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SUNNY Temp: 55 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, November 21, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 14, 2002 Sept. 17 election ballots come in slowly A low turnout could doom a $2.7 million White City police levy By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune Although only four days are left, more than 72 percent of Jackson County voters have not turned in their ballots for the Sept. 17 special election. Ballot drop-off locations Voters have four days left to cast their ballots in order to be counted in the Sept. 17 Special Election. All ballots must be received by 8 p.m. Tuesday, whether by mail or hand delivery. Drop boxes are at the following locations: Ashland — branch library, 410 Siskiyou Blvd. Central Point — branch library, 226 E. Pine St. Eagle Point — branch library, 158 W. Main St. Gold Hill — branch library, 420 Sixth Ave. Jacksonville — branch library, 170 S. Oregon St. Medford — county elections department (old Safeway building), 1101 W. Main St. (24-hour site) Phoenix — branch library, 110 W. Second St. Rogue River — branch library, 211 Pine St. Shady Cove — branch library, 22477 Highway 62. Talent — branch library, 105 N. I St. The White City office of the sheriff’s department is an unofficial county drop-off site. It’s at 3131 Ave. C. All other boxes will close at various times. On Tuesday, however, they will all be open until 8 p.m. For a complete list of times, visit the county’s Web site at www.co.jackson.or.us . The numbers are even lower in White City, where at least 50 percent of voters must cast their ballots to pass a five-year, $2.7 million levy for police protection. According to County Clerk Kathy Beckett, 27.5 percent of registered voters countywide had turned in their ballots by Friday. Only 20.7 percent of White City residents had voted, she said. "Statewide elections generally don’t get a lot of support, at least recently," she said. The ballot for voters in the Rogue Valley contains up to three issues: Measure 19 (statewide): Authorizes transfer of $150 million from school endowment fund to help plug shortfalls in school funding for 2002-03. It creates an education stability fund. Measure 20 (statewide): Increases the cigarette tax by 60 cents to fund the Oregon Health Plan and other programs. Measure 15-30 (White City): Creates an annual levy of $541,000 for five years to fund additional law enforcement officers. Replaces the expiring existing levy. Measure 15-29 (Shady Cove): Creates a water supply district in Shady Cove. Voters also will be asked to elect five commissioners for the district. Beckett said one factor may be contributing to the low turnout: confusion over Medford’s curbside drop-off site. The box at the old county courthouse, 10 S. Oakdale Ave., was moved to the new elections department (the old Safeway building) at 1101 W. Main St. Several residents have called the elections department and Mail Tribune to ask what happened to the old box. Beckett said numerous signs have been posted at the old courthouse informing residents about the location change. It’s also posted on the county’s Web site. "It’s just a matter of people realizing that it’s moved," she said. "We have a new home now." There’s no drop-box in White City, and Cascade Community Pool director Joy Reich wonders if that’s affecting turnout in the unincorporated town. Reich is one of several residents phoning White City residents and urging them to turn in their ballots. She’s a member of the law enforcement district advisory committee and is fighting to get the levy passed. If the levy fails, White City residents will lose their 24-7 sheriff’s department patrols. "We’re calling as many people as we can," Reich said. "We won’t stop until the end." The county has 10 official ballot drop sites in Medford, Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, Gold Hill, Rogue River, Jacksonville, Shady Cove, Central Point and Eagle Point. Beckett said it’s simply too expensive to install more official drop boxes. "We have to go through a lot of rules and regulations and policies and procedures," Beckett said. "They’re expensive to open and if people don’t utilize them, then we’re spending a lot of taxpayer money." However, unofficial drop-off sites are perfectly legal and the White City sheriff’s department office is now taking ballots. To be counted in the election, all ballots are due by 8 p.m. Tuesday. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S