NEWS RELEASE: Replacement ballots sent for 9,300 voters in East County; original ballots omitted Metro measure

Multnomah County, Ore. (May 3, 2024) — Multnomah County Elections is replacing ballots for up to 9,300 voters — parts of three precincts in East County, and 1.6% of all registered voters — as their original ballots omitted Measure 26-244.

Elections learned of the omission May 2, the morning after ballots began landing in voters’ mailboxes. Measure 26-244 was referred to the May 21 Primary Election ballot by Metro. Affected voters received a version of the ballot designed for people who live outside Metro’s jurisdictional boundaries.

New ballots for those voters were placed in the mail starting Thursday, May 2, with the remainder sent today, May 3. Most of the voters, 9,200, are in two precincts in Gresham, with the remainder just south of the city.

Elections staff are available to speak with anyone affected at 503-988-VOTE. Affected voters will also receive a letter with their new ballot explaining what to do if they’ve already received their original ballot and how to process their replacement ballot. Because every ballot envelope has a unique identifier as a security measure, Elections will count only one ballot for each voter.

Affected voters should return their replacement ballots by 8 p.m. on May 21, 2024, the date of the Primary Election. Ballots postmarked on May 21 or sooner will also be counted. Affected voters should consider destroying or discarding their original ballots.

Chair Jessica Vega Pederson has directed Chief Operating Officer Serena Cruz to complete a review and after-action of the County’s districting and ballot procedures.

"I am glad to see the elections office has moved quickly to correct ballots for these voters. This after-action review will ensure that we can validate the complex, overlapping boundaries of dozens of special districts and zones present in the County. Our work to protect our fair, safe, and secure elections continues,” said the Chair.

If any voter has already returned their original ballot, Elections will hold the first ballot and wait for the second ballot to be returned. Every ballot envelope has a unique identifier as a security measure that allows Elections to ensure they process only one ballot for each voter.

Ballots began reaching all registered voters in Multnomah County — 570,000 people — May 1. Voters who do not receive a ballot by Thursday, May 9, should contact Multnomah County Elections at 503-988-VOTE.

To find your nearest Official Ballot Drop Site, visit multco.us/dropsites.

Read more about postmarks for mailed ballots here.

Reminder: This year’s primary election ballot looks different

Candidate contests for City of Portland elected offices do not appear on the May 2024 ballot.

These contests will appear on the Nov. 5, 2024, ballot, which will also be the City's first use of ranked choice voting. To learn more about ranked choice voting in upcoming City of Portland elections, visit www.portland.gov/vote.

Extended evening and Saturday hours available at both voter service locations

The Multnomah County Duniway-Lovejoy Elections Building is at 1040 S.E. Morrison St. in Portland. There is limited street parking, but this location is near TriMet bus routes 15 and 70.

The Voting Center Express, inside the Multnomah County East Building, is at 600 N.E. 8th St. in Gresham. The Voting Center Express is a closer service location for more than 165,000 Multnomah County voters who live east of Interstate 205. Parking is free. The Voting Center Express is also located near the TriMet Gresham Central Transit Center MAX Station.

Multnomah County Elections’ normal hours at both voter service locations are 8 a.m.-5 pm. Monday through Friday.

Leading up to the May Primary Election, both the Voting Center Express and Multnomah County Elections Office will offer extended hours:

Wednesday, May 15 to Friday, May 17, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Saturday, May 18, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Monday, May 20, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Election Day, Tuesday, May 21, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

Many voter services can also be completed online. If you have questions, please call 503-988-VOTE (8683).

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 in 18 languages is online at multco.us/VEOLang.

Track your ballot

Voters in Multnomah County can sign up for the Track Your Ballot service at multnomah.ballottrax.net.

Multnomah County Elections’ Track Your Ballot service is available in multiple languages. Voters can receive ballot tracking alerts and updates in English, Spanish, Russian, Somali, Vietnamese, Ukrainian or Chinese. Alerts also indicate whether a ballot has been accepted for counting or whether it requires further action by the voter. Voters can receive a virtual “I Voted” sticker after they return their ballots.

Multnomah County Official Ballot Drop Sites

Multnomah County has 30 Official Ballot Drop Sites available now until 8 p.m. on Election Day where you can return your voted ballot. Official Ballot Drop Sites include most Multnomah County Library locations. Ballots will be picked up from library locations and all other Official Ballot Drop Sites on a regular schedule. All Multnomah County Official Ballot Drop Sites are listed at multco.us/dropsites.