Tim Scott, Director of Multnomah County Elections is not being transparent. Breaking and Unfolding news...it looks like at least 9000 Multnomah County ballots had errors. A problem in 2023 as well. This does not bode well nor does it create confidence in the voters for the upcoming historic General Election in November 2024. Might be best to go back to paper ballot only, in-precinct, in-person, ID shown, tallying done there, results known by that evening.

At the big U.S. Post Office Processing Center by the Portland, Oregon airport Truth in the Pacific Northwest learned there may be as many as 9000 wrong ballots that went out in Multnomah County on April 30, 2024.

Instead of getting ahead of the story by being transparent, Multnomah County Elections Director, Tim Scott is not being transparent, not telling the truth so the word can go out to voters who may not know they have a wrong ballot. Quick correction is a problem because the ballots are printed in Bend, Oregon. Another factor is the Post Office has had staffing issues, short of staff.

With the historic November 2024 election coming up, it might be the best move to return to paper ballot only, one day only, in-person, in-precinct, ID presented, votes tallied at the end of the day, results known.

Enlist people who can do the quality control proofreading at the precinct levels. Precinct neighbors especially the ones now being trained how to do the hand counting are more likely to be invested in making sure the ballot for their precinct passes the quality control test. Citizens are feeling a need and a desire to get back to community.

In the May 2023 primary election, Director Scott had to reprint 650,000 ballots.

At least in 2023 story the ballots had not been mailed yet.

Ballots were mailed April 30, 2024. Editor of Truth in the Pacific Northwest received a wrong ballot on May 1st. Meeting with Jennifer Wessels on May 2nd, she stated all Republicans in Precinct 4406 got the wrong ballots. A correct one to be sent out quickly with a cover letter as to the mistake. Ms. Wessels was asked to email attach the new walking list to Precinct 4406.  That evening a voice message from Ms. Wessels stated only 33 voters got the wrong ballots. She sent no email attachment.

A visit to the office on May 3rd, Ms Wessels was asked to produce the 33 names of Republicans who received the wrong ballots. She did not. Ms Wessels stated the correct ballot was delivered May 3rd to the editor's mailbox.. It was not. 

Visiting the US Post Office processing center the evening of May 3rd, a supervisor there acknowledged she saw a small batch had come through the processing center. Saturday May 4th at the Kenton Post Office, no corrected ballot was delivered. May 6th at the Elections office once more, Director Tim Scott was asked for the names of the 33 Republicans who had gotten the wrong ballots. He refused, stating he had to go through the public records requests TPNW requested, that it takes time. Mr. Scott was advised this was a public interest story. Mr. Scott gave assurance the editor's ballot was delivered May 6th. It was not.

Primary Voter Pamphlets in 2022, 2023 and now 2024 were not delivered to parts of Precinct 4406 in Portland, Oregon. Multnomah County Elections was notified in 2022 regarding that problem with no resolution to the problem in 2023 and 2024.

Seeing the same problem once again the editor decided to take a stack back to her neighborhood.

The editor was told "no".  Director Tim Scott said no, that he'd work on getting some voters' pamphlets to the private mailbox company in her neighborhood.

Some voters have had their ballots now for seven days.

There appears to be some quality control issues historically occurring within Multnomah County Elections, and with the 2024 General Election coming up in November...this does not bode well for that historic election.

This might be a good time to return to in-person, in-precinct, one day only, ID presented, paper ballots only, tallied at the precinct voting places. Training on hand counting has been happening since October 2023 and on-going every month.

Enlist people who can do the quality control proofreading at the precinct levels. Precinct neighbors especially the ones now being trained how to do the hand counting are more likely to be invested in making sure the ballot for their precinct passes the quality control test.

Another problem is when Tim Scott was asked about the 2024 General Election, this year, what is the back-up plan if things go haywire in November...like big time with the computers, Scott said it was a secret, and the voters can't know.

May 6, 2024