Officials from the Deschutes Republican and Democratic Party say a statewide measure on a gas tax and expansion of the County Commissioner race were two main factors driving voter participation in the primary.
This primary election day, Deschutes County saw 70,597 voters turn in ballots. Though the count is still unofficial until mid June, results show a 2% increase in voter turnout from recent primaries. Election day resulted in a 42% voter turnout compared to 39% in 2024.
“There were partisan races on the ballot from federal races, state races, contested races… that always drives up turnout,” Steve Dennison, Deschutes County clerk told the Source. “There was one statewide measure on the ballot that people had a lot of opinions about as well.”
Officials from both the Deschutes Democratic and Republican parties said they experienced high turnout because of the controversial gas tax, Measure 120. If passed, the measure would have increased prices on vehicle registration and title fees, gas and a statewide payroll tax to fund things like roads and infrastructure.
Overwhelmingly, the Oregon voters cast that measure out, with a little over 80% voting against. According to Deschutes Republican Party Chair Keith Rockow, almost 1 million Oregon voters voted against the controversial measure.
Jason Burge, democratic chair for Deschutes County, said that another factor that motivated people was the expansion of county commissioners’ races. Before 2024, the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners race had three seats, which led to plenty of contentious 2-1 votes. Voters now had five options, which also increased the competitiveness of the race between parties.
“The voters in Deschutes County were really focused on a dysfunctional County Commission that has been led by Patty Adair and Tony DeBone,” Burge said. “They have shown an inability to work with other cities inside Deschutes County to solve issues we have here in the county and the voters are looking for a change.”
Rockow told the Source that voters raised some concerns about ballots they received that were not representative of their affiliated parties, and wondered whether that impacted the way the election panned out.
“A lot more people were getting ballots for non-affiliated or independent, and we’re very curious as to why that happened,” Rockow says.
Dennison told the Source a voters voter history and selective memory is likely the culprit for when this happens.
Dennison says sometimes voters may have updated their voter card to independent at one point in time. If they only turn out to vote for general elections where all parties are present on the ballot, they may make the assumption that they are registered under a political party when they actually aren’t.
“All I could do is ask and encourage anybody with a concern about that to come down here and take a look, because each one is explainable,” Dennison says.
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