New ballot drop boxes in Deschutes, Crook counties to increase access ahead of election

(KTVZ) -- Oregon voters currently have access to more than 300 official ballot drop boxes across the state, Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read announced. State officials are advising residents to establish a return plan to ensure their ballots arrive before the deadline.

Emergency funding provided by the Oregon Legislature enabled state and county election officials to establish new drop box sites. The Secretary of State's office selected the new locations based on travel-time data to decrease transit times for voters while considering each county's capacity to deploy equipment before Election Day.

Oregon Secretary of State Read emphasized the importance of preparing early to return completed ballots.

“Your vote is your right as an American to hold government accountable. Don't take any chances: make a plan to get your ballot in on time,” Read said. “The best way to return your ballot is through a secure, official drop box. There are hundreds of drop boxes conveniently located around the state and the ballots returned to those boxes ballots are regularly picked up and delivered straight to your local elections official. Now, thanks to the hard work of our staff and your local elections officials, there are even more drop boxes available in Oregon. It is still safe to use the mail, just send it by Oct. 27 – one week before Election Day.”

Newly installed drop boxes are operational in Coos, Crook, Deschutes, Jackson, Klamath, Lane and Multnomah counties. Crook County added a location at Juniper Canyon Fire Station #1203 in Prineville, while Deschutes County established a drop box in the Barber Library Parking Lot at Central Oregon Community College in Bend.

Voters can find their nearest drop box using the lookup tool at OregonVotes.gov/Dropbox by entering the address of a registered Oregon voter. Most new locations have already been integrated into the online locator, with remaining boxes scheduled to appear within a few days. Residents who have not received their ballot are advised to contact their county elections office through OregonVotes.gov/Counties. Voters can also monitor the progress of their submission from shipment to acceptance by signing up at OregonVotes.gov/Track.

Installation is currently in progress for several additional drop box sites across the state. State officials will add those locations to the drop box locator tool and notify the public once they are installed and accepting ballots.