The Josephine County Clerk's Office is gearing up for the final election of 2024 -- a recall election that may remove Commissioner John West from office.
As of Thursday evening, the Clerk's Office reported a voter turnout of 24.29% for next Tuesday's recall election. Out of 70,460 eligible voters, 17,117 had turned in their ballots.
West has filed a lawsuit against Josephine County Clerk Rhiannon Henkels, alleging that she and her staff did not properly count signatures on the recall petition. A court hearing has been scheduled for December 18th, the day after the election.
Henkels has released the schedule of recall election reporting. The first run of ballots will be released shortly after 8 p.m. on Election Night. Updated election results will be posted by 5 p.m. on December 18th, December 27th and January 3rd. The final results will be certified no later than January 13th at 5 p.m..
Per the Oregon Secretary of State, it is recommended that voters drop off their ballots at the Josephine County Courthouse or official drop site locations. They include three locations at the Courthouse, the back parking lot of the Grants Pass library branch, Washington Federal Bank on Union Avenue, Ray's Food Place in Merlin, Hidden Valley Market in Murphy and Cave Junction City Hall.
Ballots can be mailed in as well and they will be counted as long as they receive the December 17th postmark.
