Bethany-area residents must register to vote or update their information by Oct. 13 to cast a ballot in the Nov. 3 general election.

The Washington County elections division joined officials in Clackamas, Marion, Multnomah and Yamhill counties on Tuesday, Sept. 15, for a coordinated announcement on National Voter Registration Day. The five-county effort urged voters to check their registration, sign up for ballot tracking and make a plan to return their ballots.

The registration deadline is Oct. 13 at 11:59 p.m. That is the last day to register online or change a party affiliation at oregonvotes.gov. Ballots go in the mail the next day, Oct. 14.

Two Washington County commissioner races are on the November ballot: a Commissioner At-Large runoff and a Commissioner District 4 runoff, according to the county's upcoming-elections page. Both races are countywide. Bethany, Cedar Mill, Oak Hills and West Haven-Sylvan voters will help decide who fills those seats.

The county began mailing ballots to military and overseas voters on Saturday, Sept. 19. All other registered voters should expect ballots after Oct. 14. Anyone who has not received a ballot by Oct. 22 should contact the county elections office at 503-846-5800 or [email protected].

Washington County also offers a free ballot-tracking tool called BallotTrax. Residents can sign up at ballottrax.net/voter to get text, phone or email alerts when their ballot has been mailed, received and accepted for counting.

Completed ballots must carry a valid postmark on or before Election Day or be dropped at an official ballot drop site by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. Elections officials recommend mailing ballots at least one week before Election Day. Drop site locations are listed at oregonvotes.gov.

Voters who will be away from home during the voting period can request an absentee ballot starting Sept. 21. Absentee ballots can be mailed to a temporary address or picked up at the county elections office in Hillsboro.

David Hamilton, listed as Washington County elections manager in the joint announcement, is the local point of contact for voter questions. Residents can reach the elections office at 503-846-5800 or visit washingtoncountyor.gov/elections for updates on the November election.