Oregon Voter Turnout Reaches 12% Ahead of Primary Election, Influencing Key Races
As of Tuesday, approximately 12% of Oregon's registered voters have submitted their ballots for the upcoming May 19 primary election. This turnout is consistent with historical trends, according to John Horvick, a senior vice president at DHM Research. The primary election is crucial for several races, including the Republican nomination for governor and the Democratic challenge in Oregon's 2nd Congressional District. The Oregon Secretary of State's Elections Division reports that 357,000 ballots have been received out of 3.1 million sent. Voter participation is slightly higher among Republicans, with 17% of registered Republicans having voted compared to 15% of Democrats. However, more Democrats have voted in total due to their larger numbers in the state. Multnomah County, Oregon's most populous, has the lowest turnout at 8.5%, possibly due to the recent switch to ranked-choice voting for local elections. 
