| Press Release – March 4, 2023 Contact: Christine Llobregat christine.llobregat@portlandoregon.gov Mobile: 971-393-6577  City of Portland invites community organizations to apply for Portland Votes 2024 Voter Education Grant Program In November 2024, Portland voters will use ranked-choice voting to elect one mayor, one auditor and three councilors per district (12 councilors total) by prioritizing their candidates. Portland Votes 2024 seeks to ensure that voters understand the new election method with non-partisan education. The Portland Votes 2024 grant application period is now open on the Portland Votes 2024 website. The grant program’s focus is to contract with community partners who are trusted messengers for hard-to-reach voters. The grant recipients will assist in providing nonpartisan voter education materials and activities to communities that the City of Portland has a hard time reaching, as well as those Portlanders who have historically lacked access to city decision-making. “This is the first time the City is mandated to educate voters,” said City of Portland Inclusive Democracy Project Manager Sofia Alvarez-Castro. “The introduction of Portland’s council districts, the roles of mayor and council, and using ranked-choice voting requires a successful education program to ensure all Portlanders are able to use their ballot to express their right to vote.” While voter education is new to the City’s responsibilities, it is not a new practice. The City is using a national ranked-choice voting education model that includes a variety of best practices from other state and county elections, and the program is informed by the City of Portland’s Election Office and Multnomah County Elections Division. Portland’s impartial and non-partisan voter education means the outreach will have a singular curriculum focus: how to use ranked-choice voting to elect a Portland mayor, citywide auditor and councilors in your district. Grant categories include direct non-partisan voter education, community education, and communicationsA total of $210,000 is available in grant funds. Up to 14 grants will be awarded, and will be determined by these categories: Three Direct Voter Contact Grants Six Community Education Grants Five Communications Grants The application, review process, and grant terms for small and large implementation grants is identical.Organizations can apply for one or multiple grant categories. Projects must fall within one or more of the following categories direct voter education, community education and/or communications, and all projects must include mock election(s) using City-provided tools and resources. How to apply: Single and joint applicant proposals are welcome If organizations are connected to community members from the City’s definition of priority populations and are well positioned to share information with them, they are welcome to apply. Training and materials will be provided to grantees.To be eligible for consideration, applicants must meet the following requirements: Applicant organizations must be located within Portland city limits. Applicant organizations must NOT appear on the Oregon Department of Justice List of Disqualified Charities. Applicant organizations must commit to Use of Funds requirements.Applicant organizations must complete training with the Portland Votes team about ranked-choice voting and permissible activities for C3 / C4 / PAC organizations.Applicant organizations must participate in monthly meetings and reporting for the grant period. To learn more about program requirements, how to apply, and the evaluation process, please visit www.portland.gov/vote/grants. About the City of Portland Transition Project In November 2022, Portland voters approved Ballot Measure 26-228 that directs the City of Portland to implement these three connected changes by Jan. 1, 2025: Allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference, using ranked-choice voting. Establish four geographic districts, with three city council members elected to represent each district – expanding city council to a total of 12 members. Establish a city council that focuses on setting policy and engaging with community, transitioning day-to-day oversight of bureaus to a mayor elected citywide and a professional city administrator. Need access to information or services? The City of Portland ensures meaningful access to City programs, services, and activities to comply with Civil Rights Title VI and ADA Title II laws and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services. To request these services, call 311 for Relay Service or TTY: 711. Traducción e Interpretación | Biên Dịch và Thông Dịch | अनुवादन तथा व्याख्या口笔译服务 | Устный и письменный перевод | Turjumaad iyo FasiraadПисьмовий і усний переклад | Traducere și interpretariat | Chiaku me Awewen KapasTranslation and Interpretation: 311 |
East Columbia Neighborhood Association 