Registering to vote in Oregon is quick and simple. Oregonians can register:

• Online using My Vote.
• By mail using a voter registration form​ (PDF). This form also is available en Español.
• In person at the county elections office.

​​The deadline to register is 21 days before Election Day.

To register to vote in Oregon, you must be a U.S. citizen, an Oregon resident and at least 16 years old. Online registration requires a current Oregon drivers license or state ID card.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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.

Registered voters receive a ballot two to three weeks before an election, giving time to research issues or candidates.

Voters also receive an official ballot to complete and insert into the security envelope which is placed in the ballot return envelope and signed by the voter. The ballot return envelope can be stamped and mailed or dropped off at any official drop box​ across the state. If a voter casts their ballot after the Wednesday before an election, the ballot should be left at a drop box site to ensure it's counted.

Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.​​​​​​​​

Students attending an out-of-state college or voters traveling during an election can still receive a ballot.

If you are 16 years old, you will not receive a ballot until an election occurs on or after your 18th birthday.

If you will receive your citizenship on or before an election, you must submit a voter registration card before the 21-day voter registration deadline.

After taking your oath, you must appear and provide evidence of citizenship to the elections office in the county where you live, on or before Election Day.

Questions? Contact your county elections office​ or the Oregon Elections Division.​​​​​​

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 registered voters in that party can vote for candidates of the same party. Or, a major party can choose an "open system" where the major party allows registered voters who are not registered with any party 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

Independent Party

Republican Party​

Minor Political Parties

Constitution Party​

Libertarian Party

Pacific Green Party

Progressive Party

Working Families Party​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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 the Request for Voter Registration Cards ​form and return it to the Oregon Elections Division​.​​​​​​​​​​ ​​