Oregon

Oregon is a vote by mail state. Ballots are mailed out from 14 – 20 days before the election. Once completed, ballots may be returned by mail (they must be postmarked by 8 p.m. on Election Day), or returned to a Drop Box or to the voter’s County Elections Office by 8 p.m. PDT on Election Day.

County Elections Offices are required to have a certain number of in person voting locations with privacy booths. County Elections Offices must be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Drop Box locations must be open for 8 hours on Election Day (and must close by 8 p.m.).

For information on in person voting locations on Election Day, See https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Pages/countyofficials.aspx 

Oregon is a vote my mail state. Ballots may be returned by mail (they must be postmarked by 8 p.m. on Election Day), or returned to a Drop Box or to the voter’s County Elections Office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Drop Box locations must be open for 8 hours on Election Day (and must close by 8 p.m.).

Registration Deadlines

• For registration deadlines, see How to Register below.

How to Check Your Registration: Voters can determine whether they are registered to vote at the following link: Am I Registered?.

You are eligible to register to vote in Oregon if you:

• at the age 16
• Are a U.S. citizen
• Are a resident of Oregon

If you are not yet 18 years of age, you will not receive a ballot until an election occurs on or after your 18th birthday.​​

You are NOT eligible to vote in Oregon if:

• You are in prison or jail for a felony conviction.
• You were disqualified from voting due to a court order

Restorative Requirements

• If you have completed a felony prison sentence, even if you are still on parole or probation, then you are immediately eligible to register to vote.

You may preregister to vote in Oregon

• At the age 16

How to register 

To register to vote you must have an established residence in Oregon.
To register online go here.

A voter may also register using a voter registration form, which is available in multiple languages, and must be returned by mail or in person to their County Elections Office.
When the voter visits the DMV to apply for, renew, or replace an Oregon driver’s license, ID card, or permit the voter will automatically be registered to vote but then given an opportunity to opt out of registration or affiliate with a political party. https://sos.oregon.gov/voting/Pages/motor-voter-faq.aspx

If You Want to Vote Absentee, requests may be made:

• In-Person
• By Mail

Absentee Ballots may be returned:

• In-Person
• By Mail

Oregon residents may apply for absentee voter status if they will be absent for the election. Voters may apply for an absentee ballot by filling out an Absentee Ballot Request Form or online using My Vote.

An absentee ballot should be requested in time for it to be sent to the voter.  Ballots are mailed out between 14-20 days before the election.  

Once completed, the ballot (including absentee ballots) may be returned by mail (they must be postmarked by 8 p.m. on Election Day), or returned to a drop box or to the voter’s County Elections Office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Drop Box locations must be open for 8 hours on Election Day (and must close by 8 p.m.). Additionally, drop box locations must be open from the Friday before Election Day during the hours of operation of the place where the drop box is located.

Voter Registration

To register to vote in Oregon you should provide one of the following:

• Oregon Learner’s Permit
• Your Oregon Driver’s License Number
• Your Oregon ID Number

If you do not have any of these ID numbers, you are permitted to use the Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number.

If you do not have any of these IDs, you can provide a copy of one of the following with your registration application:

• Pay Check
• Proof of Eligibility under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) or the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (VAEH)
• Government Issued Document that shows your current name and address
• Current Utility Bill
• Valid Photo ID
• Bank Statement

To register to vote online, a voter needs a valid Oregon driver’s license, permit, or ID card number issued by the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division (DMV).  If a voter does not have any of these, they can still complete the online voter registration by providing the last four digits of their Social Security Number, but then must print the completed pdf of the registration card, sign it, and deliver it to their County Elections Office. Voters can also submit a paper registration application to their County Elections office. If a voter does not have an Oregon driver’s license, permit, ID card number, or the last four digits of their Social Security

Number, the voter may provide a copy of one of the following that shows their name and current address: valid photo identification, a paycheck stub, a utility bill, a bank statement, a government document, proof of eligibility under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (OCAVA) or the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (VAEH).

There is no identification requirement for voting–either by mail or in person. 

Provisional ballots are available to a voter who cannot confirm their registration. 

County Elections Offices may be able to issue a free voter registration card. If your eligibility to vote can’t be determined, you will be issued 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.

Registered Oregon voters who have moved can update their name and address on their registration online until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day and still cast a ballot. Registration may be updated on My Vote. 

If a registration is updated after the voter registration deadline and earlier than the 5th day before the election, a ballot may be mailed to the voter.  If within 5 days of the election, the voter may have to pick it up in person at their County Elections Office.  The post office will not forward ballots.  

If a voter changes their address with the DMV, voter registration information is automatically updated.

Voting Military

Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form (“FPCA”). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

• Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
• Your Oregon Driver’s License Number
• Your Oregon non-driver ID number

If you do not have any of these you may provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number.

Voting Overseas

U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

• Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
• Your Oregon Driver’s License Number
• Your Oregon non-driver ID number

If you do not have any of these you may provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number.

The Federal Voter Assistance Program establishes special procedures to expedite voting by members of the military, their family members, and citizens residing abroad.  Voters can both register to vote and request an absentee ballot by completing a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA).  The completed FPCA must then be received by the County Clerk’s office on or before the registration deadline for the upcoming election to be added to the voter rolls.  Completed ballots may be returned by mail, fax, or email.  If sent by email or fax, ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.  If mailed, ballots must be postmarked by Election Day through the U.S. Postal Service (not foreign postage).  

For more information contact the voter’s County Elections Office, visit Secretary of State’s resource page for military and overseas voters, or visit the Federal Voter Assistance Program website.

Individuals may vote unless they are currently incarcerated for a felony conviction. Individuals in jail pending trial or for a misdemeanor conviction and who are not incarcerated for reason of a felony conviction may register and vote by absentee ballot.  Individuals may vote if on parole or probation, even if for a felony. This is true regardless of the type of felony conviction.  

Once released from incarceration the voter is immediately eligible to vote again, but they must re-register (or update their registration) at Oregon’s My Vote website or at their County Elections Office.  Voters should double check to make sure their address is accurate when registering or updating their registration.