With Oregon’s next election approaching, the Secretary of State’s Office has launched a statewide voter registration campaign aimed at ensuring eligible residents understand how to register, verify their information and make necessary changes before the October 13 registration deadline.
Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read announced the new public service campaign Thursday, partnering with the Oregon Association of Broadcasters and radio stations throughout the state to carry voter registration announcements directly into communities across Oregon. The campaign concentrates on the first requirement of participating in an election: making certain eligible voters are properly registered before the deadline arrives.
The announcements provide residents with straightforward information about Oregon’s eligibility requirements while directing voters to the state’s online elections system. Under the requirements outlined in the campaign, a person may register to vote in Oregon if they are a United States citizen, an Oregon resident and at least 16 years old. Although registration is permitted beginning at age 16, a registered voter must be at least 18 years old to receive a ballot.
For Read, the statewide effort is also intended to reinforce the relationship between voter participation and public accountability.
“Our state is a stronger, better place when the people hold the powerful accountable through free and fair elections. That’s why I want every eligible Oregonian to vote, and registering is the first crucial step,” Read said.
The October 13 deadline gives prospective voters a specific date to keep in mind, but the campaign is not limited to people registering for the first time. Oregon voters can also use the state’s secure elections portal at oregonvotes.gov to check their existing registration information or update their voter record when necessary.
That ability can be particularly useful for registered voters whose information has changed since they last participated in an election. Rather than assuming an existing registration remains accurate, voters can review the information maintained by the state and make updates through the same online system used for registration.
The public service announcements are being distributed through radio stations in partnership with the Oregon Association of Broadcasters, giving the Secretary of State’s Office a statewide communications network capable of reaching listeners in communities of different sizes and geographic regions. The announcements identify the October deadline, explain basic eligibility requirements and direct residents to the state elections website for registration services.
Read said providing clear information about the process is an important part of ensuring eligible citizens are not excluded simply because they are unfamiliar with Oregon’s registration system.
“No citizen should be left out of our elections because they don’t know how the process works, which is why these announcements are so critical,” Read said. “I want to thank the Oregon Association of Broadcasters and radio stations across the state for working with us to get this important message out.”
The campaign also addresses an aspect of Oregon election law that may be unfamiliar to younger residents. Sixteen and 17 year olds who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may register before reaching voting age. Registration at that age does not make a person eligible to cast a ballot early. A voter must still be 18 years old before receiving a ballot.
The distinction allows younger Oregonians to complete the registration process before becoming eligible to vote, while maintaining the age requirement for actual participation in an election. For residents who are already voting age but have never registered, the same October 13 deadline applies for participation in the upcoming election.
Oregon’s campaign arrives during the portion of the election calendar when administrative deadlines begin carrying immediate consequences for voters. Registration is ultimately the mechanism that establishes an eligible resident within the state election system, making accuracy especially important before ballots are issued.
The Secretary of State’s Office is encouraging Oregonians not only to register when necessary, but also to verify information already on file. Registration, verification and updates can all be completed through oregonvotes.gov, allowing voters to review their status through Oregon’s official election portal rather than waiting until ballots begin arriving.
The radio announcement closes with a concise message directed at eligible residents across the state: “You have the power to decide Oregon’s future. Vote.”
For Oregonians planning to participate in the next election, the calendar now carries a firm registration date. October 13 is the deadline, and the state’s new broadcast campaign is designed to make certain that information reaches voters well before it passes.