Here's every deadline Oregon voters need to know before Election Day

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – As Election Day approaches, it can be hard to keep track of all the deadlines to ensure you get your ballot and drop it off in time. 

This year’s election is on Nov. 5, but there are several more dates (and times) to know ahead of the big day. Here’s everything you need to know.

KOIN 6: Your Local Election Headquarters

When should I register?

Oregon’s voter registration deadline ahead of the November election is Oct. 15 at 11:59 p.m.

To register, fill out MyVote on the Secretary of State’s registration webpage. All you need is an Oregon driver’s license, permit or ID card issued by the DMV. If you don’t have an Oregon ID, you can still register to vote so long as you are a U.S. citizen, a resident of Oregon and at least 16 years old.

Most qualified Oregonians who have gotten or renewed their license since 2016 have already been registered by the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles.

To check your registration, log into My Vote. Your information — such as your address — must be up to date. Be sure to update your registration if you have moved, changed your name or mailing address, or want to select or change your party affiliation.

When will I get my ballot?

Election officials will mail ballots between Oct. 16-22. Voters can expect them in the days to follow.

However, if you are a voter with a non-Oregon mailing address who is not in the military or living overseas, you could receive your ballot as early as Oct. 7.

Looking for a state voter’s pamphlet? You’ll get one in the mail by Oct. 16. County pamphlets are expected to be delivered no later than Oct. 22.

If you have any complications, contact your local elections office. Tim Scott, the Multnomah County Director of Elections, said Thursday is the first day they're opening the Voting Center Express in downtown Gresham at the Multnomah County East Building. It will remain open Oct.10 through Nov. 5.

“Basically it's just another service location," Scott said. "So if you need to register to vote, you can do it there. Once ballots go out, if you have any issues that you need to resolve with your ballot, you can do that there as well."

How do I fill out my ballot?

For ranked choice voting, fill in no more than one oval per column and row. Your vote counts if you rank only one candidate. Only rank candidates that you support getting elected.

To get used to the format of ranked-choice voting, you can cast your votes in a mock ballot on Multnomah County’s site here. Learn more at Portland.Gov/Vote or email election officials at transitions@portlandoregon.gov.

When should I submit my ballot?

All ballots need to be submitted by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5. 

On election day, your County Clerk’s office will be open from 7 a.m. through 8 p.m., and official drop sites will remain open until 8 p.m. 

The county's drop sites will be open as usual, but check for temporary drop locations due to library construction.

To find your nearest ballot drop site, visit the Oregon Drop Box Locator.

"I would encourage people that are planning to mail their ballot, don't wait till the last minute," Scott said. "Get it in the mail a couple days early so that, there's no confusion about whether or not it's going to get postmarked."

When will election day results be in?

No results can be determined before 8 p.m. on Nov. 5. However, the ballot counting process could last through the night. Statewide elections are likely to be declared by midnight, but could last until the next day or longer. 

In Portland, city races are likely to take several weeks due to the newly-adopted ranked choice voting system.

For more deadline information, check out the Secretary of State's Office Election Calendar.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue our elections coverage.