Last minute voters delay trip to the ballot box

Voters line up in final moments to cast their ballots in historic election

By Stover E. Harger Iii

The Forest Grove News-Times, Nov 4, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

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Throughout the country on Election Day, voters line up – often battling long lines and faulty voting machines at polling places – to make their voices heard.

Even in this state where, for 10years, vote by mail has given Oregonians a chance to get the jump on balloting by filling out and mailing their ballot days in advance, about a quarter of voters routinely wait until the final day to cast their ballot.

But why?

It seems to be a combination of factors for Washington County voters, whether it’s trying to experience the thrill of heading out to vote on Election Day or not quite knowing who or what to support.

Yet, there is one factor that dominates why people wait until the last minute – they are just so darn busy.

Like Lori Forbess, 39, a Beaverton resident who dropped off her ballot Tuesday afternoon after a morning of hastily filling it out with her husband at the kitchen table.

Between working and taking care of her three kids, Forbess, who voted for the McCain/Palin ticket, has a simple and unapologetic answer for why she waited until the final hours to vote.

“I’ve been busy,” she said.

Don Hamilton, chief of communications for the Oregon Secretary of State’s office, said the number of Oregonians who wait until the last days to vote has increased since Oregon started conducting entirely vote by mail elections in 1998.

“Some of the election offices get hit hard on Election Day,” Hamilton said, but added that it is not much of a hindrance for the state.

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