Initial Ore. vote results come gushing in; Portland vote gives tax measures early lead
By Tim Fought, APTuesday, January 26, 2010
Early Ore. vote results come gushing in
PORTLAND, Ore. — Early results from Oregon’s special election came gushing in, and two tax measures were ahead on the strength of votes from Multnomah County, home of the liberal bastion Portland.
Polling suggested the final count could be closer. The heavy vote was a result of a new law that allows mailed in ballots to be scanned days in advance of the close of voting.
With nearly three-quarters of the expected vote counted, 55 percent had voted for Measure 66, which would impose higher taxes on the wealthy, and 45 percent had voted against.
On Measure 67, which would raise taxes on businesses, 54 percent had voted for and 46 percent had voted against.
The Legislature imposed the tax increases last year, and businesses interests sponsored referendum petitions to put them to a statewide vote.
The campaign pitted public employee unions against business groups, with the unions having the upper hand in spending based on the most recent reports.
Secretary of State Kate Brown predicted that 62 percent of the state’s 2 million registered voters will have mailed in or dropped off their ballots. Oregon doesn’t use traditional voting polls.
