As the last ballots are cast, Common Cause Oregon reminds voters that it may take days for election officials to finalize results

Portland, OR — Oregon voters have until 8 p.m. tonight to cast their ballot at an official drop site or by mailing in their ballot, as long as it’s postmarked on Election Day. As these last ballots are cast, Common Cause Oregon reminds voters that it may take days for election officials to finalize results.  

“Oregonians won’t get all the results on election night,” said Kate Titus, executive director of Common Cause Oregon. “Just like every other election, we’ll see some races that are easy to predict early, and some so close that we need to wait until all votes are counted. Whether it’s a landslide or a close race remains unknown until all votes are counted. In Oregon, we work to ensure that we count every vote, and that takes time.”

Oregon’s “postmark rule,” ensures that every ballot cast on time gets counted. It allows election officials to count all ballots postmarked by Election Day, even if they arrive at the elections office up to 7 days later. This means election results may take longer to complete than in previous years.

Oregon is one of 38 states that permit election workers to begin processing ballots before Election Day. This helps election workers process the count more quickly, but they won’t have a final count until all votes are in.  

“Unfortunately, some voters will be exposed to election disinformation,” added Titus. “It’s important that we don’t get taken in by false narratives meant to erode faith in our vote and our democracy. Oregon voters can trust that their votes are being counted securely and accurately.” 

Voters who haven’t voted can learn about candidates, ballot measures, and voting rules in the Oregon Voters’ Pamphlet, return their ballot by mail as long as it’s postmarked by Election Day, or use an official ballot drop site by 8 PM Election Day. Anyone who lost their ballot can visit their county elections office for help getting a replacement. Voters should also remember to sign their ballots on the back of the envelope.

In 2020, 82% of Oregon voters turned out to vote, with over two million ballots cast. If voter turnout levels hold, Oregon can expect to see similar numbers again in this year’s presidential election.

To find 2024 Oregon election results, click here.