Obama With Early Lead
Oregon Voters Likely To Top 1 Million
This is the first time in 40 years that Oregon votes are crucial in determining the Democratic nominee for president. That’s a likely reason so many voters are participating this year, with more than 800,000 ballots turned in by Monday. Voters have until 8 p.m. to turn in their ballots.By Joseph Friedrichs, 5-20-08
 |
|
 | |
|
More than 1 million Oregonians are expected to have cast their ballot by 8 p.m. tonight, marking the highest primary turnout in the state in two decades.
At least 800,000 people used the vote-by-mail election format as of Monday. And because it’s human nature to wait to do anything until the last possible moment, another 250,000 are expected to drop of ballots before tonight’s deadline.
At Bend’s county elections drop station a swarm of motorists steadily pulled in to hand over their ballots. Among them was Ben Severson, 27, of Bend, who said he had planned to vote all along but simply hadn’t gotten around to doing so.
“I saved on a stamp though,” he said.
Severson admitted he didn’t know a lot about most of the issues on the ballot, but that he was excited to participate in selecting a Democratic candidate. Severson said he voted for Sen. Barack Obama.
The Illinois Senator is expected to defeat Sen. Hillary Clinton in Oregon’s primary. The New York Times article “Obama Is Expected To Hit A Milestone In Tuesday’s Votes” details what is likely to happen after all of today’s votes are counted in Oregon and Kentucky.
This is the first time in 40 years that Oregon votes are crucial in determining the Democratic nominee for president. That’s a likely reason so many voters are participating this year, said Bend resident Mark Biggs.
“It’s on all the news stations,” Biggs said, referring to today’s primary.
Biggs, 52, said he voted for Clinton in today’s primary.
As of Monday afternoon, 52 percent of Democrats had cast ballots, compared with 38 percent of registered Republicans and 19 percent of unaffiliated and other voters.
“I’m betting we’ll find out by this afternoon who won,” Severson said. “I know that a lot of people turned their ballots in before today.”
Like this story? Get more! Sign up for our free newsletters.
Comments
Be the first to comment on this article. Please complete the form below.