Ballot Tracking Alerts Now Available For Benton County Voters (Photo) - 10/20/26

CORVALLIS, Ore. — All Oregon voters can now sign up to receive updates on the status of their ballot for the November 2026 general election. Secretary of State Tobias Read made the announcement about the free BallotTrax service in a video released October 14.

“Voters in Benton County have let my office know they feel better when they know where their ballots are and have confirmation they’re being counted,” said County Clerk Darla Rush. “We contact people only when there is a problem with their ballot. This service provides communication for everyone else.”

Voters can sign up online by providing first and last name, date of birth and zip code. The information must exactly match the information on their voter record.

Once registered for ballot tracking, voters can choose to get updates through text, email or phone call. Updates are sent at three key points:

• When the ballot is sent to the voter by Benton County
• When the completed ballot is received by the County elections office
• When the ballot is accepted for counting

If a ballot is not accepted because of a ballot signature issue, an update will be sent so the voter can contact Benton County Elections to take action to make sure their vote can be counted.

Users should note that they may see a lag in status changes due to processing time, and their ballot may briefly display as “under review” without being cause for concern. Unless they are contacted by the elections team, voters can rest assured that their ballot is being processed, and issues have been resolved.

The BallotTrax service was previously available for voters in Clackamas, Marion, Multnomah, Washington and Yamhill counties. Voters in all Oregon counties can now use it.

Registered voters can visit oregonvotes.gov/track to learn more and sign up for BallotTrax. Questions should be directed to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Elections Division.

Ballot drop boxes in Benton County are open. Find the closest drop box and vote today!

CORRECTION: Benton County Releases 2026 Property Tax Statements - 10/19/26

In the FlashAlert issued on October 19, some incorrect payment deadlines were provided. A corrected version follows. For questions, contact the Benton County Tax Office at 541-766-6808 or [email protected].

CORVALLIS, Ore. — The 2026 property tax statements have been released by the Benton County Assessor’s Office. Property owners can now access certified property values and 2026 tax statements on the County Assessor’s website at https://apps.benton-or.helioncloud.com/PSO/.

Tax Statements will be mailed or emailed no later than October 24.

Business Personal Property accounts below the cancellation threshold of $24,000 will not receive a tax statement for the business.  

Important payment information

1. To receive a 3% discount, full payment of property taxes must be postmarked by November 16*.

2. Taxpayers choosing the 2/3 option will receive a 2% discount on the amount paid with the final payment due May 17, 2027.

3. Taxpayers choosing to pay taxes in three equal installments receive no discount. Installment payments are due December 15, February 16, 2027, and May 17, 2027.

4. As per ORS 311.505, interest will be charged on any late installment payment. Interest begins to accrue on any late installment payments made after December 16, 2026.

Payment methods

1. Drop payments in the white tax drop box located in the parking lot at the Kalapuya Building, 4500 SW Research Way, Corvallis. Please include your payment coupon.

2. Visit the County Tax Office on the first floor of the Kalapuya Building.

3. Send payments via USPS to the Benton County Tax Office, P.O. Box 964, Corvallis, Oregon 97339. Payments must be postmarked by November 16* to be considered timely. Please include your payment coupon.

4. Pay at an Oregon State Credit Union branch. Payment coupons are required. This payment option is only available through November 16.

5. Online payments: Follow the steps to pay by credit card, debit card or electronic check. Service fees apply. https://finance.bentoncountyor.gov/pay-your-property-taxes/

6. Pay by phone at 1-866-898-2918. Service fees apply.

Questions?

Tax questions: Contact the Benton County Tax Office at 541-766-6808 or [email protected]

Valuation questions: Contact the Benton County Assessment Department at 541-766-6855 or [email protected].

* Items mailed within Benton County are not postmarked until 1-3 days after they are placed in the mailbox. If you do not mail your payment at least 7 days before the deadline, we recommend taking it to the service counter at the post office and requesting that it be hand stamped with the postmark.

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Benton County is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring and employment practices. This document is available in alternative formats and languages upon request. Please contact the Public Affairs Office at 541-766-6800 or [email protected].

Benton County Records & Elections Department Rolls Out Digital Modernization Suite (Photo) - 10/14/26

CORVALLIS, Ore. — Benton County is modernizing how community members access vital public services, making it easier, faster and more secure to engage with County departments. Ultimately, this work will span all departments’ web presence, payment platforms and digital access to services that previously required in‑person or over-the-phone interactions.

County leadership has emphasized that modernization is central to improving transparency and access. “Digital modernization is important to the Board of Commissioners and County leadership because it’s a better way to serve our constituents,” said County Administrator Rick Crager. “This project is a component of our commitment to transparency in governance. This work will be ongoing, iterative and open to public feedback.”

Since July of 2026, the Benton County Records & Elections Department has rolled out several modernization milestones. The first phase launched the department’s updated website featuring improved user navigation, clearer access to essential services and online appointment booking.

In September, the department launched its free Property Recording Alert System. Through PRAS, subscribers get email notifications any time documents containing specified names are recorded and indexed. PRAS gives property owners an early heads‑up on potentially unauthorized filings, adding an extra layer of transparency and peace of mind.

Now, Records is opening its Digital Research Room. Most useful for titling and recording companies, realtors and contractors, the Digital Research Room is the newest service to receive the modernization treatment. For $150 a month, users get on-demand, flat-rate access to records that previously needed to be accessed, reviewed and shared by a Records employee for a one-time, calculated fee. This expansion of service supports industry professionals by allowing them direct access to documents, reduces staff workload and sets a more straightforward rate for “power users,” improving public records access overall. Those who need one-off support do not need to subscribe to the platform and may make requests over the counter or via email, and certified copies must still come from the Records team directly.

“With each phase of this project, our goal has been to make our services easier to access, book and use,” said Benton County Clerk and director of the Records and Elections Department, Darla Rush. “This digital modernization helps us streamline services and improves access for those unable to make a call or visit mid-day or wait for staff support.”

While the Records team will continue modernizing its services, Elections operations remain in line with the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office. Voting and voter registration processes follow the statewide standards that have kept Oregon’s vote-by-mail system secure and accurate for two decades.

Community members and industry professionals can visit the updated website and learn more about new digital services at re.bentoncountyor.gov.