REGISTER AND VOTE! A Guide to Your Rights
Published: 2014
Download the 2014 Register and Vote – A Guide to Your Rights print PDF
Purpose of this Publication
The purpose of this publication is to provide general information to individuals regarding voting registration rights. This publication is not a substitute for legal advice. Federal and state law can change at any time. Contact Disability Rights Oregon or consult with an attorney in your community if you need additional help.
Table of Contents
When do I need to register?
What do I need to register?
Where do I register?
Do I have to choose a political party?
How do I find out if I am currently registered?
When can I vote?
Do I have to vote on everything on the ballot?
What if I make a mistake or damage my ballot?
How do I vote if I need accommodations?
What if I cannot sign my ballot?
What are my privacy rights?
How can my friends, family or care providers help me vote?
Where can I get information about candidates and ballot measures?
We have provided a Voter Registration form at the end of this guide. You can use the form to register to vote. You can also use it to find out how to contact your County Elections Office. Your County Elections Office can answer questions about registering or voting, or provide you accommodations to register or vote.
CAN I VOTE?
In Oregon, you can vote if you are:
A United States citizen and Oregon resident
Age 18 or older
Not currently in jail or prison with a felony conviction
Registered to vote
This means you have the right to vote, even when:
You have a guardian
You have a previous felony conviction or were in jail in the past
You are committed
You live in a group home or residential treatment facility
You are homeless
You need accommodations or alternate formats to vote
You do not have an ID issued by Oregon or a Social Security number
WHY SHOULD I VOTE?
Voting is a civil right granted by the U.S. and Oregon Constitutions.
Your vote helps decide what will become law. These laws could affect you and other people with disabilities.
Your vote helps choose elected officials and judges who represent you. They may pass laws and make decisions that affect you and other people with disabilities.
REGISTERING TO VOTE
When do I need to register?
You have never registered and you are age 17 or older, or
You have moved or legally changed your name, or
You want to change your political party membership
You can register at any time. If you want to vote in an election, you must register 21 days before Election Day. If you are mailing your registration form, it must arrive by that date.
What do I need to register?
The first time you register, you need one form of identification. That includes:
Oregon State ID or Driver’s License
Social Security number
Government document
Paycheck stub
Utility bill
Bank statement
Where do I register?
Online at oregonvotes.org (with Oregon ID or Social Security Number)
With a paper form (provided with this handbook)
At your County Elections Office
At any state office that is a Voter Registration Agency:
Seniors and People with Disabilities
Children, Adult and Family Services, and WIC offices
Vocational Rehabilitation and Oregon Commission for the Blind
Addictions and Mental Health
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
This means you can register at most county offices where you get case management, SNAP, Oregon Health Plan, or other state services and benefits.
Do I have to choose a political party?
No. You have the right to choose whether you register as a member of a political party.
How do I find out if I am currently registered?
You can call the State Elections Division at 866-673-8683 (866-OREVOTE).
You can check the “Oregon - My Vote” website
REGISTRATION CHECKLIST
Are you registered with your current address, name, and political party affiliation?
If you are registering for the first time, do you have some form of ID from the list above?
If you need help registering, have you contacted your County Elections Office?
VOTING
All elections in Oregon are conducted by mail.
When can I vote?
Ballots are mailed 2-3 weeks before Election Day. After you receive your paper ballot, you can vote and return your ballot.
The Elections Office must receive your ballot by 8pm on Election Day.
You have a right to vote if you are in line by 8pm on Election Day.
You can drop it off at official ballot drop-off sites until 8pm on Election Days. You can find out where designed drop-off sites are at oregonvotes.org or call your County Elections Office.
If you are mailing a ballot, make sure it will arrive on time.
Do I have to vote on everything on the ballot?
No. You can leave any choice blank. You also have the right to write in candidates even if they are not listed on the ballot.
What if I make a mistake or damage my ballot?
If you use a #2 pencil to vote, you can erase and correct any mistakes. If you make a mistake that you cannot correct (such as marking the wrong choice with a pen), or damage your ballot, you can contact your County Elections Office for a replacement ballot
How do I vote if I need accommodations?
You can ask your County Elections Office for an accommodation. You should do this as soon as possible before the election. You can contact them after you receive your ballot in the mail.
Many accommodations for different disabilities are available, including:
Mark your ballot on any computer with the assistive technology you usually use, then print and return it, at oregonvotes.org or by email.
Vote on a large print ballot.
Vote on a computer at the County Elections Office.
Vote using an electronic tablet and portable printer at the County Elections Office, or at your home if you are not able to go to the Elections Office. The tablets have accessibility features, including:
Text to voice
Text enlargers
Touch screens
Keyboards
Allow you to plug in your own assistive device, such as sip-andpuff systems
You have the right to ask anyone you want to help you read or fill out your ballot, except your employer or union.
What if I cannot sign my ballot?
If your disability prevents you from signing, you can use a signature stamp or other mark. First you must fill out a form, called the “Signature Stamp Attestation Form.” Contact your County Elections Office to get this form.
What are my privacy rights?
You have the right to private, independent voting. You do not have to tell anyone how you voted. You do not have to ask for help from someone you know. You can contact your County Elections Office for accommodations to vote privately. If anyone helps you read or fill out a ballot, you still have a right to choose how you vote.
How can my friends, family or care providers help me vote?
Your friends and family can read you information from your ballot and fill it out the way you want. They cannot sign it for you.
They should:
Respect your privacy and keep your vote confidential.
Give you the information on the ballot without changing it.
Fill out your ballot properly, following the instructions.
Fill out your ballot how you want, including writing in candidates or leaving choices blank.
Fix mistakes, including requesting a replacement ballot if necessary.
Make sure they checked both sides of the ballot for voting.
They cannot:
Sign for you.
Summarize information with a bias.
Try to influence you with comments about candidates or measures.
Try to encourage you or force you to vote a certain way.
Wear anything that suggests you should vote a certain way.
Where can I get information about candidates and ballot measures?
You can talk to friends, family, and anyone else you want. You still have the right to vote any way you want.
You can research at your local library, online, in the news, or anywhere else you want.
You can read the statewide Easy Voters’ Guide published by the League of Women Voters and Disability Rights Oregon (DRO). You can get it from DRO or online at voteoregon.org. It has easy to read, accessible language. It uses large print. It has:
Information written by the candidates themselves.
Nonpartisan (unbiased) information about ballot measures.
You can read the Voters Pamphlet published by the state. You can get it from the Secretary of State, your County Elections office, or online at oregonvotes.org. It has:
Information written by the candidates themselves.
Nonpartisan information about ballot measures.
“Arguments” about ballot measures. Supporters and opponents pay to include their viewpoint.
You can read the statewide Voters’ Guide published by the League of Women Voters. You can get it at your Elections office, or online at voteoregon.org. It has:
Information written by the candidates themselves.
Nonpartisan (unbiased) information about ballot measures.
It is similar to the Easy Voters Guide, but may not be accessible.
VOTING CHECKLIST
Have you contacted your County Elections Office about any accommodations you need?
Have you decided how you will vote?
Have you voted and returned your ballot on time?
WHAT IF I HAVE A PROBLEM OR QUESTION?
You can contact the Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division about voting questions. They can transfer you to your County Elections Office if necessary. If you believe your rights have been violated, you can file a formal complaint. Telephone: 866-673-8683 (866-ORE-VOTE) Online: oregonvotes.org
You can also contact DRO with problems or questions about your rights.
Telephone: 800-452-1694
Online: disabilityrightsoregon.org
Email: welcome@droregon.org
OREGON VOTER BILL OF RIGHTS
You have the right to vote if you are a US citizen, live in Oregon, are 18 years old, and have registered.
You have the right to vote if you are homeless.
You have the right to vote if you have been convicted of a felony but have been released from custody, even if you are on probation or parole.
You have the right to vote even if you have a guardian and even if you need help reading or filling out your ballot.
You have the right to vote or cast your ballot if you are in line by 8 PM on Election Day.
You have the right to know if you are registered to vote.
You have the right to choose whether or not you want to register as a member of a political party.
You have the right to use a signature stamp or other mark but first you have to fill out a form. No one can sign for you. You have the right to ask for help from elections staff or from a friend or family member.
There are some people who cannot help you vote, for example, your boss or a union officer from your job. 16
You have the right to a secret vote. You do not have to tell anyone how you voted.
You have the right to get a “provisional ballot”, even if you are told you are not registered to vote.
You have the right to get a new ballot if you make a mistake.
You have the right to vote for the person you want. You can write in someone else’s name if you don’t like the choices on your ballot.
You have the right to vote “yes” or “no” on any issue on your ballot.
You have the right to leave some choices blank on your ballot. The choices you do mark will still count.
You have the right to use a voting system for all Federal Elections that makes it equally possible for people with disabilities to vote privately and independently.
You have the right to know if your ballot, including a “provisional ballot”, was accepted for counting.
You have the right to file a complaint if you think your voting rights have been denied.
(Oregon Constitution, Sections 2 and 3; ORS Chapters 137, 246, 247, and 254; Vote by Mail Manual; Help America Vote Act of 2002; OAR 165-001-0090 and 165-007-0030)
Written 2014
by Esther Harlow, with contributions from Jan Friedman, Julia Greenfield, Josiah Barber, and Julie Anderson
Copyright © 2014 Disability Rights Oregon
511 SW 10th Ave, Suite 200, Portland OR 97205
Voice: 503-243-2081 or 1-800-452-1694
Fax: 503-243-1738
E-mail: welcome@droregon.org
Website: www.droregon.org
Disability Rights Oregon is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are tax-deductible and will be used to promote the rights of Oregonians with disabilities.
Portions of this document may be reproduced without permission, provided that Disability Rights Oregon is appropriately credited.
NOTICE: This document is not intended as a substitute for legal advice. Federal and state law can change at any time. You may wish to contact Disability Rights Oregon or consult with an attorney in your community if you require further information.
