Voting in Oregon
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The Elections Division is committed to providing voters with accurate information about elections in Oregon. Always use trusted information from an official source.
Oregon has a proud tradition of open, accessible and fair elections, with a modern vote-by-mail system that is the gold standard in U.S. elections administration.
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Registering to vote in Oregon is quick and simple. Oregonians can register:
The deadline to register is 21 days before Election Day.
Many voters are automatically registered when they go to the DMV.
Learn more about Oregon’s Motor Voter Act.
Need help?
Start here.
Oregon has the most convenient voting system in the country. Since adopting vote-by-mail, Oregon consistently ranks as a national leader in voter turnout and security.
Voters' pamphlets with information on ballot measures and candidates are sent to Oregon residents two to three weeks before each statewide election, giving voters time to research issues on the ballot, including state and local measures and candidates.
Active registered voters receive an official ballot to complete and return. The ballot can be mailed back or dropped off at any
official drop box across the state.
Ballots must be received or mailed with a valid postmark by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Oregon’s elections are secure. Paper ballots, post-election reviews, accurate data, and vote counting machines that are never connected to the internet are among the steps we take to protect the integrity of our elections. Learn more about
Election Integrity in Oregon.
Students attending an out-of-state college or voters traveling during an election can still receive a ballot.
Voters Affiliated with Major Political Parties
Each major political party uses the Primary Election to nominate their party candidates for the November General Election. Each state has different rules governing Primary Elections. In Oregon, major parties have the option of choosing a "closed system," meaning only voters registered with that party can vote for candidates of the same party. A major party can choose an "open system" where the major party allows any registered voter to vote for candidates in their party's Primary Election.
Example of the "closed system": If you are registered with the Democratic Party, you may vote for Democratic candidates, nonpartisan candidates and local or state measures. You cannot vote for a candidate from any other party in the Primary Election.
Example of the "open system": The Republican Party can announce they are going to "open" their Primary Election so people who are not registered with any party can vote for Republican candidates in addition to the nonpartisan candidates and local or state measures.
All registered voters can participate in the General Election.
Major Political Parties
Republican Party
Voters Affiliated with Minor Political Parties
Minor parties conduct their nominating elections according to party bylaws. Voters affiliated with a minor political party will be able to vote for non-partisan races and for measures in the Primary Election, but will not be able to vote for major party candidates.
All registered voters can participate in the General Election.
Minor Political Parties
Constitution Party
Independent Party
Libertarian Party
No Labels Party
Pacific Green Party
Progressive Party
We the People
Working Families Party
Nonaffiliated Voters
Nonaffiliated voters will be able to vote for non-partisan races and for measures in the Primary Election, but will not be able to vote for major party candidates. All registered voters can participate in the General Election.
Age Requirements
You must be 18 years old to vote. Oregonians who are 16- or 17-years old may register to vote, but you will not receive a ballot or be eligible to vote until an election occurs on or after your 18th birthday.
Citizenship
New citizens are eligible to vote the moment you receive your citizenship. Depending on when you become a citizen prior to an election, you must take the following steps before you will receive a ballot:
- 21 days prior to an election
register to vote with your proof of citizenship.
- If you will become a citizen after the cutoff day but before election day, you can still vote. Contact your county Elections office to let them know before the cut off day that you will become a citizen before election day. You will receive a ballot once you provide proof of citizenship with your Elections Office.
Questions? Contact your
county elections office.
Organizers of voter registration drives have 5 calendar days to turn in completed forms to a county elections office, and cannot coerce people to register with a particular political party.
Voter registration forms can be obtained from county elections offices. To get 500 or more applications use this online form:
Request for Voter Registration Cards
There are 4 different voter registration statuses: Active, inactive, canceled, challenged ballot.
Active: You are registered and will receive a ballot.
Inactive: You will not receive a ballot. Your status can become inactive for several reasons: a ballot was returned as undeliverable, a person does not vote or update their registration for 10 years, they are incarcerated, or their county receives evidence that information on your registration may have changed.
You can update or correct an inactive status by
registering to vote.
Canceled: You will not receive a ballot. A registered voter can be canceled if they die, register to vote in another state, request to be removed from the voter rolls, or if the county clerk determines their registration is not valid.
You can fix an inactive or canceled registration by
registering to vote.
Challenged ballot: This usually means there was a problem with the signature on your ballot envelope. If that’s the case, you’ll receive a letter with information on how to fix the issue. You can contact your
county clerk to resolve a challenged ballot issue.
We make voting more accessible to Oregonians who speak languages other than English by translating the voters’ pamphlet. This work is guided by the Translation Advisory Council with members who have civic experience, language skills, and experience in impacted communities.