Audit: Multnomah County Elections secure; staffing, outreach and infrastructure strained
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — With all eyes on elections — as debates over the SAVE Act continue and the White House explores possible changes to how elections are run — a new report is raising serious questions about whether Multnomah County’s Elections Division has the support it needs.
The performance audit, released Wednesday by Multnomah County Auditor Jennifer McGuirk, found that local elections are secure and that ranked choice voting was successfully implemented for the City of Portland’s November 2024 contests – with one major caveat:
Auditors warn the division is operating without key support systems that helped make 2024 successful, including a full-scale Voter Education and Outreach program that has now been eliminated from the county’s FY 2026 budget.
Because the program no longer exists, the report warns the county will be challenged to ensure east county voters — including communities in Gresham and Troutdale — are prepared for the county’s ranked choice elections.
https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/audit-multnomah-county-elections-secure-staffing-outreach-and-infrastructure-strained/