Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Covering Dallas, Monmouth, Independence, Falls City and surrounding areas since 1868

EDITORIAL

Exercise your right to vote this election

October 30, 2012

One of the best opportunities that we have to let our voices be heard is by participating in the right to vote.

The deadline to do just that is fast approaching.

Registered voters in Polk County have until 8 p.m. Tuesday to return their ballots for the Nov. 6 vote-by-mail general election. With Oregon elections conducted via vote-by-mail, it is important to remember that ballots must reach the county clerk's office or one of the county elections drop sites by 8 p.m. Tuesday -- postmarks do not count.

It is recommended that if you can't get your ballot in the mail before Friday, that you hand deliver it to either the Polk County Clerk's Office in downtown Dallas or drop it off in person at one of the drop sites listed below.

In case you need another reminder to vote, here is one: the importance of this election cannot be understated.

Polk County residents will determine who their next commissioner will be for Position 1. A seat on the Polk County Circuit Court is at stake. There are several races for state house and senate seats, a number of statewide ballot measures and, oh, there's a little race for President of the United States that is shaping up to be one of the closest in recent election history.

Results from the Nov. 6 election will be posted online by Polk County Tuesday beginning at 8 p.m. Log on to the Polk County Clerk's website, www.co.polk.or.us/electionresults for up-to-the-minute results. The Itemizer-Observer will provide election results on its Facebook page Tuesday night and have stories online by the afternoon of Nov. 7.

Don't forget to vote -- and don't forget to return those ballots in time to be counted.

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Polk County Election Drop Sites

* Polk County Courthouse, Clerk's Office, 850 Main St., Dallas. Open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; open election day, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; a 24-hour drop box is located on the east side of the courthouse.

* Roth's Fresh Market, 1130 Wallace Road NW, West Salem. Open daily, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; open election day, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

* Independence Public Library, 175 Monmouth St., Independence. Open Monday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 1 to 7 p.m.; open Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; open election day, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

* Monmouth Public Library, 168 Ecols St. S., Monmouth. Open Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; open Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; open Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; open election day, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

* Wagner Community Library, 111 N. Main St., Falls City. Open Monday, 1 to 6 p.m.; open Tuesday through Thursday, 1 to 5 p.m.; open Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; open election day, 1 to 8 p.m.

* Western Oregon University, Werner University Center, 345 N. Monmouth Ave., Monmouth. Open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; open Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; open election day, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.