Oregon mail ballot deadline lands Tuesday as turnout outpaces 2022

Voters in Oregon face a Tuesday, Oct. 27 deadline if they plan to mail their ballots, a date recommended by state and federal postal authorities to ensure timely delivery. Election Day is one week away, and officials warn that waiting until the final days reduces the options available to residents who have not yet voted.

Secretary of State Tobias Read and local elections leaders cited a test coordinated by the Secretary of State’s office in coordination with Oregon’s 36 county elections officials. The test demonstrated that a ballot returned at least one week before Election Day has a high likelihood of arriving on time. The United States Postal Service also advised domestic, non-military voters to mail completed ballots before Election Day and at least one week before the office deadline.

Tim Scott, Director of Multnomah County Elections, suggested that voters who use the mail service visit a local neighborhood postal station to get the ballot postmarked directly. He noted that while ballots mailed later are still accepted, the earlier postmark provides a safer margin for processing.

Statewide data released Tuesday shows that 730,011 ballots have been received as of that date. This translates to a voter turnout rate of 23.42 percent. By comparison, the 2022 general election saw 590,526 ballots received at the same point in the cycle, resulting in a turnout rate of 19.7 percent.

Oregon residents have voted by mail since the 1980s, a system that allows for drop boxes, in-person submission at elections offices, or postal mail. Betty Yen, a Hillsboro resident, dropped off her ballot in Washington County on Monday. She described the process as simple and noted that it avoids the need to take time off work to stand in line.

Scott urged voters who have not yet received their ballots to contact their local elections office immediately. He said he does not want anyone to miss the opportunity to vote because life events or changing plans leave them with fewer choices on Election Day itself.

The final deadline for submitting ballots in Oregon is 8 p.m. on Election Day. Voters can still use drop boxes or visit elections offices after the recommended mail date, but the postal window closes Tuesday to align with the one-week buffer recommended by the USPS and the Secretary of State.