Voters' Guide Cover Letter to the Voters General Information Voter Registration Information
New this Year: Only One Nominating Process
Your official 2006 Primary Election Voters’ Pamphlet provides you with information about candidates that will appear on your ballot. There are no statewide measures on the 2006 Primary Election ballot.
In the primary election, candidates are divided into three sections: Democratic candidates, Republican candidates and nonpartisan candidates. Major political party candidates appear before nonpartisan candidates and every two years the order in which major political party candidates appear is rotated. For 2006, Republican candidates appear first.
All space is purchased: statements and photographs are submitted by the candidates or their designated agents. The information required by law—pertaining to occupation, occupational background, educational background and prior governmental experience—has been certified as true by each candidate.
Candidate statements are printed as submitted. The state does not correct punctuation, grammar, syntax errors or inaccurate information. The only changes made are attempts to correct spelling errors if the word as originally submitted is not in the dictionary.
Miscellaneous voting aids, including dropsite locations, a complete list of state candidates, and instructions for marking your ballot, checking your ballot and getting a replacement ballot, are also a part of the voters’ pamphlet. In an effort not to duplicate the printing of information, some of these voting aids are not a part of the state voters’ pamphlet, but instead are included in your county voters’ pamphlet, if your county has produced a voters’ pamphlet.
The voters’ pamphlet has been compiled by the Secretary of State since 1903, when Oregon became one of the first states to provide for the printing and distribution of such a publication. One copy of the voters’ pamphlet is mailed to every household in the state. Additional copies are available at the State Capitol, local post offices, courthouses and all county elections offices.
While the candidates’ statements for candidates running for the same office appear in alphabetical order by their last name in this voters’ pamphlet, you will notice that they appear in a different order on your ballot.
Pursuant to ORS 254.155, the Secretary of State is required to complete a random order of the letters of the alphabet to determine the order in which the names of candidates appear on the ballot.
The alphabet for the 2006 Primary Election is:
M, Z, E, R, C, B, U, Y, Q, F, A, T, S, W, I, K, N, L, G, O, J, X, P, D, V, H
Una versión en español de algunas partes de la Guía del Elector está a su disposición en el portal del Internet cuya dirección aparece arriba. Conscientes de que este material en línea podría no llegar adecuadamente a todos los electores que necesitan este servicio, se invita a toda persona a imprimir la versión en línea y circularla a aquellos electores que no tengan acceso a una computadora.
If your ballot is lost, destroyed, damaged or you make a mistake in marking your ballot, you may call your county elections office and request a replacement ballot. One will be mailed to you as long as you request it by May 11. After that, you may pick it up at the elections office. If you have already mailed your original ballot before you realize you made a mistake, you have cast your vote and will not be eligible for a replacement ballot.
Your voted ballot must be returned to your county elections office by election day, Tuesday, May 16, 2006.
Postmarks do not count!
County elections offices are open on election day from 7am to 8pm.
For questions about voter registration, ballot delivery and return, marking the ballot, requesting a replacement ballot, absentee ballots, signature requirements, the voters' pamphlet, when and where to vote, and other questions about elections and voting, call the toll-free voter information line at 1-866-ORE-VOTES (1-866-673-8683).
Voter information line representatives can provide services in both English and Spanish. TTY services for the hearing impaired are also available at 1-866-350-0596.
What is Vote by Mail?
Vote by mail is a method of conducting elections. Instead of using traditional polling places where voters go to cast ballots on election day, a ballot is automatically mailed to each registered voter. The ballot is then voted and returned to the county elections official to be counted.
As a voter, what do I have to do?
Your ballot packet will automatically be mailed to you between April 28 and May 2, 2006. Inside the packet you will find the ballot, a secrecy envelope and a return envelope. Once you vote the ballot, place it in the secrecy envelope and seal it in the pre-addressed return envelope. Be sure you sign the return envelope on the appropriate line. After that just return the ballot either by mail or at a designated dropsite.
What if I am uncomfortable voting my ballot at home?
Privacy booths are available for you to cast your ballot. There are privacy booths at your county elections office and there may be others at dropsite locations elsewhere in your county. For further information, call your county elections official.
What if my ballot doesn’t come?
If you are registered to vote and have not received your ballot within a week after they are mailed, call your county elections office. They will check that your voter registration is current. If it is, they will mail you a replacement ballot.
What if I have moved and have not updated my registration?
If you were registered to vote by April 25 but now have a different address, call your county elections office for instructions on how to update your registration and receive a ballot.
Do I have to return my ballot by mail?
You have the choice of mailing your ballot or returning it to any county elections office or any designated dropsite in the state. The times and locations of dropsites are available at your county elections office.
How much postage is required to mail the ballot back?
Your voted ballot can usually be returned using a single 39¢ stamp. In those instances where additional postage is necessary, it will be clearly indicated on the ballot materials.
When must the voted ballot be returned?
The voted ballot must be received in any county elections office or designated drop site by 8pm on election night. Postmarks do not count!
How do I know if my ballot is received?
You can call your county elections office and ask if they received your ballot. A record is kept showing each voter whose ballot has been returned.
Can anyone find out how I’ve voted once I mail my ballot?
No. All ballots are separated from the return envelope before the ballots are inspected. This process ensures confidentiality.
What if I forget to sign the return envelope?
Generally, your elections office will either return it to you for signing or they will contact you, if possible, to come to the elections office to sign it. If the return envelope does not get signed before 8pm on May 16, the ballot will not be counted.
Can the public watch the election process?
All steps of the process are open to observation by the public. Contact your county elections official to make arrangements.
When will election results be known?
Ballot counting cannot begin until election day. Initial results are released at 8pm election night and will continue to be updated through election night until all ballots have been counted.
If you are unable to vote your ballot without assistance because of a physical disability or because you are unable to read or write, contact your county elections official. They will provide two persons to assist you in voting. In order to assure the county receives your voted ballot by election day, contact your county elections office early to arrange for assistance. You may also select someone else of your own choice to assist you.
An audio version of the Voters’ Pamphlet is available for Oregonians who cannot read standard print due to a visual or physical disability. To order a cassette or CD of the Voters’ Pamphlet, please contact Talking Book and Braille Services at 1-800-452-0292.
At the May Primary Election, the two major political parties (Democratic and Republican) nominate candidates to appear on the General Election ballot.
In 2006, Oregon’s Democratic and Republican parties have chosen to nominate their candidates in a “closed primary”election. In a “closed primary” election only persons who are registered members of a major political party may vote the ballot of that political party.
Persons registered as not affiliated with a political party will receive a ballot with measure and nonpartisan candidate information.
New this Year: Only One Nominating Process
The Oregon Legislative Assembly has adopted a new law that states an elector may participate in one, and only one, nominating process for each partisan public office to be filled at the General Election. Partisan public offices to be filled at the 2006 General Election include:
Participation in a nominating process includes any of the following:
example
Elector A is registered to vote as a member of a major political party and is issued and returns a partisan ballot at the 2006 Primary Election. Elector A votes for most, but not all, of the partisan races listed.
In July 2006, Elector A signs a petition to nominate a nonaffiliated candidate for State Representative District 25 to the 2006 General Election. Elector A’s signature is not a valid signature and must be disqualified. Elector A is deemed to have already participated in a nominating process for all partisan offices for the 2006 General Election by returning a partisan ballot for the 2006 Primary Election.