Oregon consistently has the highest voter turnout rate of any state. Its elections cost taxpayers millions of dollars less than they used to. The reason is simple: Oregon has had voting by mail since 1998. Michigan should consider a similar system.

In Oregon, voters are mailed a ballot two to three weeks before Election Day. They can send it back at their expense, or they can deposit it for free in one of numerous drop boxes across the state. Voters can also bring the ballot to their county election center. 

Voters who still want the polling-place experience can mark their ballot in person at an election center. Oregon officials calculate that vote-by-mail saves them $3 million per election. 

It also involves far more people in voting. Last year, only 41 percent of eligible Michigan voters went to the polls; in Ohio, the rate was even lower. Oregon had a turnout of 70 percent last year; in 2012, it was 83 percent. 

A bipartisan group called Let’s Vote Michigan is collecting petition signatures in an effort to amend the state’s constitution to switch to a vote-by-mail system. The idea may make even more sense there than it does in Oregon.

Michigan often places as many as six complex proposals on its general election ballots. Nobody can adequately analyze that many questions standing in a voting booth. Nor is waiting in line to vote an attractive option for harried working people, who often are rushing from job to child care to second job.

 The success of vote-by-mail in Oregon has led to Colorado and Washington adopting similar systems. California is moving in that direction. Michigan voters should seriously consider giving vote-by-mail a try.

First Published August 4, 2015, 4:00 a.m.