Residents urge election reporting changes, raise concerns about shelters and federal immigration policy

Multiple residents addressed the Washington County Board of Commissioners during the public comment period on Feb. 17, pressing officials for changes to election night reporting, raising legal concerns about statewide election procedures, and asking for details about local shelter pod projects.

Jill Latray, a long‑time county resident, requested that the election office print results directly from the tabulation system and make those printouts publicly available before transferring results via USB and uploading them. Latray said observers have seen discrepancies between reported ballot counts and public reports and asked the board to require printed verification during the seven‑day counting period that state law allows after election day. “By printing the results each morning and evening after election day, the public could verify that the results…match,” she said.

Former county commissioner Bob Terry told the board he believes statewide election procedures, including online voter registration and self‑attestation policies, conflict with the Oregon Constitution and federal statutes and that these practices have produced ineligible registrations and counting errors. Terry urged the board to exercise its home‑rule authority and take steps to enforce election law locally.

Other commenters raised related concerns: Dale Fick discussed national Department of Homeland Security funding and immigration enforcement policies, and an in‑audience speaker (name not provided) asked how much the county spent on an Aloha pod project that has since been shut down or relocated.

Board response: Commissioners listened and asked clerks to note the comments; there was no immediate policy change or direction recorded during the meeting. Clerk Lehi Hodges confirmed that all advance signups had been heard and that no additional Zoom speakers remained.

Sources and attribution: Statements are attributed to the public commenters by name when provided (Jill Latray, Bob Terry, Dale Fick); an in‑audience speaker spoke without stating a name.