Candidate filing deadline for Multnomah County and Metro closes Tuesday, March 12, for the May 21, 2024, Primary Election

March 5, 2024

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Contacts: Tim Scott or Edward Gutiérrez, 503-988-VOTE (8683)

Candidate filing deadline for Multnomah County and Metro closes Tuesday, March 12, for the May 2024 Primary Election.

Election Day is two months away on May 21, 2024. The candidate filing deadline for Multnomah County and Metro closes at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 12. Candidates interested in running for any of these positions must file by the deadline. March 12 at 5 p.m. is also the filing deadline for Precinct Committee Persons. Precinct Committee Persons can file with the online form Candidate Filing: Precinct Committeeperson (SEL 105).

Candidate contests for the City of Portland will not appear on the May 2024 ballot. Candidate contests for Portland elected offices will next appear on the Nov. 5, 2024, ballot — which will also be the City's first use of ranked choice voting. To learn more about ranked choice voting in upcoming City of Portland elections, visit www.portland.gov/vote.

Make a Plan to VOTE this May!

In advance of the May 21 Election Day deadline, Multnomah County Elections is asking voters to Make a Plan to VOTE! The action-focused checklist walks voters through the five steps needed to ensure their vote is counted:

  • Register to VOTE and CHOOSE a party if you want. 
  • Get your ballot. 
  • VOTE your ballot. 
  • Return your ballot. 
  • Have a VOICE and make a difference.

First — Register to VOTE. Voter registration deadline is April 30, 2024.

The voter registration deadline for the May 21 election is Tuesday, April 30. Register to vote online at oregonvotes.gov/register. Make sure to update your voter registration anytime you move, change your name, or want to change your party affiliation.

April 30 is also the party choice deadline. Voters who wish to vote in the Democratic or Republican closed primary elections need to be registered as a member of that party by the deadline. Voters who are not affiliated with any party, or who are affiliated with a minor party, will receive a nonpartisan ballot that contains nonpartisan state and local offices and measures. Now is the time to check whether your voter registration has your current residence and mailing address. Then, sign up for Track Your Ballot after you check your registration!

Get your ballot.

You will receive your ballot in the mail beginning May 1. If you have not received your ballot by May 9, take action by calling Multnomah County Elections at 503-988-VOTE (8683) to request a replacement ballot. If you are going to be away from home for this election, you can sign up for an absentee ballot, available starting April 8, 2024. 

VOTE your ballot.

Remember to sign your ballot return envelope. Your signature is your identification. Every signature on every ballot is examined to make sure it matches the signature in the voter’s registration. If you forget to sign, or if your signature does not match, we will send you a letter and contact you via Track Your Ballot so that you can take action and we can count your vote.

Do you have questions or need assistance voting? Voter assistance is available if you have a disability or need assistance in a language other than English. Call 503-988-VOTE (8683).

Return your ballot.

You have two choices in returning your ballot. Vote early and return your ballot by mail, or take it to an Official Ballot Drop Site.

If you’re mailing your ballot, no stamp is needed! Ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day, May 21, 2024. 

Six Official Ballot Drop Sites have or will be moved due to library construction, but there are still more than 30 locations to serve you! 

All registered voters in Multnomah County will receive a ballot for the May 21, 2024, election. Please check ahead if you plan to drop off your ballot at an Official Ballot Drop Site at a Multnomah County Library location. Construction projects made possible by a voter-approved library bond are impacting Official Ballot Drop Sites at six library locations including: 

  • City of Portland: Albina Library, Hillsdale Library, Holgate Library, Midland Library, North Portland Library
  • City of Fairview: Fairview-Columbia Library 

If you frequent one of these library locations, you can view a list of new official ballot box locations and how to return your ballot at one of our official ballot drop sites in Multnomah County by visiting our website at www.MultCo.us/DropSites.

Countdown to May 21 Election Day

  • Candidate filing period closes: Tuesday, March 12, 2024 
  • Voters’ Pamphlet mailed to all residential households: April 24-25, 2024 
  • Gresham Voting Center Express opens: Thursday, April 25, 2024
  • Voter registration deadline: Tuesday, April 30, 2024
  • Ballots begin to be mailed to voters: Wednesday, May 1, 2024
  • All voters should have received their ballot: Thursday, May 9, 2024
  • Election Day: Tuesday, May 21, 2024
  • Final election results are certified: Monday, June 17, 2024

Main office:

Multnomah County Duniway-Lovejoy Elections Building

1040 S.E. Morrison St., Portland, OR 97214

Gresham location:

Open April 25 – May 21, 2024

Voting Center Express at the Multnomah County East Building

600 N.E. 8th St., Gresham, OR 97030

Phone: 503-988-VOTE (8683)

Email: elections@multco.us

Website: www.MultnomahVotes.gov