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News Release

Benton County Clerk Responds To Report Of Ballots Left In Mailboxes - 07/08/26

CORVALLIS, Ore. — Benton County Clerk Darla Rush went directly to state and federal officials after reading that an unknown number of ballots were not collected from 12 of Corvallis’s 38 mail routes on May 19 — Election Day.

 

On July 6, the Corvallis Gazette-Times reported that some Corvallis votes were not counted following the May primary because letter carriers did not pick them up in time. Management had instructed postal workers to prioritize package deliveries over pickups.

 

A letter carrier who spoke to Mid-Valley Media said the order to deliver packages only is not uncommon when the volume of deliveries backs up and staffing is stretched. Around elections, however, carriers are usually told to prioritize mail over packages.

 

After reading the news story, Rush contacted the County’s United States Postal Service representative in Portland, who escalated the matter to senior leadership. They met Tuesday to discuss the issue.

 

Rush also shared the news story with the Secretary of State’s office, where staff will look into the matter. 

 

With a general election coming in November, Rush is doing everything she can to ensure every eligible ballot is postmarked by Election Day. She requested a meeting with USPS representatives, the Secretary of State's elections director and the Corvallis postmaster that will take place later this week.

 

The last piece of her plan: increased communication and public education before the November election.

 

“Our primary message will encourage voters to use one of the county's 17 official ballot drop sites whenever possible,” said Rush. “If you do mail a ballot, follow the Secretary of State’s direction — do it at least one week before Election Day.”

 

Rush and her staff will schedule community outreach meetings in the fall to talk with voters about their options and address questions.

 

Election resources, including locations of ballot drop boxes, are available on the Benton County Records & Elections website.

 

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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 Information Office at 541-766-6800 or pioinfo@bentoncountyor.gov.

Benton County Clerk Responds To Report Of Ballots Left In Mailboxes - 07/08/26

CORVALLIS, Ore. — Benton County Clerk Darla Rush went directly to state and federal officials after reading that an unknown number of ballots were not collected from 12 of Corvallis’s 38 mail routes on May 19 — Election Day.

 

On July 6, the Corvallis Gazette-Times reported that some Corvallis votes were not counted following the May primary because letter carriers did not pick them up in time. Management had instructed postal workers to prioritize package deliveries over pickups.

 

A letter carrier who spoke to Mid-Valley Media said the order to deliver packages only is not uncommon when the volume of deliveries backs up and staffing is stretched. Around elections, however, carriers are usually told to prioritize mail over packages.

 

After reading the news story, Rush contacted the County’s United States Postal Service representative in Portland, who escalated the matter to senior leadership. They met Tuesday to discuss the issue.

 

Rush also shared the news story with the Secretary of State’s office, where staff will look into the matter. 

 

With a general election coming in November, Rush is doing everything she can to ensure every eligible ballot is postmarked by Election Day. She requested a meeting with USPS representatives, the Secretary of State's elections director and the Corvallis postmaster that will take place later this week.

 

The last piece of her plan: increased communication and public education before the November election.

 

“Our primary message will encourage voters to use one of the county's 17 official ballot drop sites whenever possible,” said Rush. “If you do mail a ballot, follow the Secretary of State’s direction — do it at least one week before Election Day.”

 

Rush and her staff will schedule community outreach meetings in the fall to talk with voters about their options and address questions.

 

Election resources, including locations of ballot drop boxes, are available on the Benton County Records & Elections website.

 

###

 

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 Information Office at 541-766-6800 or pioinfo@bentoncountyor.gov.