Marion County commissioners hold off on 2 extra ballot drop boxes as voting begins
This story was first reported by Salem Reporter.
Marion County Clerk Bill Burgess wants two extra ballot drop boxes in place before the Nov. 3 general election, but the county's three commissioners have not signed off, Salem Reporter reported Friday. Ballots went out Wednesday, Oct. 14, to the county's more than 233,000 voters, the outlet reported.
The boxes would be paid for with state money, but the commissioners turned the request down "at this time" at an Oct. 6 meeting, according to county minutes. Their next scheduled management meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 20.
What the county minutes show
The request came up at the Board of Commissioners' Oct. 6 management update, attended by Commissioners Colm Willis, Danielle Bethell and Kevin Cameron. According to the official minutes, Tamra Goettsch of the county's Business Services department raised Burgess' request "for two additional ballot drop boxes on county property, supported by state funding."
"The Board declined the request at this time, noting that safety and access are important but that changes requiring county facilities work should be planned and discussed earlier."
The minutes say temporary lighting and parking arrangements for election workers were also discussed. Under "Direction & Follow-Up," the entry reads: "Declined at this time."
Where the boxes would go
According to a summary of Salem Reporter's story published by Hyperlocal Loop, Burgess hopes to put one box outside the Marion County Courthouse and another at the Marion County Fire District No. 1 building on Cordon Road, and the county already has two boxes in storage. That summary says the Secretary of State's office offered the county $7,000 per box for installation and servicing and set an Oct. 30 deadline to have them installed, and that Burgess told the state he is "not throwing in the towel." Willamette News could not independently review those details in Salem Reporter's full story, which is behind a paywall.
What the county says
County spokesperson Jon Heynen told Salem Reporter the commissioners have not denied the request but are reviewing it through the proper channels, and that a work session is planned to discuss additional drop box locations, according to the Hyperlocal Loop summary. The same summary says neither Heynen nor any of the three commissioners gave a specific reason for the delay when asked.
As of Saturday morning, Willamette News had not found any further public statement from Willis, Bethell or Cameron on the request beyond the Oct. 6 minutes.
Why the state is pushing drop boxes
On Sept. 8, Secretary of State Tobias Read asked lawmakers for $1.25 million in emergency election money, including $618,000 for 20 new drop boxes and related costs, according to a Secretary of State news release. The release said a statewide study had found places where an additional drop box would give voters better access.
Lawmakers approved the money, OPB reported Sept. 10, noting that the push was tied to concerns that U.S. Postal Service changes had slowed ballot processing.
Read told reporters on Oct. 13 that voters who plan to mail their ballots should do so by Oct. 27, KXL reported. He said an August test by county clerks found some mail took as long as four days to be postmarked and 11 days to be delivered. Read said Lane County had just installed three new boxes, with new ones in Shady Cove and Coos County and more coming in Multnomah County, according to KXL.
This is not the first drop box dispute in Marion County. In August 2020, Salem Reporter reported that commissioners rejected Burgess' funding request for more election drop boxes.
How to return your ballot in Marion County
The county's November 2026 voters' pamphlet lists 21 official ballot drop sites, open since Oct. 14. No postage is needed at a drop box, and drop sites stay open until 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3.
Burgess recommends mailing ballots by Oct. 27. A ballot postmarked by Nov. 3 still counts, but only if it arrives by Nov. 10, the pamphlet says. Voters who have not received a ballot by Oct. 21 are asked to call the clerk's office at 503-588-5041.
What happens next
The commissioners' public calendar shows a management update from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20, in the Commissioners' Boardroom at 555 Court St. NE in Salem. Hyperlocal Loop's summary says Burgess expects a final decision there.
Separately, Salem Region Indivisible's "No Kings" event at the Capitol on Saturday is focused on early voting, with a noon march planned past the county clerk's drop box, according to the organizers' event page and the Statesman Journal.
Sources
Salem Reporter: Marion County commissioners stall deployment of recommended ballot boxes, by Joe Siess (Oct. 16, 2026)
Marion County Board of Commissioners: Management Update minutes (Oct. 6, 2026)
Marion County Board of Commissioners: Quorum schedule, Oct. 14 to Oct. 28, 2026
Marion County Clerk: Voters' pamphlet, Nov. 3, 2026 general election
Hyperlocal Loop: Marion County commissioners delay approval of two extra ballot drop boxes (Oct. 2026)
Oregon Secretary of State: Secretary Read requests emergency funding for election security (Sept. 8, 2026)
OPB: Oregon lawmakers approve $1.25 million for more ballot drop boxes, by Lauren Dake (Sept. 10, 2026)
KXL: As ballots go out, OR SOS urges voters to 'make a plan' (Oct. 14, 2026)
Salem Reporter: Marion County commissioners reject funding request for more election drop boxes, by Saphara Harrell (Aug. 18, 2020)
Salem Region Indivisible: No Kings IV, Vote Early! event page
Statesman Journal: Where are Salem's anti-Trump 'No Kings' protests? (Oct. 8, 2026)
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