Oregon Will Pick Up The Postage Costs For Mail-In Ballots
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Oregon will pay for prepaid postage on mail-in ballots for next year’s general election in an attempt to boost turnout.
Gov. Kate Brown signed a law Friday allocating nearly $1.7 million to pay postage costs. The program could cost the state more depending on how many voters send in ballots.
Brown made prepaid postage a priority in her proposed budget last year. She said low-income and younger residents don’t always have access to postage stamps.
Opponents say the move won’t noticeably increase voter turnout and that the money could be better used elsewhere.
The state switched to a vote-by-mail system in 2000.
Washington state and California also cover postage costs for mail-in ballots.