Tonight is deadline to register to vote in Nov. 8 election

Oregon Secretary of State Jeanne P. Atkins urged all eligible voters to make sure they will be able to cast their ballot in the upcoming election. Tuesday is the last day to register to vote in the upcoming November election.

If you have an Oregon DMV number, registration in Oregon is simple, and can be done entirely online at OregonVotes.gov. If you do not have an Oregon DMV number you can go online and print and complete the voter registration card and submit or mail it to your county elections office. The card must be postmarked no later than today in order to vote in the upcoming election.

Those who have active registrations but need to update their information, like their address, can do so after today, but that could delay when they receive their ballot.

“Now is the time to double check your registration and make sure your voice is heard this November,” said Atkins. “It’s simple. Visit OregonVotes.gov and in mere minutes you can ensure that you will receive a ballot and be able to participate in this historic election.”

Atkins asked Oregonians to remind their friends and neighbors that Tuesday is the last day to register to vote.

“Every one of us knows someone who has moved recently or isn’t already registered to vote. Encourage them to visit OregonVotes.gov today before midnight to check their registration status or sign up for the first time.”

Atkins reminds Oregonians that while every household in Oregon receives a Voters’ Pamphlet, receiving a Voters’ Pamphlet in your mailbox does not mean you are currently registered to vote. To register to vote in Oregon, you need to be a U.S. citizen, be at least 17 years old, and a resident of Oregon.

Atkins also on Tuesday released an important statement expressing her confidence in the security of Oregon’s election system:

“Nationally, the conversation about election security and ‘rigged’ elections is causing an undeserved and damaging distraction. These assertions are not based in reality.

“Elections are run by Oregon’s 36 counties, have numerous safeguards built in, and our vote by mail system provides a paper trail for each vote cast. Voter fraud is extremely rare in Oregon and nationwide, and the cases are typically isolated events of innocent mistakes rather than a wide-scale, coordinated effort to undermine the election. I have every confidence that the upcoming election, like those before it, will be secure and fair.”

And a reminder: Representatives of the pro- and anti-Measure 97 campaigns will debate that controversial Ballot Measure at 6:30 p.m. tonight on NewsChannel 21.