Street Roots editorial:
Fifty percent of people ages 18-40 in Multnomah County are not registered to vote. Not cool.
Some say that it’s a combination of people having moved from on address to another, or not voting in the mid-term and primary elections. In Oregon, that means you will need to register again to vote.
Others say the poor rate is because demographics of Portland are changing, and many young people have yet to be introduced to the level of civic engagement that makes Portland special.
Apathy also plays a part. Some voters have tuned-out since the 2008 elections. That’s no excuse. Maybe the past four years didn’t go exactly the way you wanted and the constant barrage of bad news about war, poverty, global warming and the recession has left a sour taste in your mouth. Whatever the reason, it’s time to tune back in. If you care about the world you live, regardless of your issue or passion, placing your vote in November matters. Seriously.
Oregon offers one of the most progressive and effortless systems with vote by mail. Being able to have dinner parties with friends, or an evening with your significant other, discussing the many ballot measures and political races this November is civic engagement at its best. It’s the perfect time to be able to discuss a range of important issues and then directly weigh in on those issues with a vote.
Street Roots will be publishing an election postcard this year highlighting our views on local and statewide ballot measures. We will also be running interviews with local candidates for mayor and city council. Look for coverage throughout the month of October leading up to the November election.
Street Roots along with its partners will also be sponsoring a candidate forum on housing and homelessness where we’ll be drilling mayoral and council candidates on issues of poverty. The event will be held 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17, at the Portland Community College Southeast Center at Southeast 82nd Avenue and Division Street. Be there.
Registering to vote is easy as pie in Oregon. Go to www.oregonvotes.org and register, simple as that. You can also register to vote at your local post office or the Department of Motor Vehicles. There will also be an army of young people out and about at busy crossroads and on college campuses registering folks. Don’t put it off. The deadline is Oct. 16.
Voter registration is down in Oregon and around the country. Let’s not follow the whole baby boomer, disillusionment-in-politics thing that happened after the 1960. Our global environment cannot afford it, literally.