Voting in Oregon FAQ
Voting in Oregon
In 1998 Oregon voters overwhelmingly passed a ballot measure directing that elections be conducted by mail, commonly called vote-by-mail. Visit the Secretary of State's website to see Oregon's vote by mail implementation and history.
Vote-by-mail is a method of distributing ballots for an election. Instead of using traditional polling places where voters go to cast ballots on election day, a ballot is mailed to each registered voter. The ballot is then voted and returned to the county election office to be counted.
Every county provides privacy booths where you can mark your ballot. Usually, you can drop off your completed ballot at the same location.
See below for additional information regarding vote by mail.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Increases voter participation
- Removes barriers that can keep people from getting to the polls
- Allows more time for people to study issues and candidates before marking the ballot
- Has built-in safeguards that increase the integrity of the elections process
- Saves taxpayer dollars
If your registration is current, your ballot packet will automatically be mailed to you. Inside the packet you will find the ballot and a postage-paid return envelope. Once you vote the ballot, seal it in the pre-addressed return envelope. After verifying that the return envelope has your name and current address, sign the return envelope box. Then, simply return the ballot either by mail or at a designated drop site by 8 pm on Election Night.
In Oregon, ballots are mailed 20 days before Election Day.
Absentee ballots are available 45 days before the election. You may request an early absentee ballot from your county election official either in person, by mail, or by fax. You will need to include your name, residence address and, if different, your mailing address. An Absentee Ballot Request Form is available on our website under Voting Absentee or Registering to Vote.
If you have not received your ballot within a week after they are mailed, call your county election office. They will check that your voter registration is current. If it is, they will mail you a replacement ballot provided the request is received with sufficient time for mailing. Otherwise, you may pick up a replacement ballot in person at your county election office.
If you are registered to vote by the 21st day before the election but now have a different address, contact the county election office about your voting options.
You will receive a voters' pamphlet from the Secretary of State for statewide elections. Many counties also produce a local voters' pamphlet which is either included with the state pamphlet or mailed separately. In special elections, the county may include the pamphlet with the ballot.
If you do not vote on all measures and/or candidates your ballot will still count. Your vote will be counted as an under vote for that specific measure or candidate race.
If you make a mistake, you may call your county election office and request a replacement ballot. One will be mailed to you provided the request is received with sufficient time for mailing. Otherwise, you may pick up a replacement ballot in person at your county election office.
Your ballot has been cast as soon as you deposit it in the mailbox or at a drop site. After that, you cannot receive a new ballot to re-vote.
You have the choice of mailing your ballot or returning it to any county election office or any designated drop site in the state. The hours and locations of drop sites are published by and available from your county election official.
All ballots are postage-paid. A stamp is not required for voting.
Insert only your voted ballot (not another person’s ballot) inside your ballot return envelope. If we receive an envelope with more than one ballot inside, all enclosed ballots will be rejected and not counted.
Postmarks Count! Ballots that are mailed, postmarked by the United States Postal Service (USPS) by 8 pm on Election Day and received by the Clerk’s office by the 7th day after Election Day will be accepted.
Track your ballot on www.oregonvotes.org/myvote. You may also call your county elections office and ask if your ballot has been received. A record is kept of each voter whose ballot has been returned.
Registered voters that have difficulty signing their name may complete an attestation form which is available upon request. The attestation shall be completed and filed before a voter may use a signature stamp or other indicator of the voter's signature on any election document. A new voter registration card with the signature stamp or other indicator must be completed and filed, too.
If you do not sign your return envelope, you will receive notification from the Clerk's office. You may come into the Clerk's office and sign your envelope prior to 5:00 pm on the 14th day after Election Day so your ballot can be counted.
No one can sign the return envelope on behalf of a voter, even if there is a power of attorney in place. The ballot will not be counted.
Complete a new voter registration form and submit it to the County Clerk's Office.
Although not required, each candidate has the opportunity to submit a picture and statement regarding his or her candidacy. The text of the statements is printed as submitted.
All steps of the process are open to observation by the public. The major steps include:
- Preparation for mailing (about one month before the election).
- Ballot reception and signature verification (during the two weeks before the election).
- Opening envelopes and preparing ballots for counting (may start 7 days before election day).
- Counting ballots (election day).
All ballots are counted on election day - none are counted before. No results can be announced until 8:00 p.m. on election night.
No. All ballots are separated from the return envelope before the ballots are inspected. This process ensures confidentiality.
- Deschutes County Voters' Pamphlet
- Audio version of Deschutes County Voters' Pamphlet
- TTY (800) 735-2900
- Upon request, enlarged print official ballot style pages
- Online assistance
- Upon request, individualized assistance can be arranged
Call the Deschutes County election office at (541) 388-6547.
