Jackson County voters will keep electing their county assessor.

A majority of voters — 55%, or 21,161 people — voted against a proposed change to the Jackson County charter that would have made the tax assessor a hired county staff person.

A total of 17,359 people, or 45%, voted in favor of the change.

With only the assessor issue on the ballot, and for Shady Cove residents a city council race, only 39,188 of Jackson County’s 157,814 registered voters cast a ballot. The voter turnout was just under 25%, according to the Jackson County Clerk’s Office.

Jackson County commissioners put the proposed charter change before voters after the county assessor’s office made a series of errors affecting thousands of property owners under the management of current Jackson County Assessor Dave Arrasmith.