Contacts:
Leah Benson, 971-917-5033
Multnomah County Communications, pressoffice@multco.us
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For immediate release: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
NEWS RELEASE: Multnomah County selects five organizations to receive grants to provide ranked choice voting education for East County voters
Multnomah County, Ore. (April 22, 2026) — Multnomah County Elections is announcing the five community-based nonprofit organizations selected to receive a total of $100,000 from the 2026 Multnomah County Voter Education Fund:
- Latino Network
- Love is Stronger GV
- Oregon Food Bank
- The Rosewood Initiative
- Somali Empowerment Circle
Each organization will receive $20,000 to support nonpartisan voter education on ranked choice voting for residents in East Multnomah County.
Multnomah County voters in 2022 approved ranked choice voting for all countywide candidate elections starting in November 2026. The City of Portland successfully implemented ranked choice voting in 2024.
To ensure all County voters outside Portland are prepared, it is crucial to expand education efforts to East Multnomah County, where voters have not yet experienced voting with a ranked choice ballot.
The 2026 Multnomah County Voter Education Fund aims to empower community organizations to develop and launch effective ranked choice voting education initiatives tailored to the unique needs of East Multnomah County voters.
The one-time-only funding for the grants, allocated as part of the current Fiscal Year 2026 budget, supports community-based organizations in their efforts to reach voters ahead of the County’s transition to ranked choice voting.
The grant funds emerged through Board amendments sought last year by Commissioner Shannon Singleton and co-sponsored by Commissioner Vince Jones-Dixon. Both commissioners’ districts encompass parts of East Multnomah County.
“Our communities thrive when we have high levels of voter participation,” said Commissioner Jones-Dixon. “This effort doubles down on educating the public about ranked choice voting, which is new to voters in East Multnomah County. We want to reach as many voters as we can and empower community members as they cast their vote this fall.”
“We owe it to the community to do everything we can to ensure this rollout is successful,” said Commissioner Singleton. “As a Black woman, voting rights and our elections are something my ancestors and elders risked their lives for. It is Multnomah County’s moral obligation to make sure we do our best to provide voter education for the non-Portland residents of the County who will be participating in their first ranked choice voting contests.
“Community-based organizations are already trusted members of communities. The County can partner with them to reach as many citizens as possible, especially those with language barriers or accessibility needs.”
Grant applicants were required to serve residents of East Multnomah County who live outside of the city of Portland, with preference given to organizations with a demonstrated track record of effective community outreach and engagement with populations who have historically experienced lower levels of voting engagement, among other requirements.
Awardees will provide unbiased, nonpartisan education about ranked choice voting through in-person workshops, print and digital mailings, tabling at community and neighborhood events, targeted social media campaigns, school-based outreach, door-to-door canvassing, and mock elections.
Orientation and training will begin in May 2026. Voter education and outreach activities will begin this summer and last through the November 2026 General Election.
Why we’re providing ranked choice voting education to East County: In November 2022, voters approved measures to require the use of ranked choice voting for all City of Portland and Multnomah County candidate contests. Portland voters began using ranked choice voting in November 2024 and all Multnomah County voters will join Portlanders in using ranked choice voting to elect county candidates in November 2026.
How ranked choice voting will be used in November 2026: Multnomah County voters will use ranked choice voting to fill these county positions: Chair, Auditor, Sheriff and District 2 Commissioner.
Additionally, Portland voters will continue their use of ranked choice voting to fill these positions: Auditor and City Councilors for Districts 3 and 4.
How to find additional information about ranked choice voting: Watch this video to learn more about ranked choice voting. Find additional information in Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Chinese, Somali and Ukrainian at multco.us/info/ranked-choice-voting-rcv.
Where to find additional information about the grant: Additional information on this grant opportunity can be found at multco.us/info/voter-education-grant.
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