FAQ

What To Do When…

…Your ballot doesn’t arrive in the mail within 14 days of an election

Contact your county elections office and ask for another ballot.

…You spoil or lose your ballot

Contact your county elections office and ask for another ballot.

…You misplaced your voter registration card

Contact your county elections office to request another card. It is not necessary to have a voter registration card in order to vote. However, you should verify your registration by contacting your county elections office.

…You or someone you know needs assistance in voting

If you or someone you know are unable to vote a ballot for any reason, you can get assistance or request to receive information in an alternative format by contacting 1-866-ORE-VOTES or contacting your county elections office. To learn more about assisting voters, read How to Assist Voters with Disabilities (pdf) published by Oregon’s Secretary of State. In some cases, members of local Leagues may be able to assist you in voting your ballot. Contact the nearest local League to find out if this option is available to you.

…You move, change your name, or wish to change your party affiliation

It is necessary to reregister to vote. Contact your county elections office.

What Is…

Fusion voting?

Fusion voting is an election system that allows multiple political parties to nominate the same candidate for an office. In 2009, the Oregon Legislature passed a bill (SB 326) to provide for printing on the ballot, next to the candidate’s name, the listing of up to three Parties whose nominations the candidate had received and accepted. As a result, your ballot will look different than in the past.

For each elected office, each candidate’s name will still be listed once on the ballot. After the name, you will see up to three abbreviation codes for the parties that have chosen to nominate that person for the office. The abbreviation codes were devised by the Oregon Secretary of State’s office. They are as follows:

CON Constitution Party
DEM Democratic Party
IND Independent Party
LBT Libertarian Party
NAV Non-Affiliated
PGP Pacific Green Party
PRO Progressive Party
REP Republican Party
WFP Working Families Party

The first abbreviation code in the list tells you to which party the nominated candidate belongs as a member. Candidates choose which, if any, additional party nominations they will accept. Up to two additional abbreviation codes may be listed after the candidate’s name on the ballot line. These additional abbreviation codes are arranged in order according to the randomized alphabet generated by the Secretary of State for the election.