Clackamas County Citizens Have Options When It Comes to Voting

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Clackamas County Citizens Have Options When It Comes to Voting

Celebrate Vote Early Day by making a plan to vote!

Oregon City, OR – Citizens in Clackamas County have options when it comes to casting and returning their ballots for the November 5, 2024 General Election. Citizens can vote from anywhere and then return their ballot to an Official Ballot Drop Site or by mail, postmarked on or before 8 p.m. Election Day, Nov. 5.

“It is easy to vote early in Oregon! When you vote and return your ballot before Election Day, you ensure that school, work, or a traffic jam won’t stop your ballot from being cast on time.” Clerk Catherine McMullen said.

On this nonpartisan Vote Early Day holiday, Clerk McMullen shares tips and important information for voters as election day draws near:

You should have your ballot. Contact Clackamas County Elections if you don’t. Clackamas County Elections mailed ballots to all eligible voters starting Oct. 16. Any voter who has not yet received their ballot should contact the elections office to check on the status of their ballot, make any needed voter registration updates, or request that a replacement ballot be issued. 

Voters can email elections@clackamas.us, call 503-655-8510, or visit a voter service location in Oregon City or Happy Valley for assistance. Voters can also request a replacement ballot using the online Replacement Ballot Request form at www.clackamas.us/elections/ballot-request. Replacement ballots can be mailed until Oct. 31or picked up at a voter service location.

Sign up for Track Your Ballot! Voters can sign up for Track Your Ballot to know when their ballot is received by Clackamas County Elections and accepted for counting. Depending on volume of ballots cast, it can take 2 to 3 business days for voters to receive a ballot accepted notification for ballots returned to Official Ballot Drop Sites in the county. Ballots returned by mail or to Official Ballot Drop Sites in other counties take longer to arrive to the elections office before signature verification by elections staff. Voters can sign up at clackamas.us/elections/track-your-ballot. 

Citizens can visit a voter service location for assistance or a replacement ballot. The Happy Valley Vote Center inside the Happy Valley Library and the Oregon City elections office offer voter assistance and replacement ballots for voters in Clackamas County.

Each voter service location is staffed by sworn election officials. Citizens can replace a lost or damaged ballot, update voter registration information, get voting assistance if they have a disability, get voting assistance in a preferred language, return their voted ballot, or vote in person. Voters can choose the location that works best for them.

Hours for both locations:

Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

If you return your ballot by mail, get it in a blue USPS mailbox by Friday, Nov. 1. The United States Postal Service (USPS) prioritizes delivery of Official Election Mail, but advises voters to mail their ballots back early. Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day, Nov. 5 and received within one week (Nov. 12). Clerk McMullen recommends that citizens voting by mail deposit their ballot into a secure blue USPS mailbox by Friday, Nov. 1 to ensure it is received on time. 

There are 26 Official Ballot Drop Sites in Clackamas County to choose from. Official Ballot Drop Sites across Clackamas County are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week until 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5. Please return your voted ballot to the Official Ballot Drop Site in your community to lessen congestion at some of the busier locations. Please consider returning before Election Day to prevent and avoid lines on the big day!

Voters can return their voted ballot to any Official Ballot Drop Site in the state. Find your nearest Official Ballot Drop Site in Clackamas County listed below or online at clackamas.us/elections/official-ballot-drop-sites. Those Official Ballot Drop Sites marked with an asterisk have drive-up ballot drop access.

Boring

• Clackamas County Bank*, 28500 SE Highway 212

Canby

• Canby Civic Building, 222 NE 2nd Ave.
• Canby – Arneson Garden*, 249 S Sequoia Parkway

Colton

• ColtonTel*, 20983 S Highway 211

Damascus

• Damascus Square*, 19830-20000 SE Hwy 212

Estacada

• Estacada City Hall, 475 SE Main St.
• Estacada Public Library*, 502 NW Wade St.

Gladstone

• Gladstone Civic Center, 18505 Portland Ave.

Happy Valley

• Happy Valley City Hall*, 16000 SE Misty Dr.
• Happy Valley Library, 13793 SE Sieben Park Way 

Lake Oswego

• Lake Oswego City Hall*, 380 A Ave.
• Lake Oswego – Westlake Park*, 14165 Bunick Dr.

Milwaukie / Oak Lodge

• Clackamas Community College – Harmony Campus, 7738 SE Harmony Road 
• Milwaukie City Hall, 10501 SE Main St. (NEW LOCATION – Box has been moved to new City Hall)
• Milwaukie Public Safety Building, 3200 SE Harrison St.
• Oak Lodge Library, 16201 SE McLoughlin Blvd.

Molalla

• Molalla Public Library*, 201 E 5th St.

Oregon City

• Clackamas County Elections / County Clerk’s Office*, 1710 Red Soils Ct.
• NEW Clackamas Community College – Oregon City Campus*, 19600 Molalla Ave. (NEW Official Ballot Drop Box  - Box is located in the student drop-off area, that is near the Tri-Met bus station and the Orange parking lot by Rook Hall.)
• Oregon City – City Hall*, 625 Center St.

Sandy

• Sandy City Hall, 39250 Pioneer Blvd.
• Sandy Public Library*, 38980 Proctor Blvd.

Welches

• Hoodland Public Library, 24525 E Welches Road

West Linn

• West Linn City Hall, 22500 Salamo Road
• West Linn Public Library, 1595 Burns St.

Wilsonville

• Wilsonville City Hall*, 29799 Town Center Loop E

Observers are welcome to watch election processes. Laws apply. Clerk McMullen provides public access to observation areas at Clackamas County Elections in Oregon City. Observers are welcome to watch ballot processing and election functions at the elections office. The observation schedule is posted on the Clackamas County Elections website. Space may be limited due to safety concerns. Observers do not need to sign up in advance.

Observers may also be seen at Official Ballot Drop Sites. While public observation is permitted at these locations, specific activities and behaviors are prohibited by law. Blocking access to an Official Ballot Drop Site, elections office, or voter service location is prohibited. Questioning a voter or asking to see or examine someone else’s ballot or how they intend to vote at an Official Ballot Drop Site, elections office, or voter service location is also prohibited. Observers are asked not to wear or bring any political messaging supporting or opposing any candidate or measure. 

We ask that if members of the public see any suspicious activity around any ballot drop site to call 9-1-1 immediately. Additional concerns can be reported to Clackamas County Elections or the Oregon Secretary of State at 1-866-673-VOTE (8683). Thank you for allowing every citizen the opportunity to cast their vote peacefully.

For more voter information about the upcoming election, visit Ready. Set. VOTE! A Voter’s Guide to the November 5, 2024 General Election (available in English plus six languages). To learn more on voting and elections in Clackamas County, visit clackamas.us/elections.

Contacts: Catherine McMullen, County Clerk and Justin Larsen, Elections Manager | countyclerk@clackamas.us or 503-655-8510