Registering to Vote | Pacific Votes
The first step toward making your voice heard is to get registered— an easy process completed online and with lots of flexibility built-in for college students. Oregon gives you the choice to vote here or in another home state.
How do I register in Oregon?
Oregon votes by mail. You may register at your university address (e.g. a dorm room, off-campus apartment), or, at a permanent residence in another Oregon county (e.g. your parent’s home, if you still consider that your permanent residence). You can also choose to have your ballot mailed to you at college but have your vote count at your permanent address - which may have different options for local candidates or measures.
To register, visit Oregon Votes and select “Register to Vote”. You must be a U.S. Citizen, a resident of Oregon, and at least 16 years old (but you will have to wait for 18 to cast a vote). To complete the online form, you will need an Oregon DMV number (from a driver's license/permit/ID card) or you can provide the last four digits of your social security number.
The deadline to register is 21 days before the election. If you are already registered, you should still confirm that you have the correct address on file, as this is the only way you will receive your ballot. To check your mailing address, visit Oregon Votes and select “My Vote”.
The Oregon Secretary of State maintains a special voting page for students where you can find answers to unique questions like “What if I am studying abroad during an election?”
How do I register in another state?
If you plan to return home after college and prefer to maintain a different state as your primary residence, you do not need to register in Oregon and can instead register and submit an absentee ballot in your home state. Please note that your home state may have an earlier registration deadline than Oregon.
Regardless of where you are registered, please remember that you can only legally cast a single vote, so don't make the mistake of filling out an absentee ballot for your home state and a local ballot in Oregon. Find exact details on your state's elections page:
- Washington Elections
- California Elections and Voter Information
- Hawaii Office of Elections
- Idaho Vote Idaho
- Find your state here
When should I register?
Right now! Most states have a deadline by which you need to be correctly registered in order to participate in an election and it is always a good idea to get registered early. Registration deadlines:
- Oregon: 21 days before an election
- Washington: By mail/online 8 days before an election, in-person up to and including election day
- California: By mail/online 15 days before an election, in-person up to and including election day
- Hawaii: By mail 8 days before an election, in-person and online up to and including election day
- Idaho: By mail/online 25 days before an election, in person up to and including election day
- Find your state
How do I update / check my registration?
You will always need to update your registration when you move, change your name, or change political parties. Therefore it is a good idea to check that everything is correct at least once before every election. You can do that on your state's elections page (see Vote.gov to find yours) or using a nonpartisan platform such as BallotReady.
Do I need to register as a Republican or Democrat?
In recent polls, a record 49% of American's identified themselves as politically independent ie. not aligned with either of the major parties. This holds true in Oregon, where the largest share of voters are non-affiliated and choose not to list themselves as either Republican or Democrat on their voter registration. The impact of this decision? Non-affiliated voters in Oregon are unable to participate in the Primary Elections, when the two parties decide who will be on the presidential ballot every four years. This is because Oregon is one of 16 states with a "closed primary".
In this situation, very few people – and only the most partisan people – are determining primary winners, meaning that moderate candidates are less likely to even make it on the ballot in November. If you are interest in participating in the early decision making processes around who will be on your presidential ballot, you should pay attention to what type of primary your state runs (see all states here), and register yourself accordingly.
I'm registered, now what?
Some states (including Oregon, Washington, and California) will automatically mail you a ballot every election. Others (including Hawaii and Idaho) require you to request a ballot each election. We can help you find details for the state you will be voting in, and recommend you take the Pacific Votes Pledges to receive everything you need to know about your particular circumstances. You can also check out our additional resource pages:
I have more questions. Who do I contact?
The MCCE can help! Email us at mcce@pacificu.edu.
