Oregon’s Upcoming Primary
Oregon’s Upcoming Primary
Oregon will hold a statewide primary election on May 19, 2026.
In Oregon, major political parties nominate their party candidates at the Primary Election. By default, major parties have closed primaries, meaning only voters registered with that party can vote for candidates of the same party. Those nominees then appear on the November General Election ballot. All registered voters can participate in the General Election, regardless of their party affiliation.
All voters, regardless of party affiliation, will be able to vote for non-partisan races and for measures at the Primary Election.
Learn more on the Voting in Oregon webpage.
Important Dates
April 28, 2026
Last day to register to vote or change party affiliation. Registration cards postmarked by this date or submitted online no later than 11:59 pm are valid. See “Postmark Date” for information about when a postmark is applied.
April 29, 2026
First day ballots are mailed to voters
May 19, 2026
Election Day. Last day to return ballot. Ballots that are mailed must be postmarked by election day. See “Postmark Date” for information about when a postmark is applied. Ballots deposited in an official drop box must be received by 8pm. Find locations of Benton County drop boxes here.
Postmark Date
On Dec. 24, a new U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rule took effect, stating that mail is not necessarily postmarked on the day it is received by the post office. Instead, postmarks “are generally applied by the Postal Service via automation on machines in originating processing facilities,” possibly on a later date. Postmarks may be applied at a post office by customer request. While there is disagreement about whether this rule represents a change or a clarification of existing practices, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
If you are returning a ballot on election day, we recommend either 1) using an official dropbox before 8 pm or 2) going to the post office and asking a clerk to postmark your ballot.
Registering to Vote
Registering to vote in Oregon is quick and simple. Oregonians can register:
- Online using My Vote.
- By mail using a voter registration form. This form also is available in multiple languages.
- In person at the county elections office or at certain state agencies like the DMV.
- Many voters are automatically registered when they go to the DMV. Learn more about Oregon’s Motor Voter Act.
Oregon’s My Vote website
You can track your registration status or ballot’s progress by entering your name and date of birth at Oregon’s My Vote website. Use My Vote to:
- check if you are registered to vote
- view or update your voter registration information
- check the status of your ballot
- find contact information for your county elections office
- find contact information for your elected officials
- find a ballot drop site
Federal Interference in Elections
Attorney General Dan Rayfield and 22 other attorneys general and one governor have filed a lawsuit to block President Trump’s March 31 executive order that would put the federal government in charge of deciding which Oregonians receive a mail ballot — a power that has always belonged to the states.
In the meantime, the primary election is proceeding as planned. Benton County issued a statement:
“On April 1, the Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division confirmed that elections will move forward as planned, in accordance with current Oregon law, and the issue will be resolved through the court system.”
“Benton County will continue to take direction from the Secretary of State and provide updates as more information becomes available.”