing McMullen.

“I have been a proud union member almost my entire professional life and I’ve always been grateful to have their support, first as a worker, and now as a candidate. The strength of unions depends on its members having a voice in our communities and fighting for what’s best for people and their families.” said McMullen. 

To date, McMullen has gained endorsements from some of the region’s most well known unions including; AFSCME Local 350, UFCW Local 555, IBEW Local 48, Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council, and Northwest Oregon Labor Council AFL-CIO. 

McMullen commented, “It is encouraging to have the support of unions and their people power behind my campaign. I cannot be more grateful and look forward to running a clerk’s office where elections are timely and accurate, people have equitable access to marriage services, and where employees are able to benefit from the advocacy and work unions do.”

You can learn more about McMullen’s campaign, get involved, or donate at ClackamasVoice.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

August 23, 2022

Contact: Jaime Mathis

jaime.clackamasvoice@gmail.com

503-708-3249

Today, August 23 is Election Day in Oregon City and Oak Lodge Water Services Authority

Today is Election Day for the August 23 Special Election where voters will decide Oregon City’s next mayor as well  board members for the Oak Lodge Water Authority. The winner of the Oregon City mayoral race will finish out the end of Rachel Lyles-Smith’s term through the end of the year. In addition, voters who live in the Oak Lodge Water Services Authority District will be voting for five at large members to the board.  Ballots from eligible voters must be postmarked by today or dropped off at an open Official Ballot Drop Site before 8 PM in order to be counted. 

The next election for all other Clackamas County Voters will be the November 8 General Election to elect city, county, state, and federal offices.

Voters no doubt will recall the debacle in Clackamas County during the May Primary election when ballot barcodes were blurred at the printer and unreadable by voting machines. This resulted in an extra $600K spent and more than 6000 people hours to duplicate the blurred ballots and get election results completed in time for the June 13 certification deadline. This was largely due to a lack of strategic planning and response by the current clerk, Sherry Hall who will be up for re-election in the November General Election. 

For the August 23 Special Election you can check the status of your ballot online at oregonvotes.gov/myvote and check that your ballot has been received. You can also observe the ballot counting process at the Clerk’s office or call the office at 503-655-8510 with questions.

If you make a mistake and need a new ballot, you can get one at the Clackamas County elections office at: 1710 Red Soils Ct. in Oregon City until 8 PM tonight. 

Catherine McMullen, candidate for Clackamas County Clerk and certified elections administrator has prioritized voter education and election security, transparency, and accuracy in the 15 elections she has conducted. “I am an elections official and public servant focused on timely, accurate, and secure elections for our voters by ensuring that all citizens understand what their rights are, that they can vote, and make their voices heard.”

To prepare for the November 8 General Election, voters should check that their voter registration is accurate and up-to-date online at OregonVotes.gov/myvote. The Voter Registration Deadline is Tuesday, October 18 and ballots begin to be sent out the next day. Voters who will be away from home on Election Day can request an absentee ballot be mailed to their current location. Ballots going to Military and Overseas voters are mailed out by September 24 so now is a perfect time to make sure your information is correct. 

You can learn more about Catherine McMullen’s campaign for County Clerk and sign up to Volunteer at: ClackamasVoice.org

__________________________________________________

http://oregonvotes.gov/myvote

https://oregonvotes.gov/register

https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2022/06/oregons-largest-election-debacle-occurred-under-sherry-hall-years-of-mishaps-by-her-office-preceded-it.html

http://clackamasvoice.org 

We need your volunteer support, your voices, and your energy!

HIGHEST NEED: We start knocking on doors and talking voters on Friday. We’ll be engaging Oregon City voters and making sure they have the resources they need to vote in the August 23 Special Election. Sign up here!

Our 10,000 postcard campaign is going strong! We have distributed almost 4,000 postcards to volunteers. Sign up for a first or second pack today. And if you’ve already signed up, they are on their way! Sign up here!

Write a Letter to the Editor. We have a guide to get started online.

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