Just over 12,000 voters received a ballot for the Nov. 2, 2021 Special Election, which included ballot measures for the City of Fairview, Lake Oswego, Lake Oswego School District and Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue District. And while only the voters who live in those districts received a ballot, turnout still reached 22.07 percent on Election Night.
Unofficial election results were promptly posted at 8 p.m., Election Night, with a large portion of ballots already counted with pre-processing that began one week before the election.
Accessibility and education remain key goals for Multnomah County’s Elections Division with every election, large or small. This election cycle was no exception, with the debut of new Independent Voting Units (IVUs), which were made available to voters at the main election office in Southeast Portland and at the Gresham Voting Center Express.
Any voter can use the IVU tablet system, which allows people to use adaptive technology to vote their ballot. The touchscreen allows users to adjust the font size and use three contrasting color-sets. Voters can use the touch screen or a controller that can be held in the lap with markings in English and Braille. A headset can be used to adjust the volume and speed of the audio reading the ballot.
IVUs will become a permanent part of the County’s elections infrastructure in the future, said Elections Director Tim Scott.
“We are always looking at ways that we can make voters’ experience the best it can be by ensuring secure, transparent, accurate and accessible elections,'' said Scott. “Every election counts.”
Final election results will be certified and submitted to cities and special districts by Nov. 22, 2021, and will be posted on the Elections website at mcelections.org.