The pace of election returns in Oregon

By Jim Moore, KOIN political analyst, Pacific University professor

Is it just me? Or does our vaunted vote by mail system just bog down into a mess when we count the ballots?

Here it is, 3:30 the afternoon after the election, and still we only have about 75% of the ballots counted.

In other US Senate races, there is one state (Colorado) at 92%, another (New Hampshire) that has 94% counted, a handful with 99% counted, and a bunch with 100% counted. But here in Oregon? We wait.

When this issue came up in 2000, the first general election to be totally vote by mail, I put it down to growing pains. Probably an issue of staffing.

In 2002 it continued, but we were in shock from the Florida debacle, and all sorts of new voting machines were being used for the first time.

Now, in 2008? It’s simply a scandal.

Kate Brown, new secretary of state, here is your first policy item. Fix this problem!