Lane County Resumes Ballot Processing - 11/05/26

The Lane County Elections Office has resumed processing ballots and will have updated results by 5:00 p.m. today.

Yesterday, ballot sorting equipment at the Lane County Elections Office stopped working due to a clog in an inkjet line that prints the date and time a ballot is sorted onto the return envelopes. The issue paused ballot processing for several hours on November 4.

“Our sorting equipment is older and that may have contributed to yesterday’s issue,” said County Clerk Tommy Gong. “We’ve been able to resume processing ballots and if you watch our livestream today you’ll see lots of activity in the office this afternoon. It’s important voters know there have been no issues with our counting machines and we are confident we’ll be able to count every vote accurately and efficiently.”

To resume processing ballots, the decision was made to suspend the printed time and date stamps on the return envelopes. Each ballot return envelope also has a unique barcode that is scanned by the sorting equipment and it logs the time and date electronically.

An updated results reporting schedule is available online. All results are unofficial until certification on November 25, 2026.

More information about ballot processing and election security is available at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/ElectionSecurity.

About the Lane County Elections Office:

The Elections Office, located at 275 W. 10^th Avenue in Eugene, is responsible for conducting elections in Lane County.  The Elections Office manages voter registration, the processing of mail ballots, recruitment and training of election workers, and certification of elections.

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Next Round Of Lane County Election Results Delayed - 11/04/26

Ballot sorting equipment at the Lane County Elections Office stopped working this morning due to a clog in an inkjet line, bringing ballot processing to a pause and delaying updated results.

The high-speed sorting equipment is a critical part of how ballots are processed in Lane County. Given the level of voter turnout and the number of ballots remaining to be counted, using a manual process during the machine’s down time was not feasible.

“We understand this delay is disappointing to many people in our community,” said County Clerk Tommy Gong. “We’re appreciative of the technicians who are working to get us back up and running this afternoon. We anticipate our next round of election results will be available tomorrow.”

An updated election results posting schedule will be made available online after the equipment is repaired and processing can resume. All results are unofficial until certification on November 25, 2026.

More information about ballot processing and election security is available at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/ElectionSecurity.

About the Lane County Elections Office:

The Elections Office, located at 275 W. 10^th Avenue in Eugene, is responsible for conducting elections in Lane County.  The Elections Office manages voter registration, the processing of mail ballots, recruitment and training of election workers, and certification of elections.

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Road Open: Big Creek Road (north Of Florence) - 11/02/26

Culvert replacement was completed ahead of schedule. Big Creek Road is now open. Original closure announcement below. 

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Road name: Big Creek Road

Location: North of Florence

Begin closure: Milepost 9

End closure: Milepost 12.5

Dates and times: Complete closure from Tuesday, June 2, to Thursday, December 31

Reason for closure: Culvert replacement

Alternate routes: None

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Election Results Available Starting At 8:00 P.m. On Election Day - 11/02/26

Election results will be made available to the public starting at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, and updated throughout the evening. Elections results can be obtained at:

 www.LaneCountyOR.gov/Elections

Ballots returned by mail and postmarked by November 3 must be received by November 10 in order to be counted. Ballots returned via mail and postmarked by November 3 may take several days to arrive at Lane County Elections, which means that the outcome of some races or ballot measures may not be known immediately. The Lane County Elections Office will continue to periodically update election results after November 3 until all ballots have been counted. The full results reporting schedule is available online at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/Elections.

Election results will be certified on November 25, 2026.

Voters with questions can email [email protected] or call 541-682-4234.

About the Lane County Elections Office:

The Elections Office, located at 275 W. 10^th Avenue in Eugene, is responsible for conducting elections in Lane County.  The Elections Office manages voter registration, the processing of mail ballots, recruitment and training of election workers, and certification of elections.

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Updated With Video Link: Lane County Celebrates Four New RecycleOn Centers With Oct. 21 Ribbon Cutting At Glenwood - 10/21/26

** If you did not make it to the event today but would like video to use, a recording of the ribbon cutting is available at https://vimeo.com/1238168385?share=copy. **

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Lane County residents have new options for recycling materials that don’t belong in curbside recycling bins with the opening of four RecycleOn Centers at the Cottage Grove, Glenwood, Florence, and Veneta transfer stations.

To mark the expansion, Lane County will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Glenwood Transfer Station (3100 E. 17th Avenue, Eugene). The event will highlight the partnership between Lane County and Circular Action Alliance and the new recycling opportunities available to residents.

The new centers provide free, convenient drop-off recycling for materials that require separate collection, including plastic bags and film, shredded paper, aluminum foil, plastic lids, and other specialty materials.

The openings build on Lane County’s existing transfer station network and represent another step in the County’s ongoing work to make recycling more accessible to residents throughout the region.

“Our transfer stations already play an important role in providing recycling services throughout Lane County, so adding RecycleOn Centers is a natural extension of that work,” said Lane County Waste Management Division Manager Jeff Orlandini. “These new centers give residents more options to keep valuable materials out of the landfill, while making it easier to recycle items that don’t belong in mixed recycling.”

The centers are part of RecycleOn Oregon, the statewide recycling education and collection program developed by Circular Action Alliance (CAA) as part of Oregon’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act.

Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act (RMA) began implementation in July 2025 and created a new system in which producers of packaging, paper products, and food serviceware help fund improvements to Oregon’s recycling system. Circular Action Alliance is Oregon’s approved producer responsibility organization responsible for implementing many of those requirements.

The law is bringing new investment into local recycling systems, including expanded collection opportunities for materials that are difficult to collect through traditional mixed recycling programs. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality identifies expanded recycling service and depot collection among the activities eligible for producer funding under the RMA.

For Lane County, the partnership with CAA means residents can now bring additional materials to existing County transfer stations where they can be collected separately and sent through appropriate recycling channels.

“Opening these sites is a great example of what the Recycling Modernization Act can look like at the local level,” Orlandini said. “Lane County provides the local infrastructure and operational experience, while producer funding helps expand the range of materials our residents can recycle. Ultimately, that means better access and more opportunities to recover materials instead of throwing them away.f

Know before you go

Materials brought to RecycleOn Centers must be sorted by material type and placed in the appropriate collection area. Residents should check the accepted-material list before visiting because RecycleOn Centers collect materials differently than curbside or mixed recycling programs. RecycleOn says more than 140 of the free drop-off centers are expected to open throughout Oregon by the end of 2027.

For more information about Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act and to see the current list of accepted materials and find RecycleOn Center locations, visit recycleon.org/oregon. For information about recycling and waste prevention in Lane County, visit lanecountyor.gov/recycle.

About RecycleOn Oregon

RecycleOn Oregon is the statewide campaign created by Circular Action Alliance with input from local governments, service providers, community members, and others to help Oregonians understand and navigate changes to the state’s recycling system. RecycleOn Centers provide free drop-off locations for certain materials that cannot be placed in recycling bins at homes or businesses.

About Lane County Waste Management

Lane County Waste Management provides safe and responsible solid waste disposal, recycling, waste prevention, and resource recovery services throughout Lane County. The County operates a regional network of transfer stations and works with community, government, and private-sector partners to reduce waste, expand recycling opportunities, and conserve landfill capacity.

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Lane County Voters: Remember To Sign The Return Envelope And Return Your Ballots Early - 10/21/26

Voters are urged to return their ballots as early as possible to ensure they are received at Lane County Elections by the 8:00 p.m. deadline on Tuesday, November 3.

In order to be counted, ballots must be received at Lane County Elections by:

• A 24/7 County ballot drop box by 8:00 p.m. on November 3. Help save taxpayer dollars by avoiding the postage and using a drop box, managed directly by Lane County Elections.
• Lane County Elections. Ballots can be turned in by November 3, 2026 directly to the Lane County Elections Office during business hours (open until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day).
• Regular mail. Ballots must be postmarked no later than November 3, 2026 and received no later than November 10, 2026 to be counted. USPS recommends putting a ballot in the mail seven days before the election or getting a manual hand-stamp postmark at the service counter of local post offices.

“The best way for voters to return their ballots is to place them in one of our 25 official ballot drop boxes across the county,” said Lane County Clerk Tommy Gong. “If voters plan to return their ballots in the mail they should do so early – by October 27 – in order to make sure they meet postmark and delivery deadlines.”

Voters must also remember to sign their ballot return envelopes before mailing or returning their completed ballot to Lane County Elections.

The signature is a security measure used to verify identity. Signatures are compared to those in the voter registration record. A ballot may only be counted if the signatures match.

If you forget to sign the envelope or your signature does not match, you will receive a notice from Lane County Elections advising you of the issue and how to fix or “cure” it. You have until the 21^st day after the election to cure your signature issue and have your ballot counted.

What can you do to ensure your signature matches?

• Sign your natural signature. If you don’t usually sign with a middle initial don’t sign your ballot envelope with it.  Election workers are trained to look for specific characteristics within each signature. If you think your signature has changed significantly, contact Lane County Elections.
• Don’t sign another person’s name. Even if someone gives you permission to sign, or you have power of attorney, it is against the law in Oregon to sign another person’s name on a return envelope. It’s forgery.
• Request help if you have difficulty signing.  If it is difficult for you to sign, on either a temporary or permanent basis, you can complete a signature attestation form and return it to Lane County Elections.  Completing this step will allow you to use a signature stamp or other indicator that represents your signature.  
• Correct a mistake if you accidentally sign your name on someone in your household’s envelope. If you and another person in your household sign each other’s return ballot envelopes, simply place a line through the incorrect signatures and sign the correct envelopes.  

Voters can also track the status of their ballot using BallotTrax. Voters who sign up will get notifications when their ballot is received by Lane County Elections, accepted for counting, and if they have a missing or non-matching signature issue that needs to be corrected. The service is provided by the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office for the November 3 election. Availability in future elections is dependent upon state funding. Sign up for BallotTrax at www.OregonVotes.gov/track.

Voters with questions can email [email protected] or call 541-682-4234. 

About the Lane County Elections Office:

The Elections Office, located at 275 W. 10^th Avenue in Eugene, is responsible for conducting elections in Lane County.  The Elections Office manages voter registration, the processing of mail ballots, recruitment and training of election workers, and certification of elections.

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Grant Funding Will Help Identify Transportation System Vulnerabilities In The Face Of Natural Disasters - 10/20/26

Lane Council of Governments (LCOG), in partnership with Lane County, has been awarded $5.3 million in funding from the transportation resilience-focused federal PROTECT grant program. Funds will support the Resilient Lane project, an effort to understand and address our transportation system’s vulnerability to hazards in Lane County.

“We know from experience that Lane County is vulnerable to a number of hazards, including wildfire, winter storms, flooding and landslides,” said Lane County Commissioner and LCOG Board Member Heather Buch. “Understanding how those vulnerabilities might affect our transportation system and creating a plan to reduce disruption makes us stronger as a community.”

Resilient Lane will combine data collection, community outreach, and technical review to create a transportation-focused Resilience Improvement Plan (TRIP) for Lane County. The TRIP will improve the region's ability to anticipate and recover from disruptions. The project will take place over three years and will:

• Document where the transportation network is vulnerable to hazards like extreme weather and earthquakes.
• Designate a countywide network of emergency transportation routes for disaster response and recovery.
• Identify strategies that mimic or restore nature to address vulnerabilities (e.g., restoring wetlands to reduce flooding on roads).
• Include a prioritized list of transportation projects that address vulnerabilities and create preliminary engineering designs for top projects – a big step toward construction.
• Publish an online data visualizer tool to make resilience information accessible to local transportation planners and the public.

LCOG, which serves as the federally designated regional transportation planning agency for the Central Lane County region, will lead Resilient Lane in collaboration with Lane County transportation planners, engineers, emergency management, and public health staff. The effort will include extensive community engagement to identify and inform priorities for risk reduction across the county’s transportation system, ranging from seismic resiliency to flood mitigation. Resilient Lane will also consider bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and needs because the transportation system is not limited to cars and trucks.

Examples from other communities of the kinds of infrastructure projects the TRIP may recommend in Lane County include widening culverts and expanding drainage to reduce flooding on roads, paths and sidewalks; raising or seismically upgrading bridges; slope stabilization; and more.

This effort will strengthen and complement transportation resilience initiatives already underway across the region — including an upcoming update to Lane County’s Multijurisdictional Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan and LCOG’s Regional Transportation Plan — and help agencies responsible for transportation systems compete for additional grant funding to put recommended strategies into action.

More information about the Resilient Lane project can be found at www.lcog-or.gov/thempo/page/resilient-lane.
 

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Eugene, Springfield And Lane County To Begin Leaf Pickup - 10/19/26

Lane County and the cities of Eugene and Springfield are preparing to kick off their annual leaf collection efforts. Removing leaves from catch basins, grates and gutters allows storm water to run off and prevents flooding.

Keeping leaves out of the drainage system also improves water quality because decomposing leaves use up oxygen that is needed by aquatic life in local streams and rivers. And removing slippery leaves from streets and sidewalks makes travel safer for people walking, biking and driving. 

In all three jurisdictions, property owners are responsible for leaves that are placed improperly in the street or cause safety or localized flooding hazards.

Eugene and Lane County allow residents to pile leaves in the street, while Springfield only allows bagged leaves to be set out for collection.

Leaves are the only items collected. Piles with branches, pine needles, trash, grass and other lawn debris are not accepted and will not be collected.

To get the best information for your property, determine which jurisdiction provides service in your area, and then contact that agency. Here are the details for each jurisdiction:

City of Eugene

Eugene’s annual leaf collection and delivery program begins November 2. To view a map of Eugene’s collection zones, visit www.eugene-or.gov/leaf. The City’s online tool can be used to look up an address and find out when to place leaves in the street, order leaf deliveries or report issues such as leaves in bike lanes.

Key Reminders for Eugene Residents and Businesses

• Put unbagged leaves in the street starting the weekend before your zone is scheduled.
• For safety, keep piles clear of bike lanes and sidewalks.
• Branches, sticks and other debris should be kept out of leaf piles.

The second round of leaf collection will start early January 2027. For more information about Eugene’s leaf collection and delivery services, visit www.eugene-or.gov/leaf or call Public Works Maintenance at 541-682-4800.

City of Springfield

In Springfield, the City provides a free leaf pickup service to residents within the city limits to help prevent flooding, protect water quality, and keep neighborhood streets safer for people walking, biking, and driving. Leaves are collected in two rounds in two sections -- the west and east sides of the city with 28^th/31^st Street as the dividing line.

Sanipac is contracted to pick up, haul, and recycle bagged leaves for residents within the city limits. Leaves must be put in medium-sized bags that contain only leaves. Bags containing other yard debris cannot be used for compost and will not be picked up.

Bags need to be placed curbside, not in the street, by 7:00 a.m. on Monday of the week scheduled for collection in that area. Not all bags will be picked up right away on Monday; it may take several days. Additionally, severe weather may cause delays. Landscaping, yard maintenance companies, property management companies, and residents are not allowed to blow or rake leaves into the streets.

Springfield residents can also pledge to properly dispose of their leaves for a chance to win one of two $100 gift cards from a local home improvement store. Residents can view this year’s informational flier for more details on how to enter.

The first round of leaf collection in Springfield starts on November 30, west of 28^th/31^st Street, then December 7, east of 28^th/31^st Street. The second round starts January 4 west of 28^th/31^st Street, then January 11 east of 28^th/31^st Street.

For more information about leaf pickup in Springfield, visit bit.ly/spfldleafpickup, call 541-525-2658 or email [email protected].

Lane County

Lane County Public Works will begin its annual leaf pick-up program on Monday, November 2.  The County collects leaves in two rounds in two general areas: Santa Clara north of Irving Road and Hunsaker Lane and several Springfield locations generally just outside the city limits. Lane County crews may be working in your zone prior to official collection dates if time allows; however, crews will return to your zone as scheduled.

Lane County provides a leaf collection information line (541-682-8525) updated at 5:00 p.m. each Friday. It describes where leaf pickup begins on a weekly basis. For more information go to www.LaneCountyOR.gov/LeafPickUp, call 541-682-8525 or e-mail [email protected].

Leaf Preparation Guidelines

Two priorities that are the same in all three jurisdictions are public safety and operational efficiency. Here are some tips to help meet those objectives:

• In Eugene and Lane County, leaves must be in the roadway but piled at least 15 feet away from parked vehicles. Do not bag leaves.
• In Lane County leaf pickup will be provided for paved curb-and-gutter streets only. In Eugene, unimproved streets are picked up during both rounds but equipment must be able to reach the leaves from the hard road surface.
• In Springfield, leaves need to be put in medium-sized bags that contain only leaves. The bags should be placed curbside, not in the street.
• Do not pile leaves in bike or traffic lanes or on curbs or sidewalks.
• Do not pile leaves in front of mailboxes.
• Keep storm drains and gutters clear to prevent localized flooding.
• Do not mix in other debris such as branches, rocks, lawn clippings, pine needles, or trash. 
• Leaves are not picked up in private yards.
• Wait to put leaves in the street until the weekend prior to collection.
• Consider recycling leaves as compost or mulch material. 

Schedule Information

Eugene                              Leaves Out For First Round                  First Round                     Second Round

Central                               Oct. 31 to Nov. 1                                       Nov. 2 to Nov. 6                Starts Jan. 4

Zones 1                              Nov. 7 to Nov. 8                                        Nov. 9 to Nov. 13              Starts Jan. 4

Zones 2                              Nov. 14 to Nov. 15                                    Nov. 16 to Nov. 20            Starts Jan. 4

Zones 3                              Nov. 21 to Nov. 22                                    Nov. 23 to Dec. 4              Starts Jan. 4

Zones 4                              Dec. 5 to Dec. 6                                        Dec. 7 to Dec. 11             Starts Jan. 4

Zones 5                              Dec. 12 to Dec. 13                                    Dec. 14 to Dec. 18           Starts Jan. 4

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2026–2027 Property Tax Statements Available Online, To Be Mailed Soon - 10/16/26

The 2026–2027 property tax statements will be mailed beginning October 21, 2026.

Statements are available online now at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/AT, as well as information about the county value trends, levy changes, and individual property tax account information. The first payment is due on November 16, 2026.

Lane County Assessment and Taxation collects property tax on behalf of 85 separate taxing districts, including cities, schools, education service districts, water districts, rural fire districts, urban renewal districts and other taxing districts such as park and recreation, library, and ambulance districts.

The total property tax certified for all tax levies combined in 2026–2027 is $770.9 million. This is approximately 3.3 percent more than in 2025–2026. The total amount of taxes billed changes each year because of the addition of new or renewed local option and bond levies, the expiration of local option and bond levies, the 3 percent statutory increase in Maximum Assessed Values (MAV), the addition of new properties to the tax roll, and the number of exemptions granted.

Oregon’s constitution limits the increase in the MAV of each property to 3 percent per year, unless there have been changes made to the property, such as new construction or additions, new partitions or subdivisions, removal from special assessment or exemption programs, or changes in zoning and use of the property.

The statement shows the property’s Taxable Value (TV), which is the lower of the Real Market Value (RMV) or the MAV minus any exemptions. Most properties will continue to see the 3 percent statutory increase in MAV.

Lane County’s January 1, 2026 RMV increased from $102.7 billion to $104.6 billion, an overall increase of approximately 1.85 percent from January 1, 2025.

The total TV for all properties combined in Lane County increased by 4.34 percent over last year, from $44.9 billion in 2025 to $46.9 billion in 2026.

The chart below illustrates the property type breakdown in Lane County. Out of 183,108 property tax accounts, 15.60 percent are exempt; 54.21 percent are residential/tract; 9.34 percent are commercial; 6.78 percent are industrial; 4.18 percent are farm/forest; 5.56 percent are multi-family; and 4.33 percent are personal property, utilities and other.

Property values for tax purposes are set only once a year at the time of certification. Certification occurred for the 2026–2027 tax roll on October 8, 2026. Oregon does not reset property values at the time of sale, nor does it reset property values for tax purposes at the time of a refinanced loan. The 2026–2027 tax statement reflects a property’s RMV as of January 1, 2026, based on sales of similar properties during 2025.

Market value changes for individual properties will vary each year due to many factors including the general real estate market, property location and changes made to the property such as new additions, remodels, or demolition.

Voters in the past year have approved changes to the tax levies and bond rates which are then applied to a property’s TV. However, Oregon’s constitution limits the total tax rate that can be billed to an individual property to no more than $10 per $1,000 of market value for government and $5 per $1,000 of market value for schools. These limits do not apply to bonds.

New Voter Approved Tax Levies

• Willamalane Park and Recreation District has a new local option levy:  $0.25 per thousand, passed in May 2026.  The levy is to maintain current services.

Voter Approved Levy Renewals

• City of Eugene Library Local Option was renewed in May 2026: $4.3M per year (it was $2.85M in 2025).
• City of Springfield Fire Local Option was renewed in November 2025 at a higher rate: $0.53 per thousand, up from $0.38.
• Lane County 4-H Local Option was renewed in May 2026 at $0.05 per thousand, which is up from $0.0280, but this year the rate will remain $0.0280.

Levies that Expired

• Lane Fire Authority Local Option that was $0.35.
• Junction SD Bond that was $1.4661 in 2025.

Other

• New urban renewal plan in Cottage Grove. 
• Fern Ridge Library Local Option was renewed in May 2026 at $0.35 per thousand. Now in place through 2031–2032. 
• Dexter RFPD Local Option was renewed in May 2026 at $1.00 per thousand.  Now in place through 2031–2032.

Appeals

If taxpayers believe their property’s market value is incorrect, taxpayers should first contact Lane County Assessment and Taxation. Taxpayers have the right to appeal to the Property Valuation Appeal Board (PVAB) through the Deeds and Records Division of the County Clerk’s Office.

PVAB has the authority to reduce market value when sufficient evidence is provided to demonstrate the RMV of a property was different on January 1, 2026 than what is on the tax statement. A reduction in value does not always result in a reduction in tax. The Board cannot grant reductions to a tax amount; it can only review a property’s value. Taxpayers can appeal through Deeds and Records through December 31, 2026.

Additional Resources

• A guide to understanding the tax statement.    
• Real market value on a typical dwelling.

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2026 General Election Ballots In The Mail (Photo) - 10/15/26

The Lane County Elections office has placed ballots in the USPS mail stream for the 2026 General Election.

Lane County’s 25 ballot drop boxes will remain open until 8:00 pm on Election Day, November 3, 2026.  Drop boxes are open 24/7. A list of drop box locations is included with every ballot.

“Ballots are in the mail and on their way to Lane County voters today,” said Lane County Clerk Tommy Gong. “Our knowledgeable staff at Lane County Elections is ready to assist voters who have questions or need help making sure their ballots are cast.”

Voters can track the status of their mail ballot by visiting www.oregonvotes.gov/MyVote.

Voters may return their voted ballots in one of the following ways:

• A 24/7 County ballot drop box by 8:00 p.m. on November 3. Help save taxpayer dollars by avoiding the postage and using a drop box, managed directly by Lane County Elections.
• Lane County Elections. Ballots can be turned in by November 3, 2026 directly to the Lane County Elections Office during business hours (open until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day).
• Regular mail. Ballots must be postmarked no later than November 3, 2026 and received no later than November 10, 2026 to be counted. USPS recommends putting a ballot in the mail seven days before the election or getting a manual hand-stamp postmark at the service counter of local post offices.

Ballot drop box locations can be found online at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/elections.  

Voters can also track the status of their ballot using BallotTrax. Voters who sign up will get notifications when their ballot is received by Lane County Elections, accepted for counting, and if they have a missing or non-matching signature issue that needs to be corrected. The service is provided by the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office for the November 3 election. Availability in future elections is dependent upon state funding. Sign up for BallotTrax at www.OregonVotes.gov/track.

Voters with questions can email [email protected] or call 541-682-4234.

About the Lane County Elections Office:

The Elections Office, located at 275 W. 10^th Avenue in Eugene, is responsible for conducting elections in Lane County.  The elections office manages voter registration, the processing of mail ballots, recruitment and training of election workers, and certification of elections.

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Lane County Voters Will Have Four New Drop Box Options This November - 10/12/26

The Lane County Elections Office is installing three new traditional ballot drop boxes and testing a new “smart” ballot drop box ahead of the November 3, 2026 election.

“Expanding access to convenient and secure ballot drop boxes is one of our longstanding goals at Lane County Elections,” said County Clerk Tommy Gong. “Most voters in Lane County choose to use an official drop box to return their ballots and we want to continue building our network of locations as our communities grow and change.”

The new ballot boxes are being funded with a combination of the emergency funding approved in September by the Joint Emergency Board of the Oregon Legislature and provided to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office for distribution and grant funding.

“This is a major win for Lane County voters. I want to thank Clerk Gong and his team for their tireless work to get these drop boxes placed during an election. Expanding access to these secure, official drop boxes will make it easier for more eligible Oregonians to vote in this year’s election. That’s good for democracy and good for Oregon,” said Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read.

Site preparation is scheduled for this week with installation planned on October 14. All 25 Lane County ballot drop boxes will open to accept ballots on October 15 – the day ballots are mailed to Lane County voters.

The three new traditional ballot boxes will be located at:

• River Road Water & Fire Protection District (105 Oakleigh Lane, Eugene)
• Mapleton Fire District (10940 OR-36, Mapleton)
• McKenzie Fire & Rescue (42870 McKenzie Highway in Leaburg)

The new smart ballot drop box is the first of its kind in Oregon. It is able to scan the barcode on the outside of each return envelope to better track ballots returned at that location – increasing ballot security.

“We’re excited to be the first jurisdiction in Oregon to test this new technology,” said Gong. “One of the most compelling features is its ability to keep track of whose ballots were returned at that location, which in turn improves our chain-of-custody process for ballots and makes it possible or us to communicate with voters if something were to happen to the box and its contents before ballots had been collected by election workers.”

The smart ballot drop box will be located on the ground floor of the Lane County Public Service Building (125 E. 8^th Avenue, Eugene). If the test is successful, the box will be moved to a different location before the next election.

The new ballot boxes will not appear on the list of official ballot drop boxes that accompany each ballot because the locations were confirmed too late in the ballot preparation process.

Ballots will be mailed to Lane County voters starting October 15. All returned ballots must be in drop boxes or postmarked by 8:00 p.m. on November 3. In response to service changes at the U.S. Postal Service delaying postmarking and delivery times for all mail, including ballots, voters are encouraged to use an official drop box or mail their ballots no later than October 27.

More information about the November 3, 2026 General Election, including election security, is available at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/elections.

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