Oregon Center for Voting and Elections
Our mission is to educate Oregonians and the greater public about the potential for government and other institutions to reflect the views and diversity of society through innovations in voting, elections, and grassroots democratic participation. We encourage voter participation, and provide information to reduce barriers to voting and empower voters to use the full power of their vote.
Innovations in Voting & Elections
Oregon is a longstanding leader in election policies. From being the first state to adopt mail-in ballots for primary and general elections to expanding our automatic voter registration policies in 2023, Oregonians have paved the way for fair, representative, and accessible elections. Adoption and implementation of ranked choice voting and proportional representation are further opportunities to enhance Oregon’s democratic process.
Ranked Choice Voting
Ranked choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference.
Proportional Representation
Proportional representation is considered the “gold standard” of electoral systems, electing multiple representatives in one district.
Frequently Asked Questions
Up-to-date information on election security and integrity and combatting election misinformation is now available.
Should I use a drop box, or mail my ballot?
Both are acceptable, but vote by mail can lead to minor delays. A ballot drop box enables you to vote until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. If you mail your ballot, you should put it in the mail no later than 7 days in advance of the election. Any ballot postmarked before election day must be counted. If you hand your ballot to a clerk at a post office, and ask them to postmark it then and there, you gain extra assurance that any delays will not affect your vote being counted when it arrives at an elections office. Find a drop box here. If drop boxes are not conveniently located, your next best option is taking your ballot to the post office, and requesting a postmark. If these are not convenient options, get your ballot into a mailbox or to your letter carrier no less than seven days before the election.