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AARP AARP States Oregon Voters

How to Vote in Oregon’s 2024 Elections

Important dates and election information

Key dates

  • Primary election: Tuesday, May 21
  • General election: Tuesday, Nov. 5

Voting at a glance

  • Mail-in voting: Oregon holds universal vote-by-mail elections. As long as you’re an active registered voter, you’ll receive a mail ballot two to three weeks before an election. 
  • Absentee ballots: Available to voters who will be out of town during an election period.
  • Early in-person voting: Take your by-mail ballot to your county elections office and fill it out there on or before Election Day.

Voting in Oregon

What to know about recent changes

A 2022 rule allows mail ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they’re received within seven days of the election.

Voter registration

The deadline to register to vote in the primary election is Tuesday, April 30. When registering by mail or in person, you must provide a valid driver’s license, ID or permit number, the last four digits of your Social Security number, or another acceptable form of ID. To complete your registration online, you need an Oregon driver’s license, permit or state ID number.

  • Online: Use the state’s voter registration portal to register or update your registration status. If you register without a valid ID, your information will be entered into a voter registration card that must be printed, signed and taken to your county elections office.
  • By mail: Print a voter registration form, complete it and mail or deliver it to your county elections office. Or contact your elections office and request a form be mailed to you. Registration cards are also available at post offices, libraries, elections offices and many social service agencies. 
TOPSHOT-US-VOTE-OREGON
A voter drops off a completed ballot at a ballot drop box.

Check whether you’re registered to vote through Oregon’s My Vote portal.

Registering to vote on Election Day

Oregon does not allow registration on Election Day.

Primary voting and party affiliation

Only registered voters of a political party can take part in that party’s primary. Voters who aren’t registered in one of the major political parties may still be able to vote if nonpartisan races are on the ballot, and they will receive a ballot for only those races.

Ways to vote

Voting by mail

Oregon holds universal vote-by-mail elections. Active registered voters will receive a mail ballot two to three weeks before an election. Return your completed ballot:

  • By mail: Send your ballot to your county elections office. Prepaid postage is provided. Ballots must be postmarked no later than Election Day.

Track your ballot by using Oregon’s My Vote portal or by calling your county elections office. Some counties offer ballot tracking via text, phone or email. Contact your county elections office to learn more.

Voting in person before and on Election Day 

Oregon is a vote-by-mail state, but you can fill out your by-mail ballot in person at your county elections office on or before Election Day. Private voting spaces will be available at all county elections offices.

Requesting an absentee ballot

Absentee ballots are available in Oregon to people traveling out of town during an election period. Request an absentee ballot starting 45 days before an election.

  • Online: Use the state’s My Vote portal to request an absentee ballot and update your mailing address.

When filling out the request form, you’ll choose between having a ballot sent to you at a specific address or picking up a ballot from your county elections office.

If you’re serving in the armed forces or Merchant Marine or are temporarily living outside of the U.S., you can request an absentee ballot with the Federal Post Card Application. Visit www.fvap.gov/oregon for more information.

Returning your absentee ballot

Mail your completed absentee ballot to your county elections office. Ballots must be postmarked no later than Election Day.

Voter ID requirements 

You do not need to provide ID to vote by mail. Instead, sign your ballot, pledging under penalty of law that you’re the voter identified on the ballot envelope. County election officials will compare your signed ballot envelope to your signature on file in Oregon’s voter registration system.

Voting with a disability

Any voter can request help registering to vote, marking a ballot or returning a ballot by calling their county elections office or the Oregon Votes toll-free information line at 866-673-8683 or TTY 800-735-2900. You may receive help from a person of your choice, as long as that person is not your employer, an agent of the employer, a union officer or an agent of a union of which you’re a member.

If you need to use a screen reader or other assistive technology, you can use Oregon’s online ballot-marking tool. This option requires printing, signing and returning your ballot using the return envelope mailed by your county elections office approximately two weeks before an election.

For more information about voting with a disability, visit the secretary of state’s website.

More information about candidates and key races

Key races:

  • U.S. President
  • U.S. House: six seats
  • State House: 60 seats 
  • State Senate: 15 seats

Information on what will appear on the ballot can be found in the state’s voters’ pamphlet, mailed to active registered voters two to three weeks before each statewide election. Starting Friday, April 26, the voters’ pamphlet will also be available in multiple languages on the secretary of state's website.

Editor’s note: This guide was updated on Jan. 20, 2024, with new information about voting in the 2024 presidential primary.

Grace Dickinson is a contributing writer who covers federal and state policy. She previously wrote for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Her work has also appeared on sites like HuffPost and Eater.

Also of Interest:

About AARP Oregon
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