Washington County residents must register to vote by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13, one day before the county mails ballots for the Nov. 3 general election.

The deadline applies to new registrations and party affiliation changes, according to the Washington County Elections Division. Since ballots mail the very next day, anyone who misses the cutoff will not receive one.

The Nov. 3 ballot includes runoff races for Washington County Commissioner At-Large and Commissioner District 4. As we reported Sept. 15, the U.S. Supreme Court's 7-2 ruling on Sept. 14 blocked the Trump administration's attempt to impose new USPS restrictions on mail-in ballot delivery, clearing the way for Oregon's all-mail elections to proceed as normal.

How to register

Oregon voters can register online at the Secretary of State's website. People registering need an Oregon driver's license or DMV-issued ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number plus a signature. Voters without those options can generate a printable registration card to sign and deliver to the county elections office.

Residents 16 and older who are U.S. citizens can register, though voters under 18 will not receive a ballot until the first election after their 18th birthday.

Key dates for Washington County

  • Tuesday, Oct. 13 — Last day to register or change party affiliation (11:59 p.m.)
  • Wednesday, Oct. 14 — Washington County Elections Division mails ballots to all registered voters
  • Tuesday, Nov. 3 — Election Day; drop boxes close at 8 p.m.; the Elections Division office is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Monday, Nov. 30 — Washington County certifies election results

Return your ballot early

County elections officials are urging voters to mail ballots at least one week before Election Day to account for postal delays. During the May 2026 primary, 7,314 ballots received during the post-election grace period were rejected statewide for late postmarks, a 35% increase over the 2022 primary, KATU reported. The rejections stem from USPS processing changes that route all Oregon mail through a single Portland facility.

Drop boxes are an alternative. Oregon has more than 300 official drop boxes statewide, and 20 more are being added with $618,000 from a $1.25 million emergency appropriation the legislature approved on Sept. 10. An online drop box locator will go live on Oct. 13 at the Secretary of State's website.

"I don't think anyone should be feeling any lack of confidence in our system because, of course, there are options, and that's why we are really encouraging people to use drop boxes …" Secretary of State Tobias Read said at a Sept. 8 press conference in Salem.

Check your status

Voters already registered can confirm their information and track their ballot through the state's MyVote portal. Washington County voters can also sign up for BallotTrax to receive text, phone or email alerts when their ballot is mailed, received and accepted.

Washington County Elections Manager David Hamilton can be reached at 503-846-5800 or [email protected].