ENTERPRISE — Election Day is coming up: May 21, 2024 is primary election day throughout Oregon. The deadline to register to vote in the primary election is April 30, and most ballots will be mailed out on May 1. 

Here’s information about this year’s primary election:

Looking to register to vote?

If you have recently gone to the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division, you are probably all set to go. Since January 2016, when Oregon’s voter registration law, known as Oregon Motor Voter, took effect, voter registration has been automatic for eligible Oregonians.

If you have been to the DMV, then you probably received information in the mail from the Oregon Elections Division with details and options about your voter registration. The information includes what you’ll need to register with a political party if you want to vote for political party members in Oregon primary elections — otherwise, you’ll remain registered as an unaffiliated voter.

If not, you can register online at the Oregon Secretary of State’s website, register by mail by filling out and sending an Oregon Voter Registration Card to your county elections office, or register in person at the Clerk’s Office at the Wallowa County Courthouse, 101 S. River St. in Enterprise.

When will ballots be mailed?

Most ballots will be mailed out May 1, but there are exceptions. Ballots for military and overseas addresses will be mailed out April 6, according to Sandy Lathrop, Wallowa County clerk. They go out April 22 to Oregon voters with mailing addresses outside the state. 

If a voter doesn’t receive their ballot, give it a week or so. Then contact the county election office — the county clerk at 541-426-4543, ext. 1158, or 541-426-7758 or come by the Clerk’s Office at the Wallowa County Courthouse.

Call the same number or come by the Clerk’s Office with questions about the election. Information also is available by visiting the Oregon Secretary of State’s My Vote page, enter your first and last names and birthdate and click on the submit button.

Where can ballots be returned?

Ballots can be returned via U.S. mail or dropped off at officially designated drop boxes across the county. Ballots postmarked before 8 p.m. on May 21 count, if they arrive at the election office by May 28, a week after the election. If less than a week remains until the election, officials suggest using a ballot drop box instead of the mail, if at all possible.

Here’s where you’ll find the drop boxes:

• Joseph City Hall, 201 N Main St., Joseph.

• Wallowa City Hall, 104 N Pine St., Wallowa.

• Wallowa County Courthouse drive-through, Enterprise.

Key dates for voters

Tuesday, April 30: Last day to register to vote.

Wednesday, May 1: Ballots mailed to voters, and ballot drop sites open.

Tuesday, May 21: Election Day.

When is your ballot due?

On Election Day, Tuesday, May 21, all final ballots must be returned either in the mail or at a designated drop box.

All ballot return envelopes must be signed to be valid.

Drop-off ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. If a mailed ballot is properly postmarked by 8 p.m. Election Day, it counts, provided it arrives at the county elections office by May 28, a week after the election. Election officials generally advise using a drop-off box rather than the mail in the days before the election, just to be sure a ballot arrives on time. 

Not sure what district or zone you’re in? 

Find out by visiting the Oregon Secretary of State’s My Vote page, enter your first and last names and birthdate and click on the submit button.

When are Oregon’s elections?

Oregon has four regular annual elections:

• The second Tuesday in March.

• The third Tuesday in May.

• The fourth Tuesday in August.

• The first Tuesday, after the first Monday, in November.

In even-numbered years, the May election is a primary election and the November election is the general election. In odd-numbered years, the May election is a special district (local boards) election.

For all other regular elections, there may or may not be anything to vote on, depending on whether local governments propose any ballot measures or there are any state ballot initiatives or referendums from the Legislature.

Special elections are held when a federal office becomes vacant, or when the Legislature schedules an election to vote on a ballot measure.