Low voter turnout trails Oregon primary as Rep. Bynum leads fundraising

CENTRAL OREGON (KTVZ) — With just days until Oregon’s May 19 primary election, voter turnout remains modest statewide, prompting renewed reminders for residents across Central Oregon to return their ballots on time.

According to the Oregon Capital Chronicle, election officials had received about 357,000 ballots as of Tuesday, roughly 12% of the 3.1 million sent to registered voters. While that pace is not far off from previous election cycles, it remains relatively low heading into the final stretch.

For voters in Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties, the message is clear: ballots must be dropped off at an official drop box by Tuesday night to be counted. Ballots sent by mail at this point risk arriving too late.

State leaders are also emphasizing confidence in Oregon’s vote-by-mail system. Officials say elections remain secure, even as they push back against federal pressure they argue could interfere with state and local control of elections.

Meanwhile, attention is also building around key races on the ballot. The Oregon Capital Chronicle reports that Democratic U.S. House candidate Janelle Bynum has outpaced other candidates in fundraising and spending in the final weeks leading up to the primary.

Election results are expected to begin coming in Tuesday evening, with counts continuing into the late-night hours across the state.

KTVZ will provide extensive coverage of the primary. KTVZ News will be closely tracking every development in these races. To get the latest, viewers can scan the QR code your see here:

That code links to a page dedicated to the races on the ballot. You can also find updates by clicking “Decision 2026.”