Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I vote?

In Oregon, we vote by mail. You can vote from anywhere you choose.

If you’re registered to vote by April 28, your ballot will be mailed between April 29 and May 5. Your county elections office will mail it to the address in your voter registration record.

If you don’t receive your ballot by May 8, call your county elections office.

What if I’ve moved?

Ballots cannot be forwarded. To receive your ballot, update your voter registration information at oregonvotes.gov/myvote.

If Election Day is less than 5 days away, call your county elections office for instructions on how to get your ballot.

How can I get my ballot early?

If you will be away from your home on Election Day, update your voter registration information at oregonvotes.gov/myvote. To request an absentee ballot, enter your absentee mailing address and how long you will be there.

Is the Voters’ Pamphlet translated into other languages?

Yes. Portions of the voters’ pamphlet are available online in:

Arabic, Simplified and Traditional Chinese characters, Farsi, French, German, lu Mien, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Marshallese, Nepali, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

You can find these translations online at: oregonvotes.gov/voterspamphlet.

Why don't I get to vote for major party candidates?

Oregon's primaries are closed. You must be a member of one of Oregon’s two major parties, the Democratic or Republican party, to nominate that party's candidates to the General Election.

If your ballot does not include major party candidates, it means you're not registered to vote as a member of a major party.

Minor party and candidates not affiliated with a political party will appear on the General Election ballot in November, along with the major parties’ nominees.

You will be able to vote for any candidate on your ballot at the General Election in November.

How do I complete my ballot?

Your ballot packet will include instructions on how to complete and return your ballot. Follow the instructions!

What if my ballot is damaged?

If your ballot is lost, destroyed, or damaged in a way that stops you from voting, call your county elections office and ask for a replacement ballot.

Do I have to vote on everything?

No. Your ballot will still be counted, even if you don’t vote for every contest or measure on it.

Can I change how I voted?

If you have mailed or dropped off your ballot, your vote cannot be changed. If you still have your ballot, follow the instructions that were sent with your ballot.

How do I return my ballot?

You can return your ballot by mail, no stamp needed. If you mail your ballot, it must have a USPS postmark dated on or before 8 pm on May 19.

Or return your ballot to any county elections office or official drop box. You can find the nearest drop box, along with a map of how to get there, at oregonvotes.gov/dropbox or by contacting your county elections office.

County elections offices are open on Election Day from 7 am to 8 pm.

Is the secrecy sleeve required?

No. If you received a secrecy sleeve, you don’t have to use it unless you want to.

If you didn’t receive a secrecy sleeve, your county is one of the many that have incorporated additional security features approved by the Secretary of State's Office into the ballot return envelope and therefore no longer need the sleeve.

Do I have to sign my ballot return envelope?

Yes. Your signature is a security measure used to verify your identity. You’re the only person who can sign your ballot return envelope. Power of Attorney documents do not apply to voting.

If you cannot sign your name, contact your county elections office for more information.

Your ballot is only counted if the signature on the ballot return envelope matches signatures in your voter registration record.

If your signature does not match or you forget to sign the envelope, the county will notify you. You will have until 21 days after the election to prove you were the one who signed the envelope.

If my name is on the ballot return envelope, is my vote really secret?

Yes. After signature verification, your ballot is separated from the ballot return envelope before it is unfolded and counted.

Can I track my ballot?

As a registered voter, you may view updated ballot information at oregonvotes.gov/myvote. You can see when a ballot is sent, received, or if it was returned as undeliverable.

When will election results be known?

Initial results will be released beginning at 8 pm, May 19 and will continue to be updated through election night and the days following.

Between election night and the date the election results are certified, the unofficial results reported on oregonvotes.gov will change as vote counting continues.

Results are not final until the election is certified and the official abstract of votes is published. Final certified results will be available 37 days after the election.

Do I need a provisional ballot?

If your eligibility to vote can’t be determined you have the right to request a provisional ballot.

To obtain a provisional ballot, go to your county elections office in person and fill out a Provisional Ballot Request Form.

Your provisional ballot will only be counted if you are determined to be eligible to vote.

How do I file a complaint?

If you believe Oregon election law has been violated, and are an Oregon registered voter, you can ask the Elections Division to investigate. Anonymous requests will not be investigated.

You can find more information and submit a complaint for Elections Division investigation at sos.oregon.gov/investigation.