Multnomah County Sees Record Election Day Ballot Cast, Ranked-Choice Voting Debuts in Portland

Election Day brought a record-breaking number of ballots cast, with voters demonstrating a robust engagement in the democratic process. According to a news release from

Multnomah County

, there were 132,436 ballots received on Election Day itself, marking a significant turnout and showcasing the community’s commitment to participating in the pivotal 2024 general election, albeit turnout was projected to be slightly lower than historical averages for presidential elections.

The turnout figure climbed to an estimated 73% by Wednesday afternoon, which, while impressive, still falls short of the county’s previous presidential election numbers. Multnomah County Elections Director Tim Scott remarked, “We had a rush of voters cast their ballots on Election Day,” noting that “Our staff helped ensure everyone in line as of 8 p.m. received the assistance they were seeking and their votes count.” Despite the high volume and late surge, turnout was projected to almost reach 75%, with an additional 115,181 ballots still to be counted, as detailed by the

county’s press release

.

Adding to the electoral dynamism was the state law that permitted ballots postmarked on or before Election Day to be counted if they arrived within seven days at the elections office. This flexibility led to collecting 2,000 ballots from the post, arriving the day after the election.

The workforce behind this election deserves recognition. The County Board of Commissioners declared the day before Election Day Election Hero Day, celebrating the contributions of the election workers. These individuals played instrumental roles in operating drop sites, sorting ballots, aiding voters, and ensuring the integrity of the election—an embodiment of dedication and public service. The county’s website provides more details about the election workers and their responsibilities.

Reflecting on the larger picture, Vote by Mail’s longstanding reputation reinforces the core values of voter convenience, security, and accuracy. Each ballot envelope contains a unique identifier, offering a secure and verifiable voting process. The comprehensive verification procedure also includes a manual audit against machine vote counts for accuracy, with results set to be officially certified by December 2.

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