Get Ready to Vote in Deschutes County

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Date Posted:  9/29/2020

Key Dates

• Oct. 13 – last day to register before the Nov. 3 election
• Oct. 27 – last day to mail ballots (as recommended by USPS)
• Nov. 3 – last day to drop ballots in ballot drop boxes (must be received by 8 p.m.)

Key Websites

In Oregon, elections are run at the state level by the Secretary of State and at the county level by the Deschutes County Clerk.

• Oregon Secretary of State Elections site: https://sos.oregon.gov/voting/Pages/current-election.aspx
• Oregon Secretary of State Voter Registration site: https://sos.oregon.gov/voting/Pages/registration.aspx?lang=en
• Deschutes County Clerk’s Election and Voting site: https://www.deschutes.org/clerk/page/elections-and-voting

Register to Vote

You have until October 13 to register to vote in the Nov. 3 election. If you have already registered in Oregon, you do not need to re-register.

• Check if you’re registered at the Secretary of State’s My Vote site: https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/vr/showVoterSearch.do?lang=eng&source=SOS
• My Vote site in Spanish: https://sos.oregon.gov/voting/Pages/registration.aspx?lang=es
• Register online at the My Vote site
• Or fill out this form https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/SEL500.pdf and return it to: Deschutes County Clerk, Deschutes Services Building, 1300 NW Wall Street, Bend, OR 97703
• You can also pick up a registration card at the County Clerk’s Office, post offices, city halls, local libraries or DMV offices.
• The League of Women Voters will be helping voters get registered from 10:00 - 2:00 outside the Downtown Bend, Redmond and Sisters libraries, Saturdays October 3 and 10.
• More information is available at the Deschutes County Clerk’s Voter Registration FAQs: https://www.deschutes.org/clerk/page/voter-resources-and-voter-registration-faq

Wildfire Evacuees

If you are currently registered and have been displaced by wildfires, you only need to update your mailing address whether your physical address is still standing or not. You can use these options if necessary:

• General Delivery at a USPS
• County Clerk’s office

You can make the change on the My Vote site: https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/vr/showVoterSearch.do?lang=eng&source=SOS

Learn about Candidates and Issues

• Deschutes County Clerk’s website on candidates and measures: https://www.deschutes.org/clerk/page/november-3-2020-general-election
• Deschutes County voter’s pamphlet will be mailed the week after ballots with the State voter’s guide. You can access the pamphlet online here: https://www.deschutes.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/clerk039s_office/page/13721/deschutes_nov20_vp_web.pdf
• Live online candidate Forums hosted by Deschutes Public Library, League of Women Voters of Deschutes County and City Club of Central Oregon: https://www.deschuteslibrary.org/calendar/

Vote!

Ballots are mailed to out-of-state residents on Oct. 5. In-state residents should receive ballots between Oct. 7 and Oct. 9.

• If you don’t receive your ballot by Oct. 14, or if your ballot is spoiled or damaged contact the County Clerk’s office at: (541) 388-6547
• Make your selection by filling in the oval next to your choice with blue or black ink.
• Be sure to sign your return envelope! This serves as your identification.
• Mail your ballot early and by Oct. 27 at the latest.
• Or drop off your ballot at an official Ballot Drop Box by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3: https://www.deschutes.org/clerk/page/ballot-drop-box-locations

Resources in Spanish / Recursos en español

• League of Women Voters Oregon voting guide in Spanish/guía de votación en español: https://www.vote411.org/es/oregon
• Oregon Secretary of State’s My Vote site in Spanish/Información de votación en línea de Oregon en español: https://sos.oregon.gov/voting/Pages/registration.aspx?lang=es