The Special District Election is May 20: here’s what voters should know

Deschutes County Elections officials are sharing important information for voters ahead of the Tuesday, May 20, Special District Election.

The Special District Election includes district director contests for community college, fire, school, park and recreation, library, sanitation and water districts. A small portion of county voters will also have the opportunity to vote on two local ballot measures. Voters should check their mail for a Voters’ Pamphlet, which has information about the candidates and ballot measures. The pamphlet is also available online.

Special District Election ballots will be mailed to every active registered voter in the county on Wednesday, April 30. If you haven’t received a ballot by Tuesday, May 7, please contact the County Clerk’s Office at (541) 388-6547. Once you vote your ballot and sign your ballot return envelope, you can either return it by mail or drop it at any secure, official drop box throughout Deschutes County.

Here are some important dates and information about the 2025 Special District Election:

• April 29 – Deadline to register to vote, update your voter registration.
• April 29 – Logic & Accuracy test of ballot tabulation equipment at  9 a.m. in the County Clerk’s Office, 1300 NW Wall St. in Bend. The public is invited. Please RSVP in advance if you plan to attend by calling (541) 388-6547.
• April 30 – Ballots begin to be mailed to voters. All ballots include a postage-paid return envelope for you to mail in your voted ballot, or if you prefer, you can drop it off at an official ballot drop box location.
• May 2 – Deschutes County drop boxes open for voted ballots. Visit the Deschutes County Clerk website to find a drop box location near you.
• May 20 – Election Day. Ballots must be received at a drop box by 8 p.m. or postmarked by the United States Postal Service (USPS) by this date and received by the Clerk’s Office by Tuesday, May 27, 2025, to be counted.

*Don’t forget to sign your ballot return envelope before you turn in your ballot.

Preliminary election results will be available on the Deschutes County Clerk website  starting at 8 p.m. on Election Day.

You can find more information and the answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the County Clerk/Elections website. 

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Media Contact:

Steve Dennison, County Clerk

(541) 388-6547