Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency Services Talent Evening Market tries free approach Mail Tribune 100 Car crash kills Talent woman UPDATED: Medford school bus in crash; no students hurt, officials say Crime, Courts and Emergency Services UPDATED: Medford school bus in crash; no students hurt, officials say A boon to business Murderer to get new sentence Medford police arrest two men suspected of being sickle-wielding robbers Emergency Services Politics and Elections Candidate files false statements Just one seat will be contested for Central Point council Gold Hill mayor faces challenger; other races have one candidate each Medford proposes new rules for pawn shops to help nab thieves Lack of incumbents, pot issue draws 10 for Medford council races Education UPDATED: Medford school bus in crash; no students hurt, officials say Free TED talk simulcast in Ashland Bear spotted near Central Point school Eagle Point helps students with first-day jitters Back-to-school shopping can add up Environment Medford hunter's exotic collection goes on sale Elusive owls get new home in Cascades Judge won't block release of water Ashland marchers won't give up on climate change message OR-7 could be recollared next month State news Nation - World Obituaries Lina Moore Samuel John Jensen Death Notices Dena DeKorte Kay E. Mulhollen Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Pittman captures World of Outlaws triumph Packers-Seahawks a spicy start Are you ready for some football? League of his own A star is born Varsity 541 College Sports League of his own A star is born Oregon State receivers aim to 'grow up' Freshman Freeman impresses in debut Beavers land heralded prospects Pro Sports Packers-Seahawks a spicy start Brett Bochy joins his father in the big leagues Monfils advances his way at US Open Guthrie helps Royals edge Rangers Mike Barry caps off SOGC with thrilling conclusion Community Sports Barry fires back into SOGC finals Super seniors strong at SOGC Crenshaw pulls off upset in SOGC Murphy claims victory in Stroke Play Championships South Korea downs Chicago for World Series title Business Latest Stories Business briefs This brew is for SOU Small business hiring flat in past month Learn about energy efficiency and historic preservation 1-800-Flowers.com buying Harry & David for $142.5 million Real Estate News People In Business Transportation Agriculture 1-800-Flowers.com buying Harry & David for $142.5 million Earlier than normal pear harvest coming up short of expectations Weisinger's Winery has earliest crush on record Amy's Kitchen begins expansion in White City Opinion Latest Our View: Make property owners pay for cleanup Letters to the Editor, Sept. 4 Dana Milbank: Obama's unnerving happy talk George Will: An eye on the Baltic States? Granlund cartoon: NFL and domestic violence Editorials Our View: Make property owners pay for cleanup Committed to community Envisioning a two-wheeled future Tiny homes, big ideas, a scarcity of information Charter schools prove to be option not obstacle Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Sept. 4 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 3 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 1 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 31 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 29 Guest Opinions Wilderness for Kalmiopsis has served us well The summer of my discontent: An open letter to Bill Rauch The power of local philanthropy Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: Just a heads up ... Community blog: Try this sweet treat for back-to-school snacking Put your kids through the school of good eats Cobbler and crisp recipes The peace potential of cobblers and crisps Food Community blog: Try this sweet treat for back-to-school snacking Put your kids through the school of good eats Cobbler and crisp recipes The peace potential of cobblers and crisps What does 'natural' really mean? Home and Garden Hot tips for a cool (shade) garden An August checklist for your garden Green Scene: Diagnosing common tomato troubles Lawn talk Health 'Super-Agers' are coming fast Community blog: It happened again... Community blog: What the Brain Isn't - Mind or Love Community blog: The Unfriendly Skies (continued) Healthy Aging: Iron girls galore Hiking Faith Religion briefs Religion briefs Community Blog: Is Peace Possible in the Middle East - Part three of four Religion briefs Community Blog: Is Peace Possible in the Middle East part 2 Milestones and Achievements New Arrivals Engagements Wedding: Ivanov-Leftin New Arrivals Shayla Brooke Grether and Jesse Levi Tanner Columnist for a Day Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Jeff Stanley at Del Rio Vineyards Get Up & Go Siskiyou Summit at Belle Fiore Winery Songwriter Bradford Loomis at Oberon's Tavern Liquid Reflections at Applegate Lodge Theater 'Freud's Last Session" at Ashland Contemporary Theatre OSF presents 'The Alchemy of Gender' Randall Theatre extends 'Godspell' 'Pump Boys & Dinettes' opens at Camelot Theatre Film festival kicks off annual 'Daedalus Project' Music Rodney Carrington at Britt Jeff Stanley at Del Rio Vineyards Siskiyou Summit at Belle Fiore Winery Songwriter Bradford Loomis at Oberon's Tavern Liquid Reflections at Applegate Lodge Community Events Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists 5 Things to Do This Weekend From business professor to artist Shady Cove Tie Days Swap Meet 'Prints From the Plateau' at the Rogue Gallery Dining Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co. NW Raw Kelly's Crepes Basil & Berries Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Medford police arrest two men suspected of being sickle-wielding robbers ... Bear spotted near Central Point school ... 10 things to know for Wednesday ... Medford police arrest two men suspected of being sickle-wielding robbers ... Bear spotted near Central Point school ... 10 things to know for Wednesday ... EYE ON NOVEMBER Will Oregon voters return after dismal primary? By JONATHAN J. COOPER Associated Press MailTribune.com By JONATHAN J. COOPER Associated Press Posted Aug. 28, 2014 @ 6:35 pm By JONATHAN J. COOPER Associated Press Posted Aug. 28, 2014 @ 6:35 pm » Social News SALEM — Oregon's voter participation rate hit a near record low for the modern era in the May primary. That begs the question: Why?  Did voters sit out because there weren't many high-profile races, something that's naturally fixed in a general election? Or are they turned off from politics and uninterested in engaging?  The answer, and the likelihood that the campaigns can motivate people who agree with them, has implications in any of the races that have the potential to be close this November.  Those include ballot measures to legalize pot and label genetically engineered food; top-of-the-ticket races for governor and U.S. Senate; and especially the much lower profile state legislative races that will determine control of the state Capitol.  Just 36 percent of registered voters turned in a ballot in May, the lowest participation rate for a primary since Oregon eliminated polling places in 2000 and the second-lowest since 1960. By contrast, 42 percent of voters participated four years earlier.  "There's a lot of time spent trying to model and profile voters," said Len Bergstein a political consultant who has worked on ballot measure campaigns. "You model who's likely to come out for these various issues, and then what other issues are they likely to vote on."  Oregon has historically had among the highest voter turnout rates in the country, but the state this year is mirroring a national downward trend in participation.  Campaign experts attribute the low participation in May in part to a boring election season. Aside from a marginally competitive Republican primary for U.S. Senate, there were no high-profile statewide races nudge voters to fill out their ballots. There were fewer television ads that remind voters it's election season, and the campaigns didn't have the aggressive statewide field operations to get their supporters to participate.  "Getting voters to realize that there's an election going on is part of the challenge," said Stacey Dycus, a Democratic political consultant who's worked on ballot measure and candidate campaigns.  The general election, by contrast, has plenty to get people excited.  The races for governor and Senate have the potential to be competitive. Ballot measures on marijuana legalization and labeling requirements for genetically modified crops both have the potential to motivate on-again, off-again voters. So does a referendum that would grant driving privileges to people in the country illegally.  The pot and labeling ballot measure campaigns look to be well funded, which means they'll have the cash for television ads and expensive get-out-the-vote efforts.  Of course, television can be a double-edged sword. Effective ads can make an emotional connection with voters, Dycus said. But relentless negative advertising — as has already begun in the Senate race — can turn off voters who are frustrated with politics or unenthusiastic about choosing between two sullied candidates.  Democrats outnumber Republicans in Oregon, but the party has struggled to get some supporters to cast a ballot in the midterm elections.  "Right now, Republicans seem to be interested in the election more than Democrats," said Portland-based Republican pollster Bob Moore. "That could change. I'm sure the president is going to try to gin up turnout for the Democrats around the country, so it's kind of hard to project right now what it's going to be like."  Oregon's voter participation rates have ebbed and flowed over the past six decades, the period for which data is accessible from the secretary of state's website.  For midterm primaries — those in years without a presidential election — it's ranged from a high of 56 percent in 1966 to a low of 35 percent in 1998, just 1 point lower than this year's turnout.  For general elections, the high of 77 percent was in 1990; the low of 59 percent was, like the lowest-turnout primary, in 1998.  In some years, like 1998, poor turnout in the primary has been followed by similarly poor turnout in the general. But it's not universal. In 2010, primary turnout was below average for the 13 elections since 1960, but turnout in the general was among the highest. By JONATHAN J. COOPER Associated Press MailTribune.com By JONATHAN J. COOPER Associated Press Posted Aug. 28, 2014 @ 6:35 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501