Low Voter Turnout Spells Doom For Salem-Keizer Transit District Measure

HEAR THIS STORY AND MORE SALEM-AREA NEWS FROM SALEM-NEWS.COM’S KEVIN HAYS ON NEWSRADIO 1190 KEX

Photo Courtesy: lifelongaidsalliance.org

(SALEM) - Low voter turnout locally and statewide has elections officials scratching their heads to find a logical explanation as to why so few voters are voting in Tuesday`s primary election.

As of 5:00 PM on Tuesday, only 30 percent of the 143,406 registered voters in Marion County had turned in their ballots.

In Polk County, voter turnout is even lower, 24 percent. In Linn County, 33 percent of the voters have turned ballots in, and in Benton County, the lowest voter turnout of all, 19 percent.

Statewide, low voter turnout could beat the previous low of 35 percent in 1998.

For the Salem-Keizer Transit District, this means that their local option tax levy measure, 24-155, more than likely, will fail, partly because of the low voter turnout.

For the measure to be enacted, it must receive a majority of the votes cast, and voter turnout must be at least 50 percent of the registered voters in the district.

The district is proposing a five-year tax measure.

80 percent of the money will maintain current bus service.

The other 20 percent will help start and maintain Sunday service, add more frequent buses on congested streets, and add transit centers and bus shelters.

The measure would generate approximately $6.5 million in the 2006-07 fiscal year.

Cherriots Facts:

Current annual ridership (calendar 2005): 5,392,000 Estimated annual ridership increase, Sunday service: 300,000 Special services provided by Cherriots: shuttles to community events such as the State Fair and the Art Fair; CherryLift services for disabled persons; home-to-workshop trips for MR/DD riders; overload service to Salem/Keizer high schools; downtown Salem Fare-Free zone; and discount bus pass programs with employers Estimated number of cars Cherriots takes off the road, daily: about 5,000 (Based on a 2002 survey of Cherriot riders) To make your vote count in the election, ballots must be in the hands of county elections officials by 8:00 PM Tuesday.

POSTMARKS DO NOT COUNT!

Marion County Elections Office, 4263 Commercial St. SE, drive-by drop-off, 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Marion County Sheriff`s Office, 270 Commercial St. NE.

Marion County Extension, 3180 Center St. NE, Room 1361.

Aumsville, City Hall, 595 Main St.

Donald, City Hall, 10790 Main St. NE

Gervais: City Hall, 524 Fourth St.

Jefferson, Jefferson Rural Fire Protection District Office, 189 N. Main St.

Keizer, City Hall, 930 Chemawa Road NE

Mt. Angel, St. Mary's Public School, 590 E. College St.

Silverton, City Hall, 306 S Water St.

Stayton, Stayton Public Library, 515 N First St.

Sublimity, City Hall, 245 NW Johnson St.

Turner, City Hall, 7250 Third St.

Woodburn, City Hall, 270 Montgomery St

Polk County Courthouse Clerk's Office, 850 Main Street, 24-Hour Drop-site Located on East side of Courthouse

West Salem Library, 395 Glen Creek Road NW

Monmouth, Monmouth Public Library, 168 Ecols Street S

Independence, City Hall, 240 Monmouth Street

Monmouth, Western Oregon University, Werner University Center, 345 N. Monmouth Avenue