The general election is approaching, and if you haven’t submitted your ballot in Oregon yet, here’s some important information to help you cast your vote. All Oregon ballots have already been sent out, so if you haven’t received yours, make sure to contact your county election office as soon as possible. The deadline to drop off your ballot at an approved site or have it postmarked is on Tuesday. It’s crucial to ensure that your mailed ballot is postmarked by Tuesday, November 5th, so it can be counted until November 12th.
If you missed the November 1st deadline to drop your ballot in a USPS collection box, it’s recommended to take it to your local post office to guarantee that it gets postmarked on time. Additionally, you can drop off your ballot in official ballot drop boxes across Oregon until 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 5th. To find the nearest official ballot drop sites, you can search by address anywhere in Oregon.
Due to recent attacks on local ballot boxes, some voters may feel more comfortable dropping off their ballots at election offices directly. In the Portland area, the elections offices in Southeast Portland and Gresham will have extended hours leading up to Election Day. For Multnomah County voters, there are various options for dropping off your ballot at the elections division, including 24-hour official ballot drop sites and drive-up drop boxes.
Clackamas County elections will also have extended hours at two locations to assist voters – one in Oregon City and the other in Happy Valley. Washington County elections office will be open on Saturdays as well to help voters in Hillsboro. It’s important to take advantage of these extended hours and convenient drop-off locations to ensure that your vote is counted.
For more information and resources leading up to the general election, voters can visit oregonlive.com/politics for comprehensive coverage from The Oregonian/OregonLive’s newsroom. City of Portland voters interested in ranked-choice voting can find helpful articles and videos online. Additionally, the Oregon Attorney General has established a Voter Protection Hotline to assist voters with any non-emergency questions or concerns they may have, including voter intimidation.
As the election approaches, make sure to stay informed, take advantage of the resources available to you, and most importantly, exercise your right to vote. Your voice matters, and every vote counts in shaping the future of our state and country.
