All voters receive their ballots through the vote by mail process. Ballots will be mailed 14 to 18 days before an election. Voted ballots must be received or mailed with a valid post mark by 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can sign up to track your mail ballot on your Secretary of State website. Ballots begin being counted on Election Day.
Oregon conducts voting by mail only. You have the choice of mailing your ballot or returning it to any county election office or any designated drop site.
If it is determined by the county elections official that a person does not receive daily mail service from USPS, the ballot is mailed 18 to 20 days before the election. Out of state voters that are not long term absentee voters have their ballots mailed no sooner than the 29th day before the election. Long term and military absentee ballots (including all out of country ballots) are mailed 45 days before the election.
You may apply for absentee voter status if you live out of state or if you know that you will be absent for the election (i.e., you will be out of town prior to the election and are putting your mail on hold.) Absentee ballots are available 45 days before the election. To apply for absentee voter status: obtain an absentee ballot request form from your county elections office or , fill out the form, and return it to your county elections office in person, via US mail or fax.
If you prefer, your absentee ballot request can remain valid for all future elections until you notify your county elections official otherwise or you move out of the county. Please specify this preference on the request form.
To be a long term absentee voter, you must be a resident of Oregon who is absent from your place of residence. Possible long term absentee voters could include a person temporarily living outside of the territorial limits of the United States and the District of Columbia or a spouse of a long term absentee voter.
Overseas citizens and U.S. military personnel can find information on how to register to vote and request an absentee ballot at the Overseas Vote Foundation.
