Medford, Ore.–A law enacted this year means drivers in Oregon are automatically registered to vote when they renew or apply for a license. It’s called the Motor Voter law. With Decision 2016 just around the corner, Jackson County’s voter registration numbers are soaring, but the question is, will these newly minted voters actually show up at the polls?
136,340. That’s the estimated number of registered voters in Jackson County, a record Jackson County Clerk Chris Walker says surged since the inception of the new Oregon Motor Voter law at the beginning of the year.
“It’s an all time record and we will continue to break that record as we move toward the general election,” Walker says.
About 15,000 new voters thanks to the law with the biggest increase happening in June.
“Somewhere around 7,000 in that second phase,” Walker explains.
“I would say generally it’s good,” says Fawett,, chair of the Jackson County Republican party. “The more people that are actively involved the better.”
Both the Jackson County Republican and Democratic offices are encouraged by the growing registered voting numbers, but the true test lies ahead.
“What remains to be seen is if those people really become engaged in the process,” says Walker.
Fawcett says even though more Oregonians are able to vote, people who were never registered before and who are now registered by default may still not turn out.
“Traditionally people who don’t vote continue to not vote and so we wont see a huge upswing,” Fawcett says.
A disappointing prediction, but not the only concern.
“It’s a bit discouraging that people are not signing up for a political party affiliation.”
Jackson County’s Democratic chair David Broadman is referring to the motor voter process. When an individual is automatically registered they are given a non-affiliated voter designation. It’s up to that individual to register with a specific party either online or by mail.
“Most people just did not respond at all so they were brought on to the registration roll as a non affiliated voter,” says Walker.
Giving the local Democratic and Republican offices a little extra work this election season.
“We are still trying to figure out how to engage with the people who have signed up as non affiliated voters,” explains Broadman.
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