ORS 254.470
Procedures for conducting election by mail

  • rules

(1)

The Secretary of State by rule shall establish requirements and criteria for the designation of places of deposit for the ballots cast in an election. The rules shall also specify the dates and times the places of deposit must be open and the security requirements for the places of deposit. At a minimum, the places designated under this section shall be open on the date of the election for a period of eight or more hours, but must be open until at least 8 p.m. At each place of deposit designated under this section, the county clerk shall prominently display a sign stating that the location is an official ballot drop site.

(2)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Except as provided in paragraphs (b) to (d) of this subsection, the county clerk shall mail by nonforwardable mail an official ballot with a return identification envelope and a secrecy envelope not sooner than the 20th day before the date of an election and not later than the 14th day before the date of the election, to each active elector of the electoral district as of the 21st day before the date of the election.

(b)

If the county clerk determines that an active elector of the electoral district as of the 21st day before the date of the election does not receive daily mail service from the United States Postal Service, the county clerk shall mail by nonforwardable mail an official ballot with a return identification envelope and a secrecy envelope to the elector not sooner than the 20th day before the date of an election and not later than the 18th day before the date of the election.

(c)

In the case of ballots to be mailed to addresses outside this state to electors who are not military or overseas electors, the county clerk may mail the ballots not sooner than the 29th day before the date of the election.

(d)

The county clerk is not required to mail a secrecy envelope under this subsection if the Secretary of State has approved a different procedure under ORS 254.458 (Alternatives to return identification envelope procedures) that provides substantially the same degree of secrecy.

(3)

For an election held on the date of a primary election:

(a)

The county clerk shall mail the official ballot of a major political party to each elector who is registered as being affiliated with the major political party as of the 21st day before the date of the election.

(b)

The county clerk shall mail the official ballot of a major political party to an elector not affiliated with any political party if the elector has applied for the ballot as provided in this subsection and that party has provided under ORS 254.365 (Voting at primary election by major party members and nonaffiliated electors) for a primary election that admits electors not affiliated with any political party.

(c)

An elector not affiliated with any political party who wishes to vote in the primary election of a major political party shall apply to the county clerk in writing. The application must be completed, signed and submitted by the elector electronically, in person or by mail, in a manner determined by the secretary by rule and must indicate which major political party ballot the elector wishes to receive. Except for electors described in subsection (4) of this section, and subject to ORS 247.203 (Change, termination or adoption of party affiliation before primary election), the application must be received by the county clerk not later than 5 p.m. of the 21st day before the date of the election.

(d)

If the primary election ballot includes city, county or nonpartisan offices or measures, the county clerk shall mail to each elector who is not eligible to vote for party candidates a ballot limited to those offices and measures for which the elector is eligible to vote.

(4)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

For each elector who updates a voter registration after the deadline in ORS 247.025 (Registration deadline), the county clerk shall make the official ballot, the return identification envelope and the secrecy envelope available either by mail or at the county clerk’s office or at another place designated by the county clerk. An elector to whom this subsection applies must request a ballot from the county clerk.

(b)

The county clerk is not required to make available a secrecy envelope under this subsection if the Secretary of State has approved a different procedure under ORS 254.458 (Alternatives to return identification envelope procedures) that provides substantially the same degree of secrecy.

(5)

The ballot shall contain the following warning:

Any person who, by use of force or other means, unduly influences an elector to vote in any particular manner or to refrain from voting is subject to a fine.

(6)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Upon receipt of any ballot described in this section, the elector shall mark the ballot, sign the return identification envelope supplied with the ballot and comply with the instructions provided with the ballot.

(b)

The elector may return the marked ballot to the county clerk by United States mail or by depositing the ballot at the office of the county clerk, at any place of deposit designated by the county clerk or at any location described in ORS 254.472 (Compartments for marking ballots) or 254.474 (Voting booths for primary and general elections).

(c)

The ballot must be returned in the return identification envelope.

(d)

Subject to paragraph (e) of this subsection, if a person returns a ballot for an elector, the person shall deposit the ballot in a manner described in paragraph (b) of this subsection not later than two days after receiving the ballot.

(e)

If the elector deposits the ballot at the office of the county clerk, at any place of deposit designated by the county clerk or at any location described in ORS 254.472 (Compartments for marking ballots) or 254.474 (Voting booths for primary and general elections), the ballot must be received at the office of the county clerk, at the designated place of deposit or at any location described in ORS 254.472 (Compartments for marking ballots) or 254.474 (Voting booths for primary and general elections) not later than the end of the period determined under subsection (1) of this section on the date of the election. If the elector returns the ballot by mail:

(A)

The ballot must be received at the office of the county clerk not later than the end of the period determined under subsection (1) of this section on the date of the election; or

(B)

The ballot must:
(i)
Have a postal indicator showing that the ballot was mailed not later than the date of the election; and
(ii)
Be received at the office of the county clerk not later than seven calendar days after the date of the election.

(f)

If a county clerk receives a marked ballot for an elector who does not reside in the clerk’s county, the ballot shall be forwarded to the county clerk of the county in which the elector resides not later than the eighth day after the election.

(7)

The following shall appear on the return identification envelope:

(a)

Space for the elector to sign the envelope.

(b)

A notice designed by rule by the Secretary of State, in consultation with the county clerks, explaining that by signing the ballot the elector is attesting under penalty of perjury that the ballot was mailed no later than the date of the election.

(c)

A summary of the applicable penalties for knowingly making a false statement, oath or affidavit under the election laws.

(8)

If the elector returns the ballot by mail, and a postal indicator is not present or legible, the ballot shall be considered to be mailed on the date of the election and may be counted if the ballot is received no later than seven calendar days after the election.

(9)

An elector may obtain a replacement ballot if the ballot is destroyed, spoiled, lost or not received by the elector. Replacement ballots shall be issued and processed as described in this section and ORS 254.480 (Replacement ballots). The county clerk shall keep a record of each replacement ballot provided under this subsection. Notwithstanding any deadline for mailing ballots in subsection (2) of this section, a replacement ballot may be mailed, made available in the office of the county clerk or made available at one central location in the electoral district in which the election is conducted. The county clerk shall designate the central location. A replacement ballot need not be mailed after the fifth day before the date of the election.

(10)

A ballot shall be counted only if:

(a)

It is returned in the return identification envelope;

(b)

The envelope is signed by the elector to whom the ballot is issued, unless a certified statement is submitted under ORS 254.431 (Special procedure for ballots challenged due to failure to sign return envelope or nonmatching signature); and

(c)

The signature is verified as provided in subsection (11) of this section.

(11)

The county clerk shall verify the signature of each elector on the return identification envelope with the signature on the elector’s registration record, according to the procedure provided by rules adopted by the Secretary of State. If the county clerk determines that an elector to whom a replacement ballot has been issued has voted more than once, the county clerk shall count only one ballot cast by that elector.

(12)

At 8 p.m. on election day, electors who are at the county clerk’s office, a place of deposit designated under subsection (1) of this section or any location described in ORS 254.472 (Compartments for marking ballots) or 254.474 (Voting booths for primary and general elections) and who are in line waiting to vote or deposit a voted ballot shall be considered to have begun the act of voting.
(13)(a)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the name of the Secretary of State may not appear in the secretary’s official capacity on the return identification envelope or on any instructions or materials included with the ballot if the secretary is a candidate in the election for which the ballot is printed.

(B)

This paragraph does not prohibit the name of the Secretary of State from appearing in the secretary’s official capacity in the voters’ pamphlet.

(b)

The name of the county clerk or other filing officer may not appear in the official capacity of the county clerk or filing officer on the return identification envelope or on any instructions or materials included with the ballot if the county clerk or filing officer is a candidate in the election for which the ballot is printed.

(c)

As used in this subsection, “filing officer” has the meaning given that term in ORS 254.165 (Adjusting ballot when vacancy occurs).

(14)

As used in this section, “postal indicator” means a postmark or other indicator on a mailed ballot, identified by the Secretary of State by rule, that demonstrates the date or time at which a ballot was mailed. [1981 c.805 §2; 1983 c.199 §2; 1985 c.575 §2; 1987 c.357 §3; 1987 c.733 §7a; 1993 c.493 §44; 1995 c.607 §43; 1995 c.712 §65; 1995 c.742 §17; 1999 c.410 §57; 1999 c.999 §54a; 1999 c.1002 §11; 2001 c.104 §79; 2001 c.805 §7; 2001 c.965 §14; 2005 c.797 §47; 2007 c.71 §78; 2007 c.154 §40a; 2008 c.53 §5; 2009 c.511 §24; 2013 c.520 §18; 2013 c.617 §3; 2013 c.679 §3; 2015 c.169 §3; 2017 c.749 §50; 2018 c.70 §4; 2019 c.508 §3; 2019 c.638 §3; 2021 c.473 §14; 2021 c.551 §1]

Source: Section 254.470 — Procedures for conducting election by mail; rules, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors254.­html.

254.005
Definitions
254.016
Elections conducted under this chapter
254.025
Construction of statutes applicable to primary elections
254.035
Time and place of elections for city officers
254.046
Expense of city election
254.056
Date and purpose of general election and primary election
254.065
Person receiving most votes nominated or elected
254.068
Simulated election for individuals under 18 years of age
254.071
Information regarding ballot format and method of voting ballot
254.074
County elections security plan
254.076
Register of candidates for nomination
254.085
Secretary of State’s statement of offices, candidates and measures
254.095
City elections officers’ statements of offices, candidates and measures
254.098
Expenses for change in information filed under ORS 254.085 or 254.095
254.103
Filing of measures referred by county governing body
254.108
Numbering county, city and district measures
254.115
Official primary election ballot
254.125
Nominating ballot for candidates to nonpartisan office
254.135
Official general or special election ballots
254.145
Design and contents of official ballots
254.155
Order of candidate names on ballot
254.165
Adjusting ballot when vacancy occurs
254.175
Providing ballot title and financial estimates in lieu of printing on ballot
254.185
Printing or furnishing of ballots by county clerk
254.195
Ballot specifications
254.235
Testing of voting machines and vote tally systems
254.321
Providing map of proposed boundaries for election on establishing or changing county or city boundaries
254.365
Voting at primary election by major party members and nonaffiliated electors
254.370
Record of nonaffiliated electors
254.408
Procedure for voting by person for whom no evidence of registration is found
254.411
Voting after name change
254.415
Challenging ballot of person offering to vote
254.426
Procedure on challenged ballot
254.431
Special procedure for ballots challenged due to failure to sign return envelope or nonmatching signature
254.445
Assistance in marking ballot
254.458
Alternatives to return identification envelope procedures
254.465
Elections to be conducted by mail
254.470
Procedures for conducting election by mail
254.471
Extension of deadline for returning ballots in case of emergency
254.472
Compartments for marking ballots
254.473
State payment for return of ballots by mail
254.474
Voting booths for primary and general elections
254.476
Personnel for counting ballots
254.478
Preparation for counting ballots
254.480
Replacement ballots
254.482
Persons authorized to watch receiving and counting of votes
254.483
Ballot security
254.485
Tally of ballots
254.495
Tally and return sheets
254.500
Tally of write-in votes
254.505
Ballots to be counted
254.515
Counting ballots marked “Federal only.”
254.525
Test of vote tally system
254.529
Choice of conducting hand recount of ballots or risk-limiting audit
254.532
Risk-limiting audit
254.535
Preservation of certain materials
254.545
Duties of county clerk after election
254.546
Duties of county clerk after recall election
254.548
Individual nominated or elected by write-in votes
254.555
Secretary of State’s duties after election
254.565
Duties of city elections officer after election
254.568
Certificate of election required before taking oath of office
254.575
Procedure when tie vote
254.650
Special election in case of death of nominee of major political party within 47 days of general election
254.655
Order calling special election
254.660
Conduct of special election
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