Here's The Last Day To Register To Vote In Oregon

CLACKAMAS COUNTY, OR — Prospective voters have until Tuesday to select their political party and register for the May 15 Primary Election.

Numerous federal, state, county and city-level positions are being contested for a spot on the November 2018 General Election ballot, with no fewer than 17 individual candidates vying for the governor's role alone.

Clackamas County's election includes two county commissioner positions, the county clerk position, and a currently uncontested county treasurer position.

Local levies on the ballot effect levy rates in Portland, Aurora, Happy Valley, Lake Grove, Estacada, and Molalla; additionally, bonds are being sought by Tualatin (a traffic congestion and safety improvement bond) and West Linn (a road, parks, and city facilities improvement bond).

Measure 26-197 in Portland, if approved, will renew the Portland Children's Levy at its current rate.

Previously approved by voters in 2002, 2008, and 2013, funds from the Portland Children's Levy support programs preventing childhood hunger, child abuse and neglect, getting kids to school on time as well as providing safe, constructive after-school options, and helping foster children succeed.

Measure 34-282 in Tualatin would authorize the city to issue $20 million in general obligation bonds to fund traffic congestion relief projects and neighborhood safety improvements across the city.

New traffic signals and additional lanes along some of Tualatin's busiest roads, as well as resident-selected areas for improved safety features, such as crosswalks, would be funded by the approved bond. Homeowners, however, could expect a 50-cent raise in property rates per $1,000 assessed value.

The increase would cost around $150 per year for the average Tualatin home.

Measure 3-525 in Lake Grove, if approved, would authorize Lake Grove Rural Protection Fire District No. 57 to renew its current local option levy at a rate of 15-cents per $1,000 to fund fire services.

This levy would take effect in 2019 and replace the expiring levy, which was set at a rate of 40-cents per $1,000 assessed value.

Measure 3-526 in Happy Valley maintains the current levy tax rate of 54-cents per $1,000 assessed value set by the North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District but instead directs the funds to the city of Happy Valley instead of the county.

Measures 3-527 and 3-528 affect West Linn residents.

Approval of M3-527 authorizes the city issue $20 million in general obligation bonds to improve roads, parks, and city facilities. City officials do not expect the current bond tax rate of 42-cents per $1,000 assessed value to increase.

M3-528, if approved, allows the city to annex nearly 6.5 acres of property on Bland Circle.

Measure 3-529 would maintain services provided by Molalla Rural Fire Protection and replace a current levy set to expire in 2019 and a federal grant that expires this year.

The modified levy would be set at 76-cents per $1,000 assessed value.

Measures 3-530 and 3-531 in Gladstone authorize the city to build a new library and sell surplus property, respectively.

Measure 3-532 in Molalla allows voters to approve or reject an ordinance enacted by the Molalla City Council in January that creates a city street management system. The cost of the system would run residents about $11 per month.

Measures 3-533 and 3-534 in Estacada update a 54-year-old local option tax for maintenance of the city's cemetery and approves city charter amendments, respectively.

M3-533 imposes a tax rate of 3-cents per $1,000 assessed value for general operations at the Estacada cemetery.

And M3-534 approves amendments to the city's charter that conform to state law changes.

Measure 24-428 in Aurora replaces the current tax levy of 49-cents per $1,000 assessed value, approved by voters in 2013, and raises it to 99-cents per $1,000 assessed value to fund emergency fire and medical services.

Voters can register online at OregonVotes.gov/register, or by mailing a paper Voter Registration Card by April 24.

To register in person, voters need to visit the elections office at 1710 Red Soils Court, Suite 100, in Oregon City.

Voters also need to select their party by April 24, and can do so online at OregonVotes.gov/myvote.

For more information on Clackamas County's election process, visit Clackamas County's elections website.

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