Voters with disabilities in the Bethany area can call a statewide hotline for help with their ballot before Tuesday's Nov. 3 election.
Disability Rights Oregon (DRO), the state's federally mandated disability advocacy nonprofit, reopened its voter hotline at 888-339-VOTE (888-339-8683) and launched new online voting resources ahead of the midterm election, as first reported by the Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Callers can get help with ballot access, signature concerns, inaccessible drop boxes and other disability-related voting barriers. "The number one thing people call about is they don't know what their rights are," Tom Stenson, DRO's deputy legal director, told the Oregon Capital Chronicle. The full range of issues the hotline handles is detailed in the Chronicle's reporting.
If voters report problems that county clerks aren't resolving, DRO will contact the Secretary of State's Elections Office and help file complaints, according to a DRO statement carried by the Tillamook County Pioneer.
"No one should lose that power because of a drop box they can't reach or a ballot they can't fill out on their own," Jake Cornett, DRO's executive director and CEO, said in that statement. "If you run into a barrier, call us."
Local drop boxes and county help
Washington County has 21 official ballot drop boxes, all accessible around the clock, according to county elections information. The closest to Bethany are at the Bethany Library, 15325 NW Central Dr., Suite J-8, and the Cedar Mill Community Library, 1080 NW Saltzman Rd.
Voted ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. Tuesday. Stenson advised callers to use a drop box rather than the mail this close to Election Day.
Ballots can also be returned by mail through the U.S. Postal Service if postmarked by Nov. 3 and received within seven calendar days after Election Day, or in person at the Elections Office at 2925 NE Aloclek Dr. in Hillsboro, according to county records.
Washington County's own Voter Assistance Team provides separate help to voters with disabilities, including reading the ballot or voters' pamphlet aloud and helping mark a ballot. The team can also schedule visits to assisted living facilities and community centers, according to a county press release. Voters can reach the county Elections Office at 503-846-5800.
DRO's online voting resources include plain-language guides with closed-captioned, American Sign Language (ASL)-interpreted videos covering topics such as assistance with voting, the Oregon Voter Bill of Rights and how to report a voting problem.
