Chantico to hold county-run special election to restore council quorum

Chair opened a special meeting to explain that Wasco County has authorized a special election to fill one vacant Chantico council seat so the council can regain its minimum quorum and resume regular business. “The main purpose of this meeting…is the special election at hand,” the Chair said.

The Chair said the county clerk (named Chrissy in the meeting) gave authority to the county to run the election and that county staff will prepare and mail ballots to all eligible Chantico voters around town. Wasco County plans to mail ballots on June 5, and ballots must be returned or postmarked by June 17 — the meeting’s stated special election day. “There won't be a drop off here in town,” the Chair said, noting there will be a ballot box in The Dalles but none in Chantico or Moppin. The Chair also emphasized that postmarks will count.

The city will not manage ballot preparation or mailing; the Chair said the county will review candidate filings and election materials on the county side and report results back to the city. Once the county delivers results, the council will convene another special meeting to read the results and swear in the winning candidate.

The meeting did not include a formal vote or ordinance; it was procedural and informational, focused on timelines and administrative steps for the upcoming special election. No formal challenges or legal questions about the county's authority were raised during the session.

The next procedural step is that the county mails ballots on or about June 5 and residents must return or postmark ballots by June 17. The council will meet again to read and certify results once the county reports them.