Voter Education Grant

2026 Multnomah County Voter Education Fund

The Opportunity

The successful implementation of ranked choice voting (RCV) in the City of Portland has paved the way for its county-wide implementation in November 2026. To ensure all county voters are prepared, it is crucial to expand our education efforts to East Multnomah County outside of the City of Portland, where voters have not yet experienced voting with an RCV choice ballot. 

The 2026 Multnomah County Voter Education Fund Grant Program aims to empower community organizations to develop and implement effective RCV education initiatives tailored to the unique needs of East Multnomah County voters.

Program Goals

• Increase Awareness: Promote understanding of RCV among East Multnomah County residents.
• Build Confidence: Equip voters with the knowledge and confidence to cast ballots using RCV.
• Support Community-Based Education: Deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate RCV education through community partners. 

Grant Program Details

Who can apply?

• Eligibility: 501(c)(3) community-based organizations serving residents of East Multnomah County who live outside of the City of Portland.
• Preference will be given to organizations with a demonstrated track record of effective community outreach and engagement with populations who have historically experienced lower levels of voting engagement, including, but not limited to: Black, Indigenous, Latine, Asian and Pacific Islanders, unhoused/housing insecure residents, residents with lower than average median household income, residents whose primary language is not English, new citizens, and voters under the age of 30.
• RCV Expertise Not Required: Organizations do not need prior expertise in ranked choice voting or voter education to apply. Comprehensive training and educational materials will be provided to all grantees by the Multnomah County Elections Division.

What types of activities will be funded?

Grantee organizations will provide non-partisan, apolitical education and outreach through material dissemination, community education events, and peer-to-peer outreach. Funded activities may include:

• Direct voter contact (e.g., canvassing, ballot assistance centers).
• Distribution of printed and digital voter education materials.
• In-person community education events.
• Emails to membership and social media posts.
• "Train the Trainer" sessions for staff and/or core organizational volunteers.
• Other creative outreach ideas designed to reach your community.

Grantee Requirements

1. Training: 

   All grantees are required to send at least one representative to an all-day training on RCV and voter education best practices on May 26, 2026.

2. Measurable Outreach: 

   Grantees must be able to provide a project plan that clearly shows how they can reach at least 5,000 potential voters in East Multnomah County with RCV information through any combination of digital, in-person, mail, or event outreach.

3. Regular Reporting: 

   Grantees will meet monthly with the Multnomah County Elections team (May–Nov) for brief updates and support, and must submit a final report in November 2026.

Application Process

Interested organizations must submit a grant application that outlines their experience with community outreach, connection to their target audience, and their ideas for RCV education and outreach plans.

Before You Apply

The Request for Grant Proposals will be posted to the MultCo Marketplace (MMP) on February 2, 2026. To submit an application, your organization must be registered as a supplier in MMP. If you are not already registered, you can submit an MMP supplier access request form. Please note: Access request forms can take up to three business days to process, so don’t wait until the last minute!

Important Application Dates

 Please refer all questions to Kristin Shorey at kristin.shorey@multco.us.