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County counsel briefs commissioners on federal election developments and local monitoring
Summary
Senior assistant county counsel reported participating in an Oregon Public Broadcasting interview on civil commitments and briefed the board on several federal developments affecting elections, including a contested USPS ballot-delivery executive order, a U.S. Supreme Court case on late-received ballots, and the SAVE Act in Congress; the county is monitoring impacts for the May primary and November general elections.
Senior assistant county counsel Aean McMahon told the Board of Commissioners that county counsel and elections staff are tracking federal developments that could affect Washington County's administration of upcoming elections.
McMahon said they participated in an Oregon Public Broadcasting interview about civil commitments in the county and would share the story with the board when it is released. On elections, McMahon described three items county staff are watching: an executive order that would limit USPS ballot delivery to lists maintained by the federal government; recent U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments over whether vote-by-mail ballots postmarked by election day but received later may be counted; and the SAVE Act, which passed the U.S. House and is pending in the Senate and would change voter-identification requirements for federal elections.
"These matters are fast-moving and changing," McMahon said, and county council, county administration, government relations, and elections staff are monitoring the issues ahead of the May primary and the November general election. McMahon also noted a short upcoming leave and that Deputy County Counsel Jason Bush will serve as acting county counsel while McMahon is out.
No formal legal conclusion or change in county practice was announced at the work session; McMahon said the county would update the board when more information becomes available.
