Why today is the last day Oregon voters are advised to mail ballots – Statesman Journal

With Oregon’s May 19 primary a week away, voters who wish to mail in their ballots should do so by May 12.
Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read recommended the May 12 deadline in response to changes at the U.S. Postal Service.
Oregon accepts ballots for up to a week after Election Day, as long as they were postmarked on or before May 19.
USPS postmarks now signify the day mail was processed, which may not be the same day it’s dropped off, meaning ballots submitted closer to Election Day could end up not being postmarked until afterward.
After May 12, voters are encouraged to use a drop box or go into the post office and ask for a manual postmark if they prefer to mail their ballots.
“If it is at all possible to use a county drop box, that is the best way because the Postal Service is not involved then. There’s no delay,” Read said in a May 11 town hall. “We know that the county elections officials will be able to get that ballot almost immediately and reliably.”
Ballots can be dropped at 24-hour locations around the state, including outside of the West Salem Roth’s Fresh Market and Keizer City Hall. Additional drop boxes will be open closer to the election.
More than 90% of ballots had not been received by the morning of May 11, according to data from the Secretary of State’s office.
Anastasia Mason covers state government for the Statesman Journal. Reach her at acmason@statesmanjournal.com or 971-208-5615.

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