Decision 2026: Oregon’s vote-by-mail deadlines approach for midterm elections

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- With 27 days remaining until the midterm election, Oregon voters are preparing for upcoming deadlines under the state's vote-by-mail system. New voters must register by Oct. 13 to receive a ballot.

Vote-by-mail has been the standard voting method in Oregon for nearly 30 years. State voters approved Ballot Measure 60 in 1998, which established exclusive voting by mail and eliminated traditional community polling places. Oregon is one of eight states that automatically sends a ballot to every registered voter.

Registration for new voters can be completed online or in person until Oct. 13. Deschutes County Clerk Steve Dennison emphasized the deadline for residents who are not yet registered. “last day to register to vote is is October 13th,” Dennison said. “You may update your registration all the way through Election Day, but the last day, if you're new to the state or you had recently became eligible or turned 18 and were not otherwise already registered or pre-registered registered, then the 13th is your deadline. You must register by that date” Voters have three methods to return their ballots. The first method is using an official county drop box. Deschutes County features 13 ballot drop-off locations, Jefferson County offers seven and Crook County has four sites.

A second option is to mail ballots through a local post office. Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read addressed mail delivery processing, noting that mail processing centralizations affect postmark timing. “what we're talking about is, is the uncertainty around delivery times, particularly because as as one of our colleagues was just mentioning, there is No. 1 place in Oregon where that mail is processed and postmarked, less of a big deal if you're in the Portland area, but here and everywhere else, it's got to go there to be postmarked before it comes back,” Read said.

The third option available for voters is casting a vote in person at their local county clerk's office.

Ballots must be returned or postmarked no later than 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.

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