Marion County Democrats Offer Ballot Drop-off Assistance Program
Download this announcement as a PDF here.
Marion County Democratic Central Committee is committed to ensuring every eligible voter can cast their ballot in the upcoming United States General Election to be held on November 3, 2020.
According to Oregon Revised Statutes §260.695, §254.470 “a person may return a ballot on behalf of another voter.” Thanks to this statute, we can help you ensure your ballot is counted!
If you have one or more of the following barriers to returning your ballot, MCDCC volunteers can help ensure your ballot is delivered to the Marion County Clerk’s office in time to be counted in the November 3, 2020 election.
1. I have limited mobility and am unable to drop my ballot at a United States Postal Service (USPS) location or official Oregon ballot dropbox.
2. I have an illness that prevents me from dropping my ballot at a USPS location or official Oregon ballot dropbox.
3. I do not have transportation that would enable me to drop my ballot at a USPS location or official Oregon ballot dropbox.
4. I am concerned for my safety and do not feel comfortable dropping my ballot at a USPS location or official Oregon ballot dropbox.
5. I received my ballot too late to use a USPS location. (Do NOT use USPS locations after October 27th.)
How does MCDCC’s Ballot Drop-off Assitance program work?
You have two options with our Ballot Drop-off Assistance to ensure your ballot reaches the Marion County Clerk’s office in time to be counted in the November 3rd General Election.
2. You can call our office at (503) 363-8392 to schedule a ballot pick-up. A volunteer will enter your information into our Ballot Drop-off Assistance Request form for processing.
NOTE: Only voters located in Marion County Oregon are eligible for our Ballot Drop-off Assistance program.
What is MCDCC’s process to ensure my sealed ballot reaches the Marion County Clerk’s office?
1. When we pick-up your ballot you will be required to sign a waiver authorizing a MCDCC volunteer to take possession of your ballot and deliver it the same day to the Marion County Clerk’s office or an official ballot drop box. If more than one ballot is picked-up at the same time, EACH VOTER will be required to sign our authorization form.
2. Our MCDCC volunteer will identify themselves by giving you their name, MCDCC contact information, verifying date and time of pick-up and giving you instructions of how you can track the status of your ballot.
3. We STRONGLY encourage voters using our Ballot Drop-off Assistance or returning your ballot on your own to sign-up for Marion County Clerk’s TRACK MY BALLOT service.
4. We will take steps to ensure minimal contact in this process including, but not limited to, requiring our volunteers and voters participating in our Ballot Drop-off Assistance to wear a mask; maintain safe distancing; volunteers will be required to wear rubber gloves and use sanitizing liquid between contacts.
5. Your ballot must be sealed with the appropriate voter’s signature on the outside envelope BEFORE being transferred to our volunteer for delivery. Volunteers cannot accept an unsigned ballot.
TRACK MY BALLOT: The Marion County Clerk is offering a pilot program to voters in Marion County that allows them to track the status of their ballot through automated notifications.
Participating voters will receive alerts at several points on their ballot’s journey. Text, email or voice alerts will tell voters when the County Clerk has mailed ballots and when a completed ballot has been received back. Alerts will say whether the ballot has been accepted or whether it is under review due to no signature, a non-matching signature or another defect that requires further action by the voter, such as an undeliverable ballot. Voters will have the option of receiving text, email or voice alerts. Sign up today to begin receiving messages.
If you believe our Ballot Drop-off assistance helps your vote be counted, then please follow the procedures outlined above to participate.
Ballots will only be collected between the hours of 10:00am – 3:00pm, Monday-Friday so they may be delivered the same day.
NO BALLOTS WILL BE COLLECTED THROUGH MCDCC’S BALLOT Drop-off Assistance program AFTER 3:00PM ON NOVEMBER 3, 2020.
Questions about this program: Please send email to info@mariondemocrats.org or call the office at 503-363-8392.
Questions about voting in Marion County Oregon: Please contact the Marion County Clerk's office at 503-588-5041.
