news

Presidential race, local races, ballot measures

Vaseline November 5, 2024

Oregon holds its November general election on Tuesday.

It’s a presidential election, where voters will select the winner of Oregon’s eight electoral college votes. In Oregon, seven candidates qualified for the ballot: Robert F Kennedy, Cornell West, Chase Oliver, Randall Terry, Donald Trump, Jill Stein and Kamala Harris.

Oregon voters will also elect three statewide officials and weigh in on five statewide ballot measures that ask about the impeachment of statewide officials, elected official salaries, ranked-choice voting, universal basic income and cannabis worker unionization.

Other races on the ballot depend on where you live. Cottage Grove voters will have a pair of tax measures for road funding. Other cities across Lane County will have elections for local offices like mayor, city council and utility board.

Here are some key things to know about voting in Oregon for this election, along with some details on what races and measures you should expect to see on your ballot:

When are ballots due?

Ballot drop boxes are open until 7:59 p.m. on Tuesday. Election workers will close drop boxes at 8 p.m. and no longer accept ballots.

Where can I drop off my ballot?

You can find your drop box by entering your address into the “Oregon Drop Box Locator” on sos.oregon.gov. On that website, you can also check to see if you’re registered to vote. On Lane County’s website, you can see what’s on ballots.

In Lane County, you can drop off your ballot at any of 21 locations, including 10 in Eugene, three in Springfield and eight around the rest of the county. The main location at the Lane County Clerk’s Office is located at 275 W 10th Ave, Eugene.

Can I register to vote on Election Day? How do I get a ballot today?

The deadline for new voters has passed, but those who need to update their voter registration may still do so. These last-minute registrations may be done online, but voters will need to pick up their ballot in person from their county elections office, which is also where registered voters who need a replacement ballot should go.

To register to vote online you will need an Oregon driver’s license, permit or ID card number issued by the Oregon DMV. If you don’t have one of those documents you may register in-person with the the last four digits of your Social Security number or other “acceptable identification.”

Acceptable identification includes valid photo identification, a paycheck stub, a utility bill, a bank statement, a government document or proof of eligibility under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) or the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (VAEH).

Can I put my ballot in the mail on Election Day?

In Oregon, ballots may be counted if they are postmarked by election day and received within seven days. Election officials generally recommend against placing ballots in the mail this close to election day.

“We do receive ballots that were postmarked on election day after the seventh day and we just can’t count them,” Lane County Clerk Dena Dawson said. “Also, some folks assume that if they drop a ballot off in a USPS box on election day, their ballot will be counted but if that USPS box has already been collected for the day the ballot will not be collected or postmarked until the following day. Those are just a few reasons we suggest voters use a drop box this close to Election Day.”

When will election results come out?

Lane County will post results in eight rounds:

8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 5: Will include include ballots received through Monday, Nov. 4.
11 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5: Will add ballots received from ballot boxes Tuesday morning.
5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6: Will add ballots received during the 8 p.m. election day ballot box collection.
5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8: Will add remaining election night ballots as well as cured and postmarked ballots.
5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12: Will add additional cured and postmarked ballots.
5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15: Will add more cured ballots.
5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27: Will add more cured ballots.
5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2: Final official results.

Stay tuned to registerguard.com for results.

How can I check the status of my ballot?

Voters can check the status of their ballot through oregonvotes.gov/myvote.

What presidential candidates are on the ballot in Oregon?

Seven candidates qualified to appear on Oregon ballots. In addition to Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, five candidates are listed with endorsements from Oregon third parties.

Representing the Democratic ticket, Vice President Kamala Harris, who energized Oregon Democrats after President Joe Biden dropped out, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz are the favorites to win Oregon.

Biden won Oregon’s Democratic primary with 87.13% of the vote, compared to 7.36% for Marianne Williamson and 5.51% for write-in candidates. Opponents of Biden’s support for Israel encouraged allies to write in “uncommitted” as a protest vote, which they said was counted with write-in votes.

On the Republican ticket, former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator JD Vance are polling in the low-40s in Oregon. The Trump campaign chose to not submit a statement for Oregon’s voter pamphlet, but Trump will appear on ballots.

Trump won Oregon’s Republican primary with 91.6% of the vote and 8.4% going to write-ins after all other Republican candidates had dropped out of the race. Oregon’s May primary was held after both Biden and Trump had earned enough delegates for the nomination.

Five more candidates got ballot access through “minor party” nominations: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (We The People), Cornel West (Progressive), Chase Oliver (Libertarian), Randall Terry (Constitution) and Jill Stein (Green).

What are the statewide questions on the Nov. 5 ballot?

In addition to voting for a presidential candidate, all voters in the state will be asked five measure questions:

Measure 115: “Amends Constitution: Authorizes impeachment of statewide elected officials by Oregon Legislature with two-thirds vote by each House; establishes process.”

Measure 116: “Amends Constitution: Establishes ‘Independent Public Service Compensation Commission’ to determine salaries for specified officials; eliminates legislative authority to set such salaries.”

Measure 117: “Gives voters option to rank candidates in order of preference; candidate receiving majority of votes in final round wins.”

Measure 118: “Increases highest corporate minimum taxes; distributes revenue to eligible individuals; state replaces reduced federal benefits.”

Measure 119: “Cannabis retailers/processors must remain neutral regarding communications to their employees from labor organizations; penalties.”

What are the local measures on the ballot?

Some voters will also see ballot measures about a range of local topics from charter amendments to taxes.

In Lane County, four charter amendments have measures on the ballot. Three aim to remove historical pieces of the charter. The fourth proposes a new process for redistricting the boundaries used to elect county commissioners.

If Lane residents vote “yes” on the measure, Lane County will form a new “citizens redistricting commission” to redraw boundaries in 2025 and future years ending in 1. If they vote “no,” the charter will retain language giving county commissioners the final say on maps. Commissioners offloaded the drawing process to an “independent redistricting commission” last cycle.

Local communities also have their own ballot measures. Cottage Grove will vote on a property tax bond and raising gas taxes to repair city streets. Oakridge will vote on a new charter and adopting STAR voting for mayor and city council elections.

What are the local races on the ballot?

Here’s a guide to the races in Lane County. If you’re in a different area, you can check what’s on your ballot at vote411.org/ballot.

In Eugene, candidates are elected through a May “primary” followed by a November “general” election, but candidates can be the only one to win “nomination” if they get over 50% of primary votes.

Mayoral candidate Kaarin Knudson; City Council Candidates Eliza Kashinsky, Matt Keating, Lyndsie Leech, and Randy Groves; Water & Electric Board candidates Tim Morris, John Barofsky and Sonya Carlson did this.

Lane County follows the same process. County Commissioners Laurie Trieger and Pat Farr and Sheriff Cliff Harold also won sole nominations. Springfield follows a similar process but with outright victories awarded in May.

Cottage Grove taxes

The City of Cottage Grove has two tax measures on the ballot. Measure 20-365 would levy $2.5 million in property taxes to fix three city streets. Measure 20-366 would increase the gas tax to 9 cents per gallon also to repair streets. City Council approved referring both measures with 5-0 votes.

Federal and state legislature

Congressional District 4 (SW Oregon)

Dan Bahlen (L)
Justin Filip (G)
Val Hoyle (D) (i)
Monique DeSpain (R)

Senate District 5 (central coast)

Jo Beaudreau (D)
Dick Anderson (R) (i)

House District 7 (Springfield)

Cory Burket (R)
John Lively (D) (i)

House District 8 (south Eugene)

House District 9 (south-central Coast)

Boomer Wright (R) (i)
William “Mrk” Mrkvicka (D)

House District 10 (north-central Coast)

House District 11 (rural Linn, Jefferson)

Ivan Maluski (NF)
Jami Cate (R) (i)

House District 12 (east Lane)

Michelle Emmons (D)
Darin Harbick (R)

House District 13 (north Eugene)

Nancy Nathanson (D) (i)
Timothy Sutherland (R)

House District 14 (west Eugene, Veneta)

Local races

Blue River Water District (recall)

“Do you wish to recall Tony Casad from the office of Commissioner, Position 5?”

Blue River Park & Recreation District (recall)

“Do you wish to recall Tony Casad from the office of Director, Position 5?”

Central Lincoln People’s Utility District

Subdivision 3

Subdivision 4

Duke Wells
Judy Matheny (i)

Coburg Mayor

Coburg City Council (three seats)

Jaymason Bouwman (i)
Donnie Myers
Claire Smith (i)

Cottage Grove Mayor

Dana Merryday
Candace Solesbee (i)

Cottage Grove City Council

Ward 1

Kevin Adamski
Christine Hyink

Ward 2

Ward 4

At-Large (2-year)

Jim Settlemeyer
Chris Hollomon

At-Large (4-year)

Darrel Wilson
Richard Andrew
Patrick Cartwright
Bernie Donner

Cottage Grove Bond Measure

“Shall the City of Cottage Grove issue general obligation bonds to fix streets?

If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property ownership that are not subject to the limits of sections 11 and 11b, Article XI of the Oregon Constitution.

Approval of this measure authorizes the City to issue up to a principal amount of $2.5 million of generalobligation bonds.”

Cottage Grove Gas Tax

“Shall the City’s Gas Tax increase from $.03 per gallon to $.09 per gallon?

If adopted by the voters, this measure would increase the City’s gas tax by $.06 per gallon, for a total citygas tax of $.09 per gallon. Revenues from the City’s gas tax are used exclusively to construct, reconstruct,improve, and maintain City streets. The proposed increase in the City’s gas tax would create more revenue for road construction, maintenance and repair in the City.”

Creswell Mayor

Kevin Prociw
Nicholas Smith

Creswell City Council (3 seats)

Clark Kent (i)
Mark Kremer
Christina Allen
Joan Morris

Dunes City mayor

Dunes City Council (3 seats)

Emerald People’s Utility Board

Subdivision 1

Subdivision 4

Subdivision 5

Eugene Mayor

Eugene City Council

Ward 1

Ward 2

Ward 7

Ward 8

Eugene Water & Electric Board

Wards 1 & 8

Wards 2 & 3

Wards 6 & 7

Florence mayor

Florence Mayor’s uncontested: Ward welcomed at Republican and Democratic campaign headquarters

Florence City Council (2 seats)

Sally Wantz (i)
Mark James Brennan
Bill Meyer (i)

Heceta Water People’s Utility District

No candidates filed for any of the three seats.

Junction City Mayor

Junction City Council (3 seats)

Sidney Washburne (i)
Ken Hancock (i)

Lane County Commissioner

District 3

District 4

Lane County Sheriff

Lane County Charter Repeals

“Shall Lane County repeal Section 32 of the Lane County Charter?The proposed amendment would repeal Section 32 of the Lane County Charter, which imposes specific limits on annual County expenditures. State laws governing county budgets would continue to apply, as appropriate.”
“Shall Lane County repeal Section 33 of the Lane County Charter?The proposed amendment would repeal Section 33 of the Lane County Charter, which imposes restrictions on the use and development of East Alton Baker Park. Lane County no longer owns the land constituting East Alton Baker Park as it was sold to the City of Eugene.”
“Shall Lane County repeal Section 34 of the Lane County Charter? The proposed amendment would repeal Section 34 of the Lane County Charter, which limits the rate of any Lane County income tax and directs how revenues are to be used. There is not currently any Lane County income tax.”

Lane County Redistricting Amendment

“Shall Lane County amend the Lane Charter to create redistricting commission, redistrict for 2026, thereafter redistrict after each decennial census?

The proposed amendment would add subsection 10(4) requiring formation of a citizens redistricting commission to develop Board of Commissioner districts for the 2026 general election and thereafter in each year ending in number one.”

Linn Soil & Water Conservation District

Zone 2

Zone 3

Zone 4

Zone 5

At-Large 1

At-Large 2

David Neal (i)
John Langdon

Lowell City Council

Position 2

Position 4

Position 5

Oakridge City Council

2-year term

Dan Barclay
Thaddeus Carter

4-year term (3 seats)

Kelly Brewer (i)
Marty Scott
Chrissy Hollett (i)
Bee Havior
Aaron Davis

Oakridge Charter

“Shall Oakridge adopt a new City Charter replacing the existing Oakridge Charter 2010, Revised 6 November 2012?

Passage of this initiative would replace the existing Oakridge City Charter, last revised in 2012, with a revised 2024 City of Oakridge Charter, the product of a two-year, citizen-led initiative.”

Oakridge STAR voting

“Shall Oakridge allow voters to show preferences between candidates for city elections?

The Oakridge City Council and Charter Review Subcommittee referred this measure to implement STAR (Score Then Automatic Runoff) Voting for Oakridge municipal elections for 3 election cycles, at no cost to city.”

Siuslaw Soil & Water Conservation District

Zone 2

Raymond “Ray” Kinney (i)

Zone 3

At-Large 1

At-Large 2

Springfield Utility Board

Position 1

Position 2

Teresa “Terri” Dillon (i)

Position 4

Position 5

Bruce Webber

Upper Willamette Soil & Water District

At-Large 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

Zone 4

Zone 5

Veneta Mayor

Veneta mayoral race: Meet the two candidates running for mayor of Veneta

Veneta City Council (2 seats)

Maureen Wright (i)
David Voltz
Anthony “Pat” Coy (i)

Westfir Mayor

Westfir City Council (2 seats)

Alan Torres covers local government for the Register-Guard. He can be reached over email at [email protected] or on X @alanfryetorres.