Elections

Elections in Washington County.

 
Washington County Elections is responsible for conducting all regular elections in Washington County, Oregon. 
 
Number of Elections:
 
There are two regularly scheduled statewide elections in every even-numbered year-the Primary Election in May and the General Election in November.
There are 4 regularly scheduled elections at the local level each year. A jurisdiction may or may not need to hold an election on those dates.
The legislature may choose to call a special election at any time.
 
In 1998 Oregon voters passed a ballot measure to allow all elections in the state to be conducted by mail. Elections in Oregon and therefore in Washington County are conducted by mail.  Registered voters are mailed a ballot and they must return the ballot on or before election day.  This method of vote-by-mail was first approved in 1987.
 
Vote by Mail:
  • Increases voter participation.
  • Removes barriers that can keep people from getting to the polls.
  • Allows more time for people to study issues and candidates before marking the ballot.
  • Has built-in safeguards that increase the integrity of the elections process.
  • Saves taxpayer dollars.
Specifically the elections are held on the:
  • Second Tuesday in March
  • Third Tuesday in May
  • Third Tuesday in September; and
  • First Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
 

 

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