For immediate release: Sept. 30, 2026
Media contact: Communications Office, pressoffice@multco.us
This release may be viewed in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, Ukrainian and Somali.
Multnomah County, Ore. (Sept. 30, 2026) — The upcoming Nov. 3, 2026, General Election includes contests for Congress, the Oregon Legislature and Governor, as well as inaugural local ranked choice voting (RCV) contests for Multnomah County Chair and District 2 Commissioner. Voters will also use ranked choice voting again in City of Portland Councilor and Auditor contests.
The voter registration deadline for this election is Tuesday, Oct. 13 — less than two weeks away. You can register to vote or check that your voter registration is up to date by visiting the Secretary of State’s online portal.
Ballots will be mailed to all registered Multnomah County voters beginning Wednesday, Oct. 14.
Remember to sign up for Multnomah County’s Track Your Ballot service. That way you’ll know exactly when your ballot has been mailed to you. And after you return your ballot, you’ll also be notified when it’s been received and accepted for counting by the Elections Office.
Multnomah County Elections provides assistance to voters with disabilities or who want assistance in their preferred language. The Elections Division wants all voters to be able to vote easily, privately and independently; understand the steps in voting; understand elections rules; and know who to ask for assistance.
If you need assistance casting your ballot, you can go online, call or email the Elections Division, or visit a Multnomah County Elections location for help during any step of the voting process. Elections staff can help people register to vote or update voter information, understand how to mark or read a ballot, understand election rules and steps in voting, and more.
Assistance available for voters with disabilities
Voters with a disability can request help with voting from a friend, family member or someone else you know. You can also call and request voting-and election-related help from Multnomah County Elections.
Elections’ Voter Assistance Teams can help a voter at home, at the facility they live in, or at one of Multnomah County Elections’ service locations: the Duniway-Lovejoy Elections Building in Southeast Portland or the Voting Center Express in Gresham, which opens Thursday, Oct. 8.
This help is always free of charge. Legally, employers or union representatives cannot provide voter assistance.
Assistance is available for voters who speak languages other than English
Voters can also request assistance in their preferred language.
Multnomah County Elections has staff who speak many languages. The Elections Division also can provide an interpreter free of charge to anyone who needs help with voting or with elections processes in a language other than English. Telephone interpretation is available in any language.
Independent Voting Units
Voters can also use an Independent Voting Unit, which allows anyone to vote privately and independently. The voting devices are available at both the Duniway-Lovejoy Elections Building in Southeast Portland and the Voting Center Express in Gresham.
An Independent Voting Unit is a tablet system that allows voters to cast their ballots using adaptive technology, making voting more accessible to all residents of Multnomah County. It includes a headset to adjust the volume and speed of the audio reading the ballot. The touchscreen has adjustable font sizes and three contrasting color-sets, or it can be turned off completely.
Voters can use the touchscreen or a controller that can be held in their lap and has markings in English and Braille. People can vote while seated, while using a mobility device, or while standing and using an adjustable table. Voters with questions can use a call button to get an election worker's attention.
After marking and reviewing their choices, voters print their ballot, sign their ballot return envelope and then put their ballot into their return envelope.
Independent Voting Units are available at Elections’ two voting service locations until 8 p.m. on Election Night, Nov. 3, 2026. Any voter can use an Independent Voting Unit if they choose.
Reminder: Ranked choice voting arrives for Multnomah County candidate contests
For the Nov. 3, 2026, General Election, Multnomah County voters will join City of Portland voters in using ranked choice voting in candidate contests.
In November 2022, voters in Portland and Multnomah County approved measures to require the use of ranked choice voting for all City of Portland and Multnomah County candidate contests. Portland voters began using ranked choice voting in November 2024. All Multnomah County voters will join Portlanders in using ranked choice voting to elect County candidates starting November 2026.
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 will not be elected.
Visit multco.us/rcv to learn more about ranked choice voting, practice filling out a ballot and access educational resources. Voters can visit rcvresults.multco.us to view all current and past RCV election results.
Gresham Voting Center Express opens Oct. 8
Multnomah County Elections will open its second service location, the Voting Center Express in Gresham, Thursday, Oct. 8. The Voting Center Express is located inside the Multnomah County East Building at 600 N.E. 8th St. in downtown Gresham. Voters will be able to replace a lost ballot, get help voting, ask questions or vote in person at the voting center.
The Voting Center Express will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Both the Multnomah County Duniway-Lovejoy Elections Building and the Voting Center Express will offer extended hours starting Wednesday, Oct. 28, through Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3:
- Wednesday, Oct. 28 - Friday, Oct. 30: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 31: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Monday, Nov. 2: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
- Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Countdown to Election Day: Nov. 3, 2026
- Out-of-state ballots mailed: Oct. 5
- Voting Center Express in Gresham opens: Oct. 8
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 13
- Ballots begin to be mailed to voters: Oct. 14
- All voters should have received their ballots: Oct. 22
- Last day recommended to return your ballot by mail: Oct. 27
- Election Day and deadline to drop off ballots or have ballots postmarked: Nov. 3
- Final election results are certified: Nov. 30
Main office:
Multnomah County Duniway-Lovejoy Elections Building
1040 S.E. Morrison St., Portland, OR 97214
Gresham location:
Open Oct. 8 - Nov. 3, 2026
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: multnomahvotes.gov
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