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, May 18.

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

• Mail – Postmarks do not qualify ballots. Voters must mail their ballots with enough time for processing and delivery by the post office. Postage is pre-paid; stamps are not required.
• Official Drop Boxes – There are 20 official drop boxes located throughout Lane County that will be available to voters until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day (May 18). A list of the official drop box sites is included with each ballot.  

“It is incredibly important for voters to be aware of the Election Day deadline,” said Lane County Clerk Cheryl Betschart. “If a voter doesn’t mail their ballot early enough to ensure the Elections Office receives it before the deadline, or fails to get it to an official drop box before 8:00 p.m. on May 18, their vote cannot be counted.”

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

The signature is a security measure used to verify identity. County personnel who have received training in handwriting analysis compare it to signatures in the voter registration record. A ballot may only be counted if the signatures match.

Due to COVID-19, the Lane County Elections Office will be open to the public only on Friday, May 14; Monday, May 17; and Tuesday, May 18, Election Day. Check our web page at www.lanecountyor.gov for additional updates concerning office hours. When open, visitors will be required to observe physical distancing guidelines; masks are required. The Elections Office has a small quantity of masks available for visitors that do not have their own.

On all other dates, the Lane County Elections Office is closed to walk-ins. Assistance is available over the phone at 541-682-4234 (weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Election Day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.) and via email at elections@lanecountyor.gov. Voters with issues that cannot be resolved via phone or email will be able to make an appointment to visit the Elections Office.

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