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VP Kamala Harris says she plans to 'earn and win' Democratic nomination after Joe Biden drops out and endorses her; New Alabama bill threatens voter rights, legal challenge ensues; Fact-checking GOP claims on immigrants; Water contamination a concern in Midwest flood aftermath.

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President Joe Biden drops his 2024 re-election bid. He's endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to take his spot on the ticket, and election experts say they see benefits to this decision.

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It's grass-cutting season and with it, rural lawn mower races, Montana's drive-thru blood project is easing shortages, rural Americans spend more on food when transportation costs are tallied, and a lack of good childcare is thwarting rural business owners.

Study: OR election staff leaving as 2024 vote looms

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Tuesday, January 2, 2024   

Going into a big election year, staffing at elections offices in Oregon is an issue, according to a study.

Staff-to-voter ratios vary widely between counties depending on their size, but average about one staff member per 27,000 voters statewide.

Paul Manson - research assistant professor at the Center for Public Service of Portland State University - helped conduct the research, and said there are warning signs flashing as this election year ramps up.

He said it's a challenge for election offices to find workers in this politically charged environment.

"That came up in our interviews where one out of five clerks," said Manson, "we actually had to stop the interviews, because it became so difficult for them to talk about what they're hearing from members of the public - in the sense of sort of attack and threats to their offices to the point where some aren't comfortable even sharing what they do for a living outside of work."

Manson said low pay also makes it hard to recruit and retain people to work in elections offices. He said the county level funding model, which is tied to the real estate market, presents challenges as well.

Manson said these pressures have led election officials to leave the profession.

"It's clearly institutional knowledge that's going to be walking out the door," said Manson, "and it's going to be another contentious potential election cycle where we're going to need to be super sharp and transparent about this work for keeping public trust."

Manson said another pressure on workers is a growing list of public records requests, which offices have deadlines to respond to. He said there are a few ways the state could help election staff.

"It might be creating a state public records request clearinghouse or a training position that helps support these counties in doing that training," said Manson. "So that's a real quick and immediate piece that I think would take a load off of clerks' shoulders. Longer term, reevaluating how funding happens for these offices is also critical."

Support for this reporting was provided by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.



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Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at a political event in Grand Rapids, Mich., in early 2024. (The White House/Wikimedia Commons)

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