This release may be viewed online in English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Ukrainian and Somali.
Media contacts:
Tim Scott or Edward Gutiérrez, Multnomah County Elections, 503-988-VOTE (8683)
Denis Theriault, Multnomah County Communications, pressoffice@multco.us
Ranked-choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference instead of choosing only one candidate. This method allows someone’s vote to count toward another candidate if their favorite candidate is eliminated. Portland voters will be able to rank up to six candidates.
To help voters navigate this change — in partnership with the City of Portland — Multnomah County Elections is sharing videos, graphics and a resources website all explaining the basics of ranked-choice voting. The resources explain not only what voters can expect when marking their ballots but also what they’ll see — and when — while waiting for results to be shared.
Most important, along with those materials, both the County’s voter pamphlet and every ballot sent in the City of Portland include a detailed guide explaining how ranked-choice voting works.
New look ballots — but basics won’t change
Ballot packets for City of Portland voters this year include a separate page containing their candidate contests. Those contests feature a grid-style ballot that allows voters to rank up to six candidates in order of preference.
Voters will still fill in ovals to mark their selections, just like every other election, but now they’ll have more choices.
Voters should pick the candidate they like most for “Rank 1,” and then can pick a candidate they like second-best for “Rank 2,” and can do the same for ranks 3 through 6. Voters are welcome to rank up to six candidates, but can still vote for only one candidate if they prefer. The video prepared by Elections also explains what happens if voters skip a rank or accidentally fill in more than one candidate for a rank.
If voters make an error when marking their ballots, they can correct them by writing an “X” over a mistaken oval or contacting Multnomah County Elections to receive a replacement ballot.
For more information on marking ballots, and other questions about how to select candidates using ranked-choice voting, Elections offers a detailed FAQ.
Like any other election: Early results will be shared on Election Night, with further updates as ballots are processed
Another fundamental that won’t change this year: Elections will report current results as ballots are processed — which means the first set of preliminary returns, including for all ranked-choice voting contests, will be available at 8 p.m. on Election Night.
Elections is using the same process used in previous elections to count ballots, albeit with updated software that allows for the tabulation of both single-winner and multi-winner ranked choice contests.
Elections typically processes and releases results for roughly half of all expected ballots on Election Day. And by the Thursday after Election Day, that percentage typically climbs to 90%. That means, just like in any election, results will become more clear as more ballots are received.
Elections will provide daily updates on ranked-choice voting results by 6 p.m. in the week immediately following Election Day. Every update will include complete round-by-round tabulations of all of the ballots to date that have been received and counted. No one will wait days, let alone weeks, to see who is leading in preliminary returns. Certification of votes is still scheduled for Dec. 2.
Unlike in past years, when City of Portland election results would also be available at the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office, the only place to see accurate ranked-choice voting results is multnomahvotes.gov.
Because results for ranked-choice voting will look different — and contain significant amounts of additional information — Elections encourages voters to spend time now with a sample results page that models the various reporting formats voters will see starting at 8 p.m. on Election Day. Voters can choose the level of detail that most interests them.
Contact Elections TODAY if you have not yet received a ballot
All eligible voters should have received their ballots for the Nov. 5, 2024, general election. Contact Multnomah County Elections as soon as possible if you have not yet received your ballot by mail or if you need a replacement ballot.
You can call Elections at 503.988.VOTE (8683) — or you can go online and obtain a ballot through Elections’ convenient Order Ahead Replacement Ballot Service. Voters who use the online Order Ahead Replacement Ballot Service can either avoid — or shorten — a visit to Elections’ voter service sites.
Voters using the service can ask to have a replacement ballot mailed to their residence. Or they can ensure a replacement ballot is immediately ready for pickup at a “will call” window in person. “Will call” service is available at either the Voting Center Express, inside the Multnomah County East Building at 600 N.E. 8th St., Gresham, or at Multnomah County Duniway-Lovejoy Elections Building at 1040 S.E. Morrison St., Portland.
It’s also never too late to join more than 144,850 Multnomah County voters by signing up for Elections’ “Track Your Ballot,” service at multnomah.ballottrax.net. Our popular Track Your Ballot service is available in multiple languages! You can choose to receive ballot alerts and updates in English, Spanish, Russian, Somali, Vietnamese, Chinese or Ukrainian.
Elections will let you know when your ballot is mailed to you; when we have received your ballot; when we have verified your signature and accepted your ballot for counting. You'll even receive a virtual "I Voted" sticker that's ready to share on social media.
Starting today, Oct. 30: Extended evening and Saturday hours will be available at both voter service locations
Multnomah County Elections’ normal hours at both voter service locations are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Extended and Saturday hours at both the Southeast Portland and Gresham locations are:
- Wednesday, Oct. 30: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 31: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 1: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 2: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Monday, Nov. 4: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Tuesday, ELECTION DAY, Nov. 5: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Multnomah County Duniway-Lovejoy Elections Building is at 1040 S.E. Morrison St. in Portland. The Voting Center Express inside the Multnomah County East Building is at 600 N.E. 8th St. in Gresham — providing a closer option for the more than 140,000 Multnomah County voters who live east of Interstate 205.
Street parking near the Southeast Portland site is limited, but voters can take TriMet bus routes 15 and 70. Free parking is available at the Gresham site, which is also near the TriMet Gresham Central Town Center MAX Station.
Multnomah County Elections provides an interpreter, free of charge to anyone who needs help voting in a language other than English. Additional voting and elections information — available in nine languages — is at multnomahvotes.gov.
Two choices to return your ballot
You have two choices for returning your ballot. First, you can vote early and return your ballot by mail. No stamp needed!
Ballots must be postmarked by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5 — and arrive within seven days of Election Day — to be counted.
You can also return your ballot to an Official Ballot Drop Site. Return your ballot to any 24-hour Official Ballot Drop Site in the state or to any 24-hour Multnomah County Library Drop Site. All 30 Multnomah County Official Ballot Drop Sites are listed below and at multco.us/dropsites.
30 Multnomah County Official Ballot Drop Sites to serve you
Multnomah County has 30 Official Ballot Drop Sites available now until 8 p.m. on Election Day where you can return your ballot. Official Ballot Drop Sites include most Multnomah County Library locations. Ballots are picked up from library locations and Official Ballot Drop Boxes on a regular schedule. The list of Official Ballot Drop Sites is available online and below.
(Please note: the Official Ballot Drop Sites at library locations have changed due to voter-approved library construction projects. Information and new locations are listed below.)
Portland
North Portland
- Rose Quarter – Official Ballot Drop Box on the south side of the Rose Quarter by the fountain and Rip City sign. Walk up only (see map)
- James John Elementary School – NEW – 8315 N. Lombard St. – Located on the sidewalk outside James John Elementary School, at the northwest corner of N. Lombard Street and N. Charleston Avenue. Walk up only (see map)
- Portland Community College – NEW – 705 N. Killingsworth St. – Official Ballot Drop Box at N. Killingsworth Street and N. Kerby Avenue. Walk up only (see map)
- Kenton Library (Library Book Drop) – 8226 N. Denver Ave. (see map)
- Formerly Green Zebra Grocery – 3011 N. Lombard St. (Official Ballot Drop Box located in the rear parking lot off of N. Curtis Avenue). (see map)
- McCoy Park – Official Ballot Drop Box at the southeast corner of McCoy Park near N. Trenton Street and N. Newman Avenue. Walk up only (see map)
Northeast Portland
- Hansen Building – 12240 N.E. Glisan St. – Official Ballot Drop Box at N.E. Glisan Street and N.E. 122nd Avenue. Drive up (see map)
- Hollywood Library (Library Book Drop) – 4040 N.E. Tillamook St. (see map)
- Matt Dishman Community Center – NEW – 77 N.E. Knott St. Walk up only (see map)
- McDonald’s Restaurant – 2010 N.E. César E. Chávez Blvd. – Official Ballot Drop Box on the west side of N.E. 40th Avenue, between N.E. Tillamook and N.E. Hancock Streets, and near the Hollywood Library (see map)
- Gregory Heights Library (Library Book Drop) – 7921 N.E. Sandy Blvd. (see map)
- Parkrose Neighborhood – 4390 N.E. 102nd Ave. – Official Ballot Drop Box in the east parking lot, across the street from the Mt. Hood Community College Maywood Park Center at N.E. 102nd Avenue and N.E. Prescott Street (see map)
Northwest Portland
- Northwest Library (Library Book Drop) – 2300 N.W. Thurman St. (see map)
Southeast Portland
- Multnomah County Elections – 1040 S.E. Morrison St. (see map)
- S.E. 11th Avenue – Official Ballot Drop Box on the east side of S.E. 11th Avenue between S.E. Morrison and Belmont Streets.
- S.E. Belmont Street – Official Ballot Drop Box on the north side of S.E. Belmont Street between S.E. 10th and 11th Avenues.
- 1040 S.E. Morrison St. – Walk/bike up Official Ballot Drop Box is a slot on the side of the building, at S.E. 11th Avenue and S.E. Morrison Street.
- Holgate Library – NEW – 7905 S.E. Holgate Blvd. – Official Ballot Drop Box is to the left of the contactless library holds pickup on the north side of the building, near the parking lot. Walk/bike up. (see map)
- Hawthorne Holds Pickup (Library Book Drop) – NEW – 3557 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd. (see map)
- Portland Mercado – NEW – 7238 S.E. Foster Road – Official Ballot Drop Box in the plaza of the Portland Mercado at S.E. Foster Road and S.E. 72nd Avenue. Walk up only (see map)
- Sellwood-Moreland Library (Library Book Drop) – 7860 S.E. 13th Ave. (see map)
- Woodstock Library (Library Book Drop) – 6008 S.E. 49th Ave. (see map)
- Regal Cinemas Movie Theater / M & M Car Wash – Official Ballot Drop Box in Regal Cinemas parking lot, behind M & M Car Wash, at S.E. Division Street and S.E. 165th Avenue. (see map)
- Rockwood Library (Library Book Drop) – 17917 S.E. Stark St. (see map)
Southwest Portland
- A-Boy Supply (Official Ballot Drop Box) – 7365 S.W. Barbur Blvd. (see map)
- Capitol Hill Library (Library Book Drop) – 10723 S.W. Capitol Hwy. (see map)
- Hillsdale Library (Library Book Drop) – 1525 S.W. Sunset Blvd. (see map)
- Central Library (Library Book Drop) – 801 S.W. 10th Ave. – Ballots can also be deposited in the drive-up Book Drop on S.W. 11th Avenue between S.W. Yamhill and Taylor Streets. (see map)
- Pioneer Courthouse Square – 700 block of S.W. Broadway – Official Ballot Drop Box next to Starbucks and across from Nordstrom. Walk up only (see map)
Fairview
- Fairview-Columbia Library (Library Book Drop) – 1520 N.E. Village St. (see map)
Gresham
- Gresham Library (Official Ballot Drop Box) – 385 N.W. Miller Ave. (see map)
- Voting Center Express – Multnomah County East Building, 600 N.E. 8th St. – Official Ballot Drop Box inside the Voting Center Express, on the first floor of the Multnomah County East Building (available only during voting center hours; you will need to park and then walk inside to deposit your ballot) (see map)
Troutdale
- Troutdale Library – Closed for construction; see additional information below – 2451 S.W. Cherry Park Road – Please note: The nearest official ballot drop box is in the west side of the same parking lot as Troutdale Library, close to US Bank and N.E. 238th Drive. Walk up only (see map)
Let’s Make a Plan to VOTE!
As always, Multnomah County Elections reminds all voters: Let’s Make a Plan to VOTE! The action-focused checklist walks through the five steps necessary to ensure your vote is counted:
- Register to VOTE. (THE OREGON VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR NEW VOTERS HAS PASSED)
The Oregon Voter Registration Deadline for new voters has passed. For all other voters, if you have not already done so, we ask that you check that your voter registration information is accurate and up-to-date. If you have moved, update your mailing address NOW to ensure you receive a ballot. Ballots are not forwardable mail. You can update your voter registration information at www.oregonvotes.gov/myvote.
- Get your ballot.
All registered voters should have their ballots. Contact us at 503.988.VOTE if you have not yet received your ballot.
- VOTE your ballot — Vote early if you can!
- Return your ballot — Official Ballot Drop Sites are listed at multco.us/dropsites
- Have a VOICE and make a difference!
Countdown to Nov. 5 Election Day
- Extended hours begin at voter services locations: Oct. 30, 2024
- Election Day — ballots must be dropped off by 8 p.m. or postmarked by Election Day: Nov. 5, 2024
- Final official election results are certified: Dec. 2, 2024
Main office:
Multnomah County Duniway-Lovejoy Elections Building
1040 S.E. Morrison St., Portland, OR 97214
Gresham location:
Open Oct. 10 - Nov. 5, 2024
Voting Center Express at the Multnomah County East Building
600 N.E. 8th St., Gresham, OR 97030
Phone: 503-988-VOTE (8683)
Email: elections@multco.us
Website: www.multnomahvotes.gov
