calebtr writes “Voters today in Jackson County, Oregon are deciding if they are willing to fund their libraries.
According to Oregon’s Measure 47 of 1996, ballots that increase property taxes not only need a 50% ‘yes’ vote, but a 50% turnout of registered voters as well.
The “double majority” is hard on libraries that are trying to pass levies during spring elections because people generally don’t show up to vote (er, mail their ballots in).
Today at 5:30, the Jackson County Clerk reported an unoffical 50.1% turnout.
Unofficial election results will be posted at 8pm pacific time.”
update
preliminary results don’t look good (7:43 pm):
15-75 Local Option Tax for Public Library Operations JACKSON COUNTY Vote For 1 Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,873 40.21 No. . . . . . . . . . . . . 29,556 59.79 Total . . . . . . . . . 49,429 Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 4 Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 410Even with the 56,000+ turnout that the clerk is now reporting, it doesn’t seem likely that the ‘yes’ votes will catch up to the ‘no’ votes. But here’s hopin’ some more.