About 37,000 Deschutes County ballots have hit the mail for Nov. 7 Special Election; here’s the info voters need

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- About 37,000 Deschutes County ballots for the Nov. 7 Special Election were mailed Wednesday to registered voters who live in the Redmond Fire & Rescue District, the Ponderosa Pines East Special Road District and parts of the Crooked River Ranch Fire Protection District.

The Deschutes County Elections Office has received the following ballot measure filings:

• Redmond Fire & Rescue - Local Option Levy to Maintain Fire and Emergency Medical Services
• Ponderosa Pines East Special Road District – Five Year Local Option Tax for General Operations

The Jefferson County Elections Office received a measure for the Crooked River Ranch Fire Protection District, part of which resides within the boundaries of Deschutes County.

Deschutes County Clerk Steve Dennison encourages voters to vote early and take advantage of pre-paid postage for ballots.

If voters do not receive their ballot by Wednesday, Oct. 25, they are encouraged to call the Deschutes County Elections Office at (541) 388-6547 or to email elections@deschutescounty.gov.

Voters can prepare for the election by making a plan to vote with these simple steps:

• Register to vote / Update your voter registration
• Read your Voters’ Pamphlet
• Mark your ballot
• Review your ballot
• Sign and return your ballot

If you’re going to be away from home during the election, contact the Deschutes County Elections Office at (541) 388-6547 to learn about your voting options.

Read your Voters’ Pamphlet

For the Nov. 7 Special Election, registered voters in Redmond and residents of the Ponderosa Pines East Special Road District in La Pine will receive a Voters’ Pamphlet insert in their ballot envelope. It is also available online at www.deschutescounty.gov/elections.

Mark your ballot

Locate the measure responses (“Yes” or “No”) of your choice by filling in the oval to the left of your choice with black or blue ink.

Remember: You don’t have to vote in all contests on your ballot. Your votes for the contests you select will still be counted.

Review your ballot

Ensure you have correctly marked your choice(s) for each contest. Your ballot contains contests printed on both the front and back. Remember to review both sides of your ballot.

If you lose your ballot, or it is spoiled in any way, contact the Deschutes County Clerk's Office at (541) 388-6547 to request a replacement.

Sign and return your ballot

Remember to sign your ballot return envelope. Your signature is your identification. Every signature on every ballot return envelope is examined to make sure it matches the signature on the voter’s registration. The signature must match before a ballot can be counted.

Signed and sealed ballots must be returned to an Official Ballot Drop Site by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots that are returned by mail must be postmarked by Election Day. A stamp is not required.

Official Ballot Drop Sites open on Friday, Oct. 20 A full list of Official Ballot Drop sites is available here. Drop Sites will close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Confirm your ballot has been received and accepted here. The site refreshes daily, so it could take up to 48 hours to display accurate information.

Election Results

Preliminary election results will be posted online after 8 p.m. on election night at www.deschutescounty.gov/electionresults.

Questions and resources

Additional information about the Nov. 7 Special Election is available online at www.deschutescounty.gov/elections.

If voters need assistance with voting or casting their ballot, they are encouraged to call the Deschutes County Elections Office at (541) 388-6547.

Important Dates

• Wednesday, October 18| Ballots mailed to local voters
• Friday, October 20 | All Drop sites open
• Tuesday, November 7 | Election Day!