How to Register to Vote in Oregon

Babelton

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posted on 12 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Voting is the cornerstone of democracy, but before you can vote, you must register. To be eligible to register to vote in Oregon, you must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of Oregon, and at least 17 years old (although you cannot vote until age 18). There are several easy ways to become a registered voter in Oregon. You must register to vote at least 21 days before the next election in which you wish to cast your vote.[1]
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Steps

Getting Registered Automatically

Interact with the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles. Under House Bill 2177, signed into law on March 17, 2015, almost any Oregonian who has dealt with the DMV since 2013 is automatically registered to vote. Specifically, if you applied for or renewed a license, or changed your address, you may already be registered to vote. If you were automatically registered to vote by this process, you should have received a notification by mail informing you that you have three weeks to opt out.

Verify that you are registered to vote. If you are unsure of whether or not you have been automatically registered to vote, you can check online. Visit this webpage, enter your name and birthday, and press the "Submit" button.

Wait for your ballot. If you have not opted out of voter registration, the secretary of state's office will mail you a ballot automatically. You should receive your ballot at least 20 days before any election.

Registering Online

Visit the registration website. Go to this webpage to begin your voter registration. The site contains a series of questions that you must answer. Note that it is a felony to provide false information while registering, pursuant to Oregon Revised Statute 260.715.

Enter your basic citizenship and age information. You must be at least 17 and a U.S. citizen to register. Once you have verified that you are a citizen and of age, click "Continue."

Add personal information. Fill in your driver's license number, name, and date of birth. Then enter on the captcha code. Click "Continue" to move to the next page. If you are homeless, you can still register. For your "current address," provide the address of the place where you sleep. If you do not have an address where mail service is available, enter the address of the county clerk. You can find the address of your county clerk here. You can always pick up a ballot from the county clerk's office. If you are concerned about your safety or privacy, you can submit a request to keep your home address confidential. Download and fill out this Application to Exempt Residence Address from Disclosure as a Public Record (SEL 550) and deliver it to your county elections office. You can find the address of your county elections office here.

Verify your information. Check to make sure everything is correct, including your party affiliation. Once you have verified that the information you have entered is correct, click the "Submit Registration" button. You will be shown a receipt that you can print out or save for future reference.

Registering by Mail

Download the form. The Voter Registration Card (SEL 500) is available online as a .pdf form. You can download it in English or in Spanish.

Fill out the form. You will need to verify that you are at least 17 years old and a citizen of the United States. Then enter your personal identifying information and sign the form. If you are homeless, provide the address of the place where you sleep, or enter the address of the county clerk. You can always pick up a ballot from the county clerk's office. If you are concerned about your safety or privacy, download and fill out this Application to Exempt Residence Address from Disclosure as a Public Record (SEL 550) and include it with your registration card.

Mail or deliver the form. Once you have finished and signed, mail or deliver the form to your county elections office. The addresses for of the elections offices appear on the second page of the form.

Registering in Person

Locate your county elections office. Each county in Oregon has a county elections office. You can find addresses and phone numbers for each office here.

Visit the elections office. Go to your local elections office during its hours of operation. Ask someone on staff to assist you with your voter registration. You will need to provide your driver's license number or the last four digits of your social security number. If you do not have those, you can provide some other photo ID, a paycheck stub, utility bill, bank statement, government document, or proof of eligibility under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act or the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act.

Fill out your forms. The staffer will provide you with any necessary voter registration forms. Allow a few minutes to complete the paperwork. If you are homeless, provide the address of the place where you sleep, or enter the address of the county clerk. You can always pick up a ballot from the county clerk's office. If you are concerned about your safety or privacy, request and fill out an Application to Exempt Residence Address from Disclosure as a Public Record (SEL 550).