PRESS RELEASE
Kaufmann Blasts Marion County Commissioners' Slow-Rolling of Additional Ballot Drop Boxes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 21, 2026
Contact:
Mary Closson
971-301-4881
Independent State Rep Candidate Roy Kaufmann Blasts Marion County Commissioners’ Foot-Dragging on Rollout of Additional Ballot Boxes
Silverton, Ore. – House District 18 independent candidate Roy Kaufmann is blasting Marion County commissioners over reporting that the commissioners are intentionally slow-rolling the installation of additional ballot drop boxes across the county.
“It’s unacceptable, it’s a disservice to voters, and it’s a bad look,” said Kaufmann. “Minimizing the Clerk’s recommendations, lambasting him, dragging their feet, blaming ‘process’ and ‘channels’ – none of that is leadership, and voters should consider that as they vote for two of the three Marion County Commission seats up for election.”
According to reporting by Joe Siess at SalemReporter.com, Marion County Clerk Bill Burgess has been urging commissioners to install additional ballot drop boxes. Burgess is following the guidance of Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read, who has been clear about the threats the Trump Administration is making to Oregon’s first-in-the-nation vote-by-mail system.
Marion County spokesperson John Heynen said the commissioners are simply “considering it through the proper channels,” according to Siess’ article.
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