This November, voters in Deschutes County have an opportunity to stop a gerrymandering effort that is on their ballot.
Measure 9-185, if passed, would set up five geographic districts for the county commissioner seats, starting in 2028.
Currently, county commissioners are elected at-large, meaning that all voters have an opportunity to vote on all of the commissioners, regardless of where they live in the county. In 2024, Deschutes County voters voted to increase the number of county commissioners from three to five while still keeping the at-large elections.
Now, several outgoing county commissioners want to set up geographic districts to restrict which positions voters can vote for.
These maps were created behind closed doors by a committee that was not representative of the community at large. The seven-person committee included six registered Republicans, 1 Democrat, 2 women, and no people of color.
It is no surprise then that votes within the committee on process, criteria, and map selection went down partisan lines. The Deschutes County District Mapping Advisory Committee put forward geographic maps that prioritizes conservative voices, ensuring a Republican-leaning commission in a county that has voted Democratic in the last two presidential cycles.
Additionally, during the mapping process, community members were given very little opportunity to actually weigh in. Instead of gathering public testimony to help provide input and clarification around the maps, the Committee limited public testimony to 15 minutes and ended public meetings a week early to rush to the ballot.
Now, Deschutes County voters have a gerrymandered map put in front of them that is aimed at restricting voices. If passed, the geographic maps will be used to elect commissioners for at minimum the next two years.
Thankfully, there is an alternative already gaining traction.
The Deschutes Defend Our Democracy Coalition is currently gathering signatures for a proportional ranked choice voting ballot measure in May. The proportional ranked choice voting measure would allow voters to elect commissioners at-large with ranked choice voting.
Proportional ranked choice voting is the best alternative for Deschutes County voters to get more voice on their ballots and by being able to choose from all of the commissioners running and rank their favorite, along with backup choices.
Learn more about the Deschutes Defend Our Democracy Coalition’s efforts to bring proportional ranked choice voting to Central Oregon.
