Please check out the Observation page of the Coos County website. You will find information on how to observe along with necessary forms.

• Oregon was the first state, in the United States of America, to conduct all of its elections using vote-by-mail, beginning in 1999. In 1998 voters passed a ballot measure expanding the existing vote-by-mail structure to include primary and general elections.
• With Oregon’s vote-by-mail system, your ballot is mailed to you. All eligible registered voters are mailed a ballot between 20 and 14 days before an election. Voters then have until election day to vote and return their ballot. There are no polling places. Voters may return their ballot by mail, at the office of an Oregon county clerk, or at any official drop-site in Oregon.

#DidYouKnow Oregon's county clerks perform post-election reviews after every election that includes a federal or statewide contest.

• To check if you’re registered to vote, see the FAQ “Am I registered to vote?” on the Voter Registration Page.
  • Please note, you must be registered to vote at least 21 days before an election in order to receive a ballot for that election.
• To learn more about what might be on your ballot, see the FAQ “What’s going to be on my ballot?” on the About my Ballot. . . Q&A page
• To learn more about how to fill out your ballot, see the FAQ “How do I fill out my ballot?” on the About my Ballot. . . Q&A page
• To learn more about returning your ballot, see the FAQ “How do I return my ballot?” on the About my Ballot. . . Q&A page

A list of current and upcoming elections is on our main elections page. If currently in an election cycle, there will be a link for that specific election’s webpage to learn more.

• Uniformed & Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act of 1986 (UOCAVA):
  • 45 days prior to election
• Voter receiving mail out-of-state:
  • 29 days prior to election
• Voters receiving mail in-state (mass):
  • 20 days prior to election

*unofficial document, subject to change with resignations/appointments

Assessor, Commissioners and Surveyor (ORS 249.088)

• All candidates, regardless of number filed, are printed on the Primary Election ballot
  • If a candidate receives a majority of votes cast for the office, that candidate is elected at the Primary Election
  • If no candidate receives a majority of votes cast for the office, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes are nominated and their names will be printed on the General Election ballot.

Clerk, Sheriff and Treasurer (ORS 249.091)

• Candidates may or may not be printed on the Primary Election ballot
  • If 1 or 2 candidates file for office, they are considered nominated. Their name(s) will not appear on the Primary election ballot and will instead only be printed on the General Election ballot
  • If 3 or more candidates file for office, their names are printed on the Primary election ballot
    • If one candidate receives a majority of votes cast for the office, that candidate is solely nominated and their name only will appear on the General Election ballot.
    • If no candidate receives a majority of votes cast for the office, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes are nominated and their names will be printed on the General Election ballot

Please check out the Archives page of the Coos County website for recent elections. Older election records can be viewed on microfilm in the Coos County Clerk & Recording Office.

• If you are interested in special districts, such as your local school or hospital district, these positions are on the ballot in May of odd numbered years.
• If you are interested in city offices, such as city councilor or mayor, these positions are on the ballot in November of even numbered years.
• If you are interested in county, state or federal offices, these positions appear on the ballot in May and/or November of even numbered years.
• Please note, not all positions will be on the ballot every relevant election. Positions such as district board member, County Commissioner, Governor and President have four-year terms, and therefore, only appear every four years.
  • If you are curious about a specific county position, please see the FAQ “When is a county office next on the ballot?”, above.
  • For special districts, please reach out to the Coos County Election Office.
  • For cities, please reach out to the relevant city.
  • For state and federal positions, please reach out to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Elections Division.

The size and placement of political signs is not covered under Oregon election law. The jurisdiction where the sign is placed will determine who to contact regarding regulations.

• The first results will be posted at approximately 8:00pm on election day. A schedule for the release of all election results can be found on each election’s webpage at least 30 days before the election. For statewide results, please go to the Oregon Secretary of State’s website.
• Elections are certified, at the county level, no later than 27 days after an election.

Write-in results are not released until the election is certified, no later than 27 days after the election.

Please note, write-ins are only tallied in the following situations:

• An elector filed to have their write-in votes counted
• A contest, that doesn’t require an elector to request their write-in votes be counted, had no candidates file
• The write-in line had the most votes for that contest

Oregon election days are:

• The second Tuesday in March
• The third Tuesday in May
• The fourth Tuesday in August
• Tuesday following the first Monday in November
• Special elections can be called by governing bodies
• Recall elections happen within 35 days of a qualifying petition

Please note, March and August elections are not guaranteed. November elections in odd-numbered years are not guaranteed. Please check the main elections page to see what upcoming elections are being held in Coos County.