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Today’s edition · Wed., Nov. 4

Oregon voters returned more than 1.5 million ballots by Tuesday morning

Plus, Salem and Polk County Fire land $4 million road safety grants, and a data center zoning fight heats up.

The Daily Salem team1 story11 sources4 min read

ElectionTop story

More than 1.5 million Oregonians had voted by Tuesday morning, a 48.3% turnout rate

Nearly half of Oregon's voters had returned ballots by Tuesday morning

48.3%Oregon turnout rate as of 6:43 a.m. Tuesday

Source: MedfordAlert

View as table
Value
Oregon turnout rate as of 6:43 a.m. Tuesday48.3%

As of 6:43 a.m. Tuesday, 1,505,694 Oregonians had already voted, according to the state, and Secretary of State Tobias Read urged everyone else to get their ballots in by 8 p.m.

Closer to home, Polk County's clerk's office reported a 55% return rate as of 5 p.m., according to Salem Reporter's election night coverage. Marion County hadn't reported its return rate yet when that update posted.

Nearly 36,000ballots returned in Polk County as of 5 p.m. Tuesday

That works out to a 55% return rate, per the Polk County Clerk's office.

Source: Salem Reporter

  • Drop box deadline: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3
  • Mailed ballots: postmarked by Nov. 3, received within the seven-day post-election grace period
  • Statewide count: 1,505,694 ballots as of 6:43 a.m.

Asked

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Asked

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News Notes

Road safety

The City of Salem and each received a $4 million federal grant from the program. Both will create safety action plans with post-crash care demonstration projects. Statesman Journal

Data centers

Salem is considering Resolution No. 2026-46, which would interpret its zoning code as excluding AI and hyperscale data centers. Developer Aaron Stickney says that amounts to a zoning change, while City Attorney Dan Atchison calls it an interpretation of existing law; the proposed Oakline at Mill Creek campus in southeast Salem applied July 31 and was unapproved as of the article. Salem Business Journal

The proposed Oakline campus would cover about 600,000 square feet

Floor area of the proposed Oakline campus, beside places you know

The proposed Oakline campus600,000 sq. ft.Two buildings
A football field57,600 sq. ft.end zones included
A Walmart Supercenterabout 180,000 sq. ft.

10 football fields would fit inside the proposed Oakline campus

Source: Salem Business Journal

View as table
Floor area
The proposed Oakline campus600,000 sq. ft. (Two buildings)
A football field57,600 sq. ft. (end zones included)
A Walmart Supercenterabout 180,000 sq. ft.

Local measures

Polk County voters were asked to approve a five-year levy of 12 cents per $1,000 of assessed value to run the Polk County Fairgrounds in Rickreall, which leaders say would close if it fails. Independence voters also weighed a referendum on $19.65 in monthly fees for parks, library and museum, which was approving in early results. Statesman JournalStatesman Journal

Keizer

The Keizer City Council voted 6-0 on Nov. 2 to redirect $1,393,229 to a Verda Lane sidewalk project. The money is controlled by the Salem-Keizer Area Transportation Study Policy Committee, and the vote lets the city ask it to shift the funding. Salem Reporter

Playoffs

Dallas shared the Mid-Willamette Conference title and beat top-ranked Silverton, but will be on the road Friday for its first-round playoff game. Meanwhile, No. 5 Perrydale hosts No. 12 Sherman at 7 p.m. Friday. Polk County Itemizer-ObserverPolk County Itemizer-Observer

Home

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Asked

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Asked

What are you most likely to do this weekend?

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Quoted

You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.

— Jack London

Things to Do

Things to Do

Salem, OR

Wednesday, Nov. 4

See every Salem eventFeature your event

Jobs

Jobs

Submit your Job listing

Do you know just the role for our readers? Share it on our Jobs board.

Around the Block

Around the Block

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Neighbors

Nights are getting chilly and I am reminded of some nighttime sight seeing my husband and I did .

“This photo was taken at a pull off along Highway 138 in southern Oregon. It was a very cold night and it was pitch dark.That night the air was cold and the moon was nestled in clouds.”

— A neighbor, Fisher
Photo from the neighbor’s post

86 likes · 9 comments

View post

The Wrap

Salem's galleries and museums have a fun month lined up: a fashion show, work in black, white and monochrome, and a celebration of comics and manga. The Salem Art Walk runs 5-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, with live music, food, and artists in downtown galleries. Art with snacks is our kind of night.

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Every source in this edition11 links · 7 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. Salem Reportersalemreporter.com
  3. MedfordAlertmedfordalert.com
  4. Statesman Journalstatesmanjournal.com
  5. Salem Business Journalsalembusinessjournal.org
  6. Statesman Journalstatesmanjournal.com
  7. Statesman Journalstatesmanjournal.com
  8. Salem Reportersalemreporter.com
  9. Polk County Itemizer-Observerpolkio.com
  10. Polk County Itemizer-Observerpolkio.com
  11. Salem events calendardailysalem.com

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  1. Tues., Nov. 3Oregon's new health insurance marketplace is open for 2027
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Daily Salemto me · Wed., Nov. 46:00 a.m.

Oregon voters returned more than 1.5 million ballots by Tuesday morning

Plus, Salem and Polk County Fire land $4 million road safety grants, and a data center zoning fight heats up.

The TLDR

  1. Oregon turnout hit 48.3% by Tuesday morning
  2. Polk County's ballot return rate reached 55% by 5 p.m.
  3. Salem and Polk County Fire each get $4M for road safety
Read this edition

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