Seven reforms packaged in individual measures would bring ranked choice voting to county elections, increase transparency
Portland isn’t the only area government facing a potential shake-up in the form of changes to its governing charter.
The Multnomah County Charter Review Committee also deliberated this year to produce a package of proposed reforms. Unlike the Portland Charter Commission, its county-wide counterpart separated the proposals into seven individual ballot measures. Perhaps the most significant proposal is also similar to one of the Portlander Charter Commission’s proposals: ranked choice voting.
The Multnomah County Charter Review Committee is appointed by state lawmakers within Multnomah County and convenes every six years to provide proposed amendments to the county charter.
Measure 26-230
Measure 26-230 seeks to amend the county charter to use gender-neutral terms like positioned titles being referenced rather than gendered terms like “he” or “she.”
Currently, the county charter uses gendered terms throughout. According to the commission’s explanatory statement filed with the ballot measure, the update would bring the charter into alignment with the County Code. The County Code underwent similar changes in 2019 in an effort to make it more inclusive.
An example provided in the explanatory statement includes an excerpt of section 6.50 of the county charter which states “The people of Multnomah County shall elect a county sheriff for the function of said office as prescribed by state law and he or she shall …” Under the proposed changes, the section would then read “The people of Multnomah County shall elect a county sheriff for the function of said office as prescribed by state law and the sheriff shall …”
Measure 26-231
Measure 26-231 amends the county charter to require the county to “extend the right to vote, including to noncitizens, to the fullest extent of the law.”
Currently, the county doesn’t have any provisions regarding legal voters aside from state laws that hold U.S. citizens age 18 or older are eligible to vote, aside from exceptions including people with felony convictions.
The measure would require the county to establish to what extent it can legally extend voting rights in county elections to people who are currently excluded, including noncitizens and people with felony convictions. The measure would only apply to voting in county elections and would not result in any immediate changes to voter eligibility.
Measure 26-232
Measure 26-232 would result in the most substantial guaranteed change for people in Multnomah County. If passed, the measure institutes ranked choice voting, or instant runoff elections, and eliminates separate primary and runoff elections.
Ranked choice voting is a simple process gaining popularity in local, county and state elections throughout the United States. Essentially, a voter ranks the candidates from most desirable to least desirable. Elections workers then count the votes by round.
In round one, workers count all of the votes as they normally would, focusing on the voter’s top choice. If no candidate receives a majority of the top choice votes in the first round, the candidate who received the fewest top choice votes is eliminated.
Unlike how current elections are conducted, voters who selected that unfortunate candidate with their top vote are not then entirely removed from the voter pool. Instead, their vote then transfers to the candidate whom they ranked as their second choice. The process continues in rounds until a candidate then has a majority. By conducting elections this way, the county would eliminate the current need for separate primary and runoff elections, instead electing county officials in one vote.
If passed by voters, ranked choice voting for county offices would take effect in 2026.
Measure 26-233
Measure 26-233 amends the county charter to increase the number of times a commissioner is required to visit to local jails from once per term, or every other year, to twice per term, meaning once per year.
Because commissioners are the inspector of local jails per state law, they are currently required to visit the Multnomah County Detention Center and Multnomah County Inverness Jail each once per term to assess cleanliness, health conditions and discipline conditions. In addition to the required number of visits doubling, the sheriff would be required to provide access at any time without prior notice, to facilities, confidential interviews with consenting parties and records.
Volunteers who are selected by commissioners to accompany them on inspections would then issue public reports with findings and recommendations.
Measure 26-234
Measure 26-234 amends the county charter to establish an ombudsperson in the county auditor’s office to “impartially investigate complaints about county administrative actions, (and) make reports.” Officials would then be required to respond to those reports.
Ombudspeople, beyond having a funny title, are tasked with investigating complaints of malfeasance, corruption, inefficiency and the like. If the measure passes, Multnomah County would hire a dedicated ombudsperson — which it currently does not have — for the auditor’s office.
The ombudsperson would serve under and take direction from the auditor and would “investigate complaints and make related reports about administrative actions of the county.” The ombudsperson would not investigate elected officials or their staff, litigation matters, grievances where a collective bargaining agreement applies, personnel rule violations or discrimination complaints.
“The goal of the ombudsperson would be to safeguard the rights of the public and promote high standards of fairness, competency, efficiency and justice in the provision of county services,” according to the commission’s ballot filing.
Measure 26-235
Measure 26-235 amends the county charter to “provide county auditor timely, unrestricted access to employees, information, records and require(s) ‘right-to-audit’ clause in county contracts.”
The current charter requires the county auditor to conduct all performance audits for county operations and financial affairs. These findings are reported to the board of county commissioners, and auditors are granted full autonomy over the subject of audits — including those studies intended to improve county functions. The auditor can appoint a salary commission and plays a role in redistricting, including evaluation of population distribution in county districts after the census and possible redistricting recommendations. As written, the charter does not specify the other duties of the auditor, or how audits are conducted. In particular, the charter does not provide explicit mention of the auditor’s ability to access employees, information or records.
This amendment, recommended by the current Charter Review Committee, would amend the charter to explicitly state that the auditor be allowed unrestricted, timely access to county employees, information, and records required to perform duties of the auditor. According to the proposed measure, the county and auditor would determine an appropriate system for managing confidential or sensitive records.
Measure 26-236
Measure 26-236 amends the county charter to “require (the) county board to appoint Charter Review Committee by commissioner district” and lengthen the current public engagement and deliberation period for charter recommendations from 11 months to 18 months.
Every six years, the Charter Review Committee meets to review the charter and recommend possible amendments. The proposed measure recommended by the current Charter Review Committee would amend the charter, removing the timeline for application and appointment and changing the nomination process.
Currently, state legislators appoint the Charter Review Committee. Two electors from each senatorial district with majority voters in the county and one elector from each district with less than a majority. The committee meets from September to August — up to 11 months, and chooses its own chairperson.
The proposed measure recommended by the Charter Review Committee would amend the charter, removing the timeline for application and appointment. After applications for the charter have been received, the county chair would appoint four electors from each commission district, for a total of 16 members, that would be approved by the county chair. Appointments would be organized according to commissioner district rather than senate district. The amendment would remove the restriction stating that appointees of the same district could not be affiliated with the same political party. It would also allow the committee to meet for up to 18 months (from March to August of the following year).
Street Roots is an award-winning weekly investigative publication covering economic, environmental and social inequity. The newspaper is sold in Portland, Oregon, by people experiencing homelessness and/or extreme poverty as means of earning an income with dignity. Street Roots newspaper operates independently of Street Roots advocacy and is a part of the Street Roots organization. Learn more about Street Roots. Support your community newspaper by making a one-time or recurring gift today.
© 2022 Street Roots. All rights reserved. | To request permission to reuse content, email editor@streetroots.org or call 503-228-5657, ext. 404
