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Voting in Oregon

In Oregon, elections are held different than they are in other states. While many Oregonians love this system, it can be a bit of a shock for someone who has moved to Oregon for the first time.

The questions below are those most frequently asked by those new to Oregon's vote by mail system.

I'm new to Oregon -- where is my polling place?

Oregon does not have precinct polling locations anymore. Here, ballots arrive in the mail a few weeks prior to Election Day. They are mailed to the address on your voter registration, which is why it is important to update your information every time you move.

However, there is still one official polling place in each county -- your county elections office. There you can get a replacement ballot if yours does not arrive or is damaged, update your information, turn in your ballot, or even sit down and vote.

Ballots can be returned in a two ways: mailed back to the elections office or placed into an official drop box.

Where is my voters card?

Cards are sent out by the county elections office approximately once an election cycle. As we no longer have polling locations, the cards are no longer needed for voting, which is why they are not sent out more often.

Today, their only uses tend to be informational (it tells your precinct number, district information, etc.) or to be used when replacing a lost or stolen drivers license. These cards are available through your county elections office.

How will I know what is on the ballot?

Prior to ballots arriving, voters guides are sent out by the Elections Division. These not only have the text and an explanation of each ballot measure, but also information pages on the candidates (supplied by the candidate, at a cost to them), and pro and con messages on the ballot measures. In even election years there are typically at least two editions-- one for ballot measures and one for candidates.

These guides arrive early enough to look over prior to ballots arriving. Since they are delivered to every residential mailing address, as opposed to each voter, every household should receive one copy of each edition. Additional copies can sometimes be found at your local post office.

Is there anything different about Oregon's ballots?

Voting a ballot in Oregon is similar to most states that have paper ballots.

First, fill in the circle next to each person/position you are voting for. If you are writing in a candidate, fill in the circle next to the empty line and write their name on the line. It is extremely important that the name be spelled correctly.

It is recommended that No. 2 pencils be used when filling our your ballot. Some black ink pens have been found to contain red ink, which is unreadable by ballot counting machines. During the 2006 election cycle it was found that some blue ink pens cannot be read either.

As such, it is always best to use a pencil. Not only will it definitely be read, you can correct any mistakes you make on your ballot.

Once you finish with your ballot, fold it up and place it inside the secrecy envelope. Once you seal that envelope, place it inside the envelope that has you name and address on it. After sealing it, be sure you sign the outside of the envelope in the appropriate location.

Please note: Be sure to verify the name on the envelope is yours before signing it. It is extremely common for spouses or others within a household to accidentally switch outer envelopes.

Why is there a secrecy envelope? And what happens if I lose it?

The secrecy envelope is used to ensure Oregon's vote by mail system is indeed a secret ballot. Since the outer envelope has your name on it, the secrecy envelope is used to keep your name separate from your ballot.

During the process of checking in and counting the ballots, the outer envelopes will be removed and separated from the ballots still enclosed in the secrecy envelopes.

If you lose your secrecy envelope, you can still turn in your ballot in only the outer envelope.

Why do I need to sign the outside of the envelope?

Since our ballots come in the mail, there is no way to 100% ensure the ballot actually ends up with the person whose name is on the outside. As such, a signature is required on the outer envelope from the person whose name is on the envelope.

These signatures are then compared to those saved in the voter file from each person's voter registration form. If they do not match on first review, they are then checked by several more people before the voter is contacted.

If there is not a signature on the outside of the ballot when it is received, the ballot is not counted. After the election, the voter receives a letter stating their ballot was not counted because of a lack of signature.

What if I lose my outer envelope? Can I just return it in the secrecy envelope?

The outer envelope is just as important as the ballot. Those that arrive without an outer envelope are not counted.

The outer envelope has two important items needed by county elections.

First, it has the bar code on it that is scanned to show your ballot has arrived. After scanning in, the ballots are put in "batches" for signature checking.

Second, it has the place for your signature on it.

If you lose or destroy your outer envelope, you will need to go to the county elections office to receive a replacement ballot. Be prepared for a short wait, as a label specific to you has to be printed to go on the ballot, which has your name, address, and bar code on it.

What if I mess up on my ballot?

If you make a mistake on your ballot, you have a few options.

When ballots are opened and checked, any that will not be read by the machine are pulled and set to the side. These are then duplicated by a team of bi-partisan election workers and watched by numerous persons from parties and candidates.

When duplicating these ballots so they can read by the machine, the team looks at voter intent -- how did the voter mean to vote on this item?

Here are a few ways to make your intent extremely obvious to these workers:

Cross out the name/position you did not mean to vote for, and then color in the bubble next to the one you did mean to vote for.

Cross out the one you didn't mean to vote for, and then circle the one you did.

Put an X over the one you didn't mean to vote for, and then color in the bubble next to the one you did.

As long as you can make it obvious how you meant to vote, you do not need a replacement ballot. The team that will be duplicating your ballot consists of people from different parties, helping to ensure no changes in your ballot. They are also some of the most observed elections workers in the building, which means there are many pairs of eyes watching every move they make.

What if I damage my ballot?

If your ballot is actually damaged in some way, such as ripped up, accidentally thrown in the trash and now covered in debris, chewed on by your dog, etc., it is recommended that you go to your county elections office and get a replacement ballot. As long as there is not a long line, your wait should not be long -- there are extra copies of all ballots printed and ready to go.

What if my ballot hasn't arrived?

If your ballot has not arrived by the week after ballots are mailed out, it is best to contact your county elections office. They can verify if your information is correct and whether or not a ballot was mailed for you.

If everything is correct, and a ballot was mailed, they can get a new one out in the mail.

If everything is not correct, you'll need to go through their process for updating your information, which may include dropping off or mailing a voters registration card with the correct information on it. Some counties may be able to make address changes over the internet or by fax.

If you are registered in the state of Oregon, but have moved, you have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to correct your information and receive a ballot.

If you're not in the system as registered, you will likely be unable to vote, as ballots are typically mailed out after the voter registration deadline.