From the Desk of Bill Burges
BE a Voter. Encourage others to be voters too. Let’s show our nation and the world how democracy works. The Marion County Clerk’s office looks forward to receiving your voted ballot. Check your registration status at www.oregonvotes.gov and update if necessary. If not yet registered, you have until October 15th to register to vote.
Here are some points to assure your voice is heard: If you have not received your ballot by October 23rd, please call 503.588.5041. Our area is experiencing increased mail theft, sometimes affecting ballot delivery. Postage is prepaid if you mail back your ballot. Please mail by October 28th to assure your ballot will likely be received in time to count.
If you wait until after October 28th to return your ballot, please use an official ballot drop site instead of the mail to ensure we receive your ballot in time to count. See the list of drop sites on pages 5, 6, and 7 of the Marion County Voter Pamphlet mailed to every residential address in Marion County and online.
Postmarks by Election Day now count, but only if the Post Office delivers within 7 days after Election Day, November 12th. If mailing on Election Day, be aware of the last pickup time posted on the USPS box. If the last pickup time has passed, do not mail, use an official ballot drop site or deliver to the Clerk’s Office by 8 p.m.
Please be sure we have both your current residential and mailing address. Your residential address determines which of the 128 ballot styles to send. You can check and, if necessary, update this information at www.oregonvotes.gov. Prospective voters with an Oregon Driver License or ID card can also register online by October 15th for this November Election. Alternatively, use the registration form on page 63 of the Marion County voter pamphlet or find a voter registration card at most USPS offices, libraries and city halls.
The United States Postal Service offers Informed Delivery, in which you receive an email with an image of mail pieces to be delivered that day. You will know when your ballot hits your mailbox. To sign up for this service, go to www.informeddelivery.usps.com.
We also offer large print and tactile ballots. The Marion County voter pamphlet is available in voice and text on our website. Independent Living Resources, 503.232.7411, will mail this voter pamphlet on CD or tape on request.
Each active ballot return envelope has a statewide unique number. If a voter needs a replacement ballot, the new return envelope will be issued an updated number making the first ballot return envelope number invalid. Ballot packets with invalid numbers are set aside for investigation. Only signature verified valid return ballot envelopes are opened, and only these ballots are counted.
Thank you for helping make democracy work by being informed and voting. Please feel welcome to visit and observe our election process after watching the video above. We are at 555 Court St NE, Suite 2130, Salem 97301 above the Chariots transit mall. If you have questions or concerns, we are just a phone call or email click away. 503-588-5041 and elections@co.marion.or.us. We are waiting to serve and hear from you.
Essential dates:
October 15th – Last day to register to vote.
October 28th – Recommended last day to mail ballot for USPS delivery by Election Day.
November 5th – Last day to return the ballot by drop box (before 8 p.m.).
November 12th – Last day for an Election Day postmark to count.
November 26th – Last day to resolve a missing or non-matching envelope signature in time for the ballot to be counted.