Low ballot returns could help Bend-La Pine bond measure

Turnout is low for the special election that includes a bond measure for Bend-La Pine Schools. Most experts were expecting just below 30 percent because of the timing of the election.

As of Election Eve, Deschutes County reported 23.5 percent of ballots had been returned.

In an odd-numbered year like this, where there’s not a presidential or gubernatorial election prompting people to fill out their mail ballots, there’s usually going to be a lower participation rate.

So turnout in the 20 percent range is nothing new for a non-election year ballot. But does that benefit one side or the other? Turns out it does, and people plan for it.

“May is selected for this type of election for two reasons,” Yes Committee for Schools Board Co-Chair Neil Bryant said Monday.

“You don’t have to have the double majority — you don’t have to have 50 percent of the people turn out and get 50 percent of the vote. And then, secondly, it’s usually a low voter turnout.”

The idea is that most of the people voting on this measure have been following it for a while and would generally be in favor of it.

And those asking for money can target a specific demographic more likely to vote if they time it right.

Deschutes County Clerk Nancy Blankenship said, “If they need money right away, then they’re going to need to figure out which election in that particular year is going to be most advantageous to them.”

The Bend-La Pine School District is hoping the strategy will work in its favor in getting voters to approve a $268 million bond.

We’ll have the results Tuesday night.