Deadline Today to Register for Oregon’s May Statewide Election

SALEM, Ore. (Apr. 28, 2026) — Oregon voters have until the end of Tuesday to register or update their voter registration for the upcoming statewide election on May 19, state officials said.

The deadline also applies to registered voters who need to make changes to their information, including declaring a political party affiliation in order to participate in closed primary races taking place across the state.

Secretary of State Tobias Read urged eligible residents to register and take part in the election, highlighting Oregon’s long-running vote-by-mail system.

“Oregon has worked hard to make our vote-by-mail election system a national gold standard for access and integrity,” Read said in a statement. “Registering to vote takes only minutes and opens the door for eligible citizens to hold politicians accountable and decide the direction of our state.”

To register in Oregon, residents must be U.S. citizens, Oregon residents and at least 16 years old. Voters must be 18 years old to cast a ballot.

Residents can create or update a voter registration online through OregonVotes.gov or by visiting their county elections office.

Election officials said prospective voters should be prepared to provide documentation to verify citizenship and eligibility, such as an Oregon driver’s license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number. Applicants must also affirm under penalty of law that they meet all eligibility requirements and that the information submitted is accurate.

County election offices are scheduled to begin mailing ballots on Wednesday.

State officials encouraged voters to return ballots early to ensure they are received on time, citing potential mail delays tied to reductions in U.S. Postal Service operations. Voters returning ballots within a week of Election Day were advised to use an official ballot drop box instead of mailing them.

Oregon conducts elections primarily by mail and requires ballots to be received by county elections offices by Election Day to be counted.