May’s Primary Election approaches
The May 21st Primary Election is approaching, with several important dates attached to it and Election Day reminders.
April 30th is the deadline for Voter Registration to vote in the Primary Election or to change registration information because you’ve moved, changed your name or would like to change your party affiliation. New Oregon voters can register to vote online at oregonvotes.gov, while other options are to mail a voter registration form, or register in person at the County Elections Office. Name changes should be done by paper so your new signature record exists.
It’s worth noting that a common Elections Office question about Primary Elections comes from voters registered as “non-partisan,” or not affiliated with the Republican or Democratic party. In Primary Elections, non-partisan voters are unable to vote for party candidates, though they can in General Elections.
On May 1, local ballots will be mailed to voters. If something happened to your original ballot, the last day for Elections Official to mail replacement ballots to voters is May 16th or a replacement can be picked up a the Elections Office.
Call the Hood River County Elections Office at 541-386-1442 if:
- you do not receive a ballot by May 7th
- you make a mistake on your ballot
- your ballot is damaged or destroyed
- you lose your ballot
- you have any other ballot or voting issues
Mail-In Ballots
Since 1998, Oregon has exclusively used vote-by-mail for all elections. This decision was made after a decade of allowing it for local elections, which led to the discovery that voter turnout increased. Oregon consistently ranks as a national leader in voter turnout largely credited to the state’s vote-by-mail system, and more recently the “motor voter” law that automatically registers eligible people to vote when they get their driver’s license or state ID card.
The Hood River County Elections Office encourages voters to return ballots early whenever possible. According to County Clerk Brian Beebe, about half of the received ballots come into the County Elections Office during the last two days of an election period. Postage-paid ballots can be mailed as long as they are postmarked on or before election day and received at the County Clerk’s office within seven calendar days after the election date. The U.S. Postal Service ensures proper handling and prompt delivery of Election Mail, however, results for close races may require extra time for all votes to be received and counted.
Official Ballot Drop Sites
Hood River County also has THREE official ballot drop sites for voter convenience. Please drop ballots off by 8 pm on Election Day at one of these sites located at:
County Election Office/Administration Bldg.
601 State St.
Hood River, OR 97031
Outside drop 24 hours/day, 7 days/week
Cascade Locks City Hall
140 Wa Na Pa St.
Cascade Locks, OR 97014
Outside drop 24 hours/day, 7 days/week
Parkdale Elementary School
4880 Van Nuys Dr.
Mount Hood Parkdale, OR 97041
Outside drop 24 hours/day, 7 days/week
Remember: every vote counts! The Hood River County Elections Office ensures that elections are accurate and that only votes cast on time are counted. You may contact the Hood River County Elections Office with questions or issues by emailing elections@hoodrivercounty.gov or calling 541-386-1442. Visit hoodrivercounty.gov/elections for more information.