Forest Grove-area voters must cast their ballots, containing just two questions, by Tuesday, Nov 4 before the 8 p.m. deadline.
"Voters should decide whether they will return their ballot by mail via the United States Postal Service (USPS), at an Official Ballot Drop Box, or in-person at the Elections Office," Washington County said. "Ballots mailed back must be postmarked on or before November 4. A postage stamp is not needed when returning a ballot by mail."
A drop box is located in Forest Grove on Pacific Ave. in front of the Forest Grove City Library. In Banks, a box is located inside the driveway of the Banks Public Library on Market Street.
See a full list of drop sites here.
As of Thursday, Oct. 30, 16.3% of registered Washington County voters had returned a ballot, compared to the statewide total of 15.9%, according to the Oregon Secretary of State.
What's on the ballot?
Measure No. 34-345 - Replacement Levy to Support Countywide Library Services
Measure 34-345, if passed, would replace a local option levy that will expire in June 2026, and increase the current amount paid by property owners in Washington County.
"If Measure 34-345 does not pass, services would be reduced," Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) said on a webpage outlining the levy details.
Currently, property owners pay 22 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value to pay for the system that supports 16 member libraries across the county, including the Banks Public Library and the Forest Grove City Library. The Gales Creek Library is not a WCCLS member library.
Measure 34-345 would cost property owners 37 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value starting in July 2026. The levy would last five years.
According to WCCLS, about 45% of the organization's funding comes from the levy expiring in June.
The measure was endorsed by Banks Mayor Marsha Kirk, former Banks mayor, current Banks City Councilor and Friends of the Banks Public Library President Stephanie Jones, and former Banks mayor and current Banks City Councilor Peter Edison, according to an argument submitted in favor of the measure in the Washington County Voters' Pamphlet.
While the measure has seen widespread support, larger, urban libraries have expressed concern to the proposed changes in how funds would be disbursed, OPB reported.
Chief among the concerns of Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beaty is how funds are used to support nonprofit libraries like the North Plains Library, which is not part of a city government like the libraries in Banks and Forest Grove, and smaller libraries like the Banks Public Library.
The changes would benefit the Banks Public Library to the tune of an additional $256,000 annually.
Measure No. 34-346 - Replacement Local Option Levy for Countywide Public Safety Services
The Washington County Sheriff's Office is also seeking to renew and increase an expiring levy.
If passed, Measure No. 34-346 would replace a local option levy that will expire in June 2026, and increase the current amount paid by property owners in Washington County.
The current expiring levy costs property owners 47ยข per $1,000 of assessed value.
If passed, the new five-year levy would cost property owners 66 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.
"Police, prosecution, mental health, domestic violence and other services" would be among the items funded by the replacement levy, the Washington County Sheriff's Office said on a webpage outlining the levy details.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office maintains the Washington County Jail, the only jail in the county. It also provides law enforcement services to all of the unincorporated areas, both urban and rural, in the county. In Banks, Cornelius, Gaston, and other small cities, it serves as a local law enforcement agency under various contracts.
Election results
After the 8 p.m. deadline, results are published to results.oregonvotes.gov.
Because Oregon allows ballots that were postmarked by election day to be counted up to seven days after the election, it can take awhile to know the outcome of close races.
The county plans to publish initial vote tallies at 8 p.m., 10 p.m. and midnight on election night, and then again on Nov. 7, 14, 21, and 28 before certifying the election on Dec. 1.
This newspaper will carry coverage of the results on election night online at bankspost.com and newsinthegrove.com, including the two ballot measures and voter turnout. No subscription is needed.
More information on voting can be found by visiting the Washington County Elections Division website at WashCoVotes.org or by calling 503-846-5800.
