Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Lincoln County produces a County Voters' Pamphlet for each election. For Primary and General elections, the County Voters' Pamphlets will be bound into the center of the State Voters' Pamphlets. For all other elections, the County Voters' Pamphlet will be included in your ballot packet.

You will receive a voter's pamphlet from the Secretary of State for all statewide elections, which will contain information about state candidates and statewide measures. The Secretary of State is responsible for mailing voters' pamphlets.

The post office delivers one voter pamphlet to each household at an address. The voter pamphlet is not delivered based on registered voters. If you do not receive one, check with your post office or pick one up at the nearest elections office.

Absentee ballots are available 45 days before the election. You may request an early absentee ballot from your county elections office either in person, by mail, or by fax.

You may apply in person, by mail, or by fax and must include:

• Your residence address.
• The address to which the ballot should be mailed.
• Which election, or if all elections you wish for an absentee ballot.
• Your signature.

Your voted ballot must be received by your Lincoln County Clerk or a designated drop site by 8 pm on election day.

Please note: Must have election day postmark on your envelope.

After the 5th day before the election, the county elections office is not required to mail absentee ballots. However, you may vote in person at your county elections office through election day.

Any registered voter may apply for an absentee ballot from their Elections Office.

No. You only need to update your registration when:

• Your residence or mailing address changes
• Your name changes or
• You wish to change your party affiliation

No. If you do not want to be affiliated with a political party, you may check the box which states "Not a member of a party". You may not designate or change party affiliation after the 21st day before the primary election.

• Register to vote online or
• By mail-in registration or
• In person at your county elections office or at a designated state agency, including the Department of Motor Vehicles and some public assistance agencies.

No. If you wish to vote in Oregon, you must register in Oregon.

In most cases, you will still be eligible to vote if you update your registration. Contact your county elections office to check your eligibility.

You are required to furnish your full name, signature, and residence address. You will also be asked to provide your date of birth and political party affiliation. You will also need to provide your Oregon Driver's License or Oregon ID number. If you do not have an Oregon Driver's License or Oregon ID, you will be asked to provide the last 4 digits of your social security number.

Major political parties (Democratic and Republican) nominate their candidates at a primary election, which is held on the third Tuesday in May of each even-numbered year. Only a voter who is registered as a member of either political party may vote for that party's candidates at the primary election unless the party opens its primary to voters registered as Not a member of a party. If this is the case, voters who are Not a member of a party must request major party ballots from their county elections office.

Most nonpartisan offices are also on the primary election ballot. Any registered voter may vote for those candidates, regardless of the voter's political party affiliation.

You must complete a new voter registration form.

You may register at any time. However, your voter registration card must be postmarked no later than the 21st day before the election at which you intend to vote.

Anyone who is:

• A resident of Oregon
• A United States citizen and
• 18 years of age or older

You may register to vote before your 18th birthday or before you are sworn in as a U.S. citizen. You may register to vote any time after your 17th birthday. However, your voter registration card must be sent online, received in person, or postmarked no later than the 21st day before the election at which you intend to vote; you must be 18 and/or sworn in as a U.S. citizen to be eligible to vote at that election. Please call your county elections office for details if you believe you qualify for this registration process.

Your ballot packet will automatically be mailed to you 18 to 14 days prior to the election. Each packet contains a secrecy envelope, ballot return envelope, and ballot. Once you vote the ballot, place it in the secrecy envelope and seal it in the pre-addressed return envelope. Be sure to sign the return envelope on the appropriate line after verifying that the return envelope has your name and current residential address.

No. All ballots are separated from the return envelope before the ballots are inspected. This process ensures confidentiality.

Your ballot has been cast as soon as you deposit it in the mailbox or at a drop site. After that, you cannot receive a new ballot to re-vote.

You have the choice of mailing your ballot or returning it to any county election office or any designated drop site in the state. The times and locations of drop sites are provided in each ballot packet. The drop sites are also listed on this website. The sites listed on this website are for countywide elections and may vary for smaller elections.

You can always call your county election office and ask if they received your ballot. A record is kept showing each voter whose ballot has been returned.

Your voted ballot can be returned without extra postage. In those instances where additional postage is necessary, it will be clearly indicated on the ballot materials.

Call your Lincoln County Clerk at 541-265-4131 and staff will assist you.

• If you are registered to vote by the 21st day before the election, but now have a different address and:
  • If you have moved within the same county, contact your local county election office. They will instruct you on the process to follow to qualify for a replacement ballot or 
  • If you have moved to a different county, contact the election office in your new county.

If you make a mistake, you may call your county election office and request a replacement ballot. One will be mailed to you provided the request is received with sufficient time for mailing. Otherwise, you may pick up a replacement ballot in person at your county election office.

If you have not received your ballot within a week after they are mailed, call your county election office. Staff will check that your voter registration is current. If it is, they will mail you a replacement ballot.

Vote by mail is a method of distributing ballots for an election. Instead of using traditional polling places where voters go to cast ballots on election day, a ballot is automatically mailed to each registered voter. The ballot is then voted on and returned to the county election office to be counted.

Every county provides privacy booths where you can mark your ballot. Usually, you can drop off your completed ballot at the same location. Call your county election office if you need to locate and use a privacy booth.

No results can be announced until 8 pm on election night. No more than seven days before election day, county election officials may begin preparing the ballots for counting by opening the return identification envelopes and the secrecy envelopes. The ballots may be run through the ballot scanner, however, no tabulation is done until election day.

The voted ballot must be received in any county election office or designated drop site by 8 pm on election night. If you are mailing your ballot it MUST be postmarked with election day postmark.

Initial results are released at 8 pm on election night and will continue to be updated through election night until all ballots have been counted.

Yes, the ballot will still be counted.

Yes, the ballot will still be counted.