Governor Says No To Voting By Mail

Oregon’s governor vetoed legislation Friday that would have done away with the polling place in favor of elections by mail.

Gov. John Kitzhaber said he supports the concept in principle, but the Legislature moved too quickly when it adopted the measure in June.

“I believe that the best way to achieve vote-by-mail is to move in a deliberative manner,” he said.

Earlier this week, Kitzhaber said he might let the bill become law if lawmakers agreed to rewrite it to apply solely to the May primary and not November’s general election, but no agreement was reached.

Kitzhaber previously signed a separate bill to move Oregon’s presidential primary from May to March and to conduct it by mail.

Elections for local offices in Oregon are already conducted by mail.