Frequently Asked Questions

Registering to vote in Oregon is quick and simple. Oregonians can register:

• voter registration card
• Online using My Vote. 
• By mail using a voter registration card. This form also is available in multiple languages.
• In person at the county elections office or at certain state agencies like the DMV.

The deadline to register is 21 days before Election Day.

Many voters are automatically registered when they go to the DMV. Learn more about Oregon’s Motor Voter Act. 

View the Know Your Rights as an Oregon Voter! (PDF).

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.

Although not required, each candidate has the opportunity to submit a picture and statement regarding their candidacy by paying the required statement fee. The text of the statements is printed as submitted.

View the Archived Results page.

The tax language on the outgoing envelope mailed to voters is required by state law. View the ORS 250.037 website and the ORS 250.038 website specify the language for a ballot measure requesting property taxes, either a GO Bond, local option levy or permanent tax rate.

If there is more than one measure and one requires the language it must be placed on the envelope for any voters receiving that ballot measure.

In Oregon, all elections have been "vote-by-mail" for more than 20 years. When you register to vote, make sure you give us your accurate mailing address as well as the physical address where you live. Ballots are mailed 20 days before Election Day. You may mail it back or drop it off (postage free) in any of our drop sites. Visit the Ballot Drop Box Sites page.  Ballots must be mailed with a  valid postmark by Election Day.  

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

The general rule is persons convicted of a felony, whether the defendant serves their term of incarceration in a state correctional facility or in a county jail, cannot vote while they are serving their term of incarceration for the felony. Once released from incarceration they must re-register to vote in order to restore their voting rights. All others in the criminal justice system may vote (such as pre-trial detainees, persons serving misdemeanor sentences in county jails, persons on parole or probation).

View the Voting Rights in Oregon for Person Convicted of a Felony Frequently Asked Questions (PDF).

Probably not, you actually have up until Election Day to update your voter registration and receive a ballot if you are currently registered in the State of Oregon.

You may update your voter registration at Oregon Votes website, or come into our office at 414 NE Evans St, McMinnville. You will be issued a correct ballot specific to where you live.

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 fill out an Absentee Ballot Request Form.  

Call the Yamhill County Elections Office at 503-434-7518 or 503-554-7850 from Newberg. You might need to update your voter registration.

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.

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.

Yes.

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.

Complete a new voter registration form and submit it to the County Clerk's Office.

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.

Registered voters that have difficulty signing their name may complete a signatures stamp attestation form. 

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.

If you do not sign your ballot return envelope, you will receive a post card from the Clerk's office.  You may come into the Clerk's office and sign your ballot envelope prior to 5:00 pm on the 21^st day after Election Day so your ballot can be counted or mail the bottom half of the post card signed back to us.

State of Oregon: Elections - Frequently Asked Questions