By KYLE ODEGARD
Gazette-Times reporter | Posted: Saturday, October 13, 2007 12:00 am
Registration deadline for fall election is Tuesday
Benton County had nearly 46,100 voters as of Friday, but that number will climb by hundreds before Tuesday's registration deadline, thanks in large part to a push to register students at Oregon State University.
"It's a big impact," said Jill Van Buren, county elections supervisor.
The Associated Students of Oregon State University has been conducting a registration drive on campus, and in the last 10 days, the group has collected about 700 registration cards, said Ryan Mann, 21, director of ASOSU's state affairs task force.
Students have registered for the first time or updated their information at tents on campus, but the organization's most successful effort is visiting classes - with professor permission, of course - handing out registration cards, and collecting those.
"We've been to around 10 to 12 classes of more than 100 people this week," Mann said. "When you bring it to them, it's really pretty easy." The group plans to visit more classes Monday and Tuesday.
"We always just go back to the cliché that if you don't express your vote, you can't complain. Especially in this city," he said.
"We need to take the opportunity to make our voices be heard," said Nadine Honda, ASOSU vice president. Future elections will impact Oregon universities more than the Nov. 6 ballot, however, she said.
Van Buren said that OSU students also have been registered to vote at the library and other public buildings, so ASOSU's drive is only a portion of the university's impact on county elections.
Those wishing to register to vote in any county in Oregon can do so in Benton County, as long as they meet the deadline, Van Buren said.
Two state measures are on the ballot, as is a countywide levy to raise $29 million over five years for public safety and health services.
Voters in the city of Monroe also will decide on a $1 million wastewater system general obligation bond authorization.
Because this is not a general election, a 50 percent turnout is required along with a 50 percent majority for measures to pass, Van Buren said.
The local voters' pamphlet will be mailed with ballots, and the state voters' pamphlet will arrive separately, she added.
Kyle Odegard covers Oregon State University. He can be contacted at kyle.odegard@lee.net or 758-9523.