Oregon 2026 Primary Elections
Oregon will hold a statewide primary election on May 19, 2026. In Oregon, major political parties nominate their party candidates at the Primary Election. Major parties have the option of choosing a closed primary, 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, if any, at the Primary Election.
Important Election Dates
April 28
Voter registration deadline in Oregon. Registration cards postmarked by this date or submitted online no later than 11:59 pm are valid.
April 29
First day ballots are mailed to voters
May 19
Election Day
County clerk’s offices are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and official drop sites close at 8 p.m. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, and ballots placed in official drop boxes must be received by 8 p.m.
How do I register to vote?
Oregon has a decadeslong history of vote by mail. Here’s how it works. If you’re registered to vote, a ballot arrives roughly 14 to 18 days before an election. Fill out your ballot, sign the back of the envelope and drop it off in the mail or at an approved county drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Oregonians can register to vote on the Oregon secretary of state’s website. You must be at least 16 years old, a resident of the state and a U.S. citizen. Voters must be 18 years old to vote in an election. The voter registration deadline in Oregon is April 28.
Since 2016, if Oregonians are not registered to vote, they will be automatically registered if they visit a DMV to get a new or replacement driver’s license, permit or ID card. The Oregon Motor Voter policy won’t register you automatically with a political party.
- Who is my state representative or senator?
- Who is my U.S. representative?
- What is my Portland voting district?
Editor's note on the scope of our coverage
OPB’s goal each election season is to bring you the news and information you need to make informed decisions when your ballot arrives. That includes results on the most high-profile elections in Oregon and Southwest Washington. But it doesn’t include every race. While OPB is headquartered in Portland, we have offices and journalists in Southwest Washington, Central Oregon and Eastern Oregon, so our more extensive election coverage tends to focus on those parts of the region.
- Read more from Gillian Flaccus, News Director at OPB