Oregon ballot drop boxes have expanded at 17 new sites statewide, including two in Multnomah County, as the Nov. 3 election deadline approaches. Three planned installations had not been confirmed in the state’s Oct. 27 update. The latest public records identify new Portland-area addresses and clarify how late ballots can be returned.
Key Takeaways
- Oregon reported 17 of 20 planned new ballot drop boxes in service as of Oct. 27
- Multnomah County added sites at 16411 NE Halsey St. in Portland and 36120 Historic Columbia River Highway in Corbett
- Official drop boxes accept ballots until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3
- Oct. 27 was the last recommended mailing date, not the legal postmark deadline
Oregon’s expansion fell short of its planned 20 locations in the latest update. The Secretary of State’s office reported 17 new Oregon ballot drop boxes operating Oct. 27, with three not yet confirmed.
Multnomah County has listed two of those additions for use, one in Northeast Portland and one in Corbett. They join more than 30 existing county drop sites.
The recommended mailing date passed Oct. 27. Mail remains permitted if postmark and delivery requirements are met, but state officials now recommend drop boxes.
Two New Multnomah County Locations Are Available
The East Portland Moose Lodge at 16411 NE Halsey St. has a new official box in its parking lot. Other Northeast Portland sites include Parkrose and several libraries.
In Corbett, the new box is at the Corbett Water District Office, 36120 Historic Columbia River Highway. It sits beside the payment drop box in the parking lot. The state listed both local additions in its Oct. 23 installation update, before the final week.
The county’s network includes library drop sites and outdoor boxes that generally operate around the clock during the voting period. Some locations have restrictions.
The Gresham Voting Center Express has an indoor box accessible only during operating hours. A separate 24-hour drive-up box stands at the former Gresham Library, 385 NW Miller Ave. Portland’s Duniway-Lovejoy Elections Building, 1040 SE Morrison St., offers pedestrian and drive-up return points.
County listings distinguish walk-up-only boxes, including those at McCoy Park and Portland Mercado, from drive-up locations. That difference matters when choosing how to reach a drop site.
The state drop-box locator accepts a registered Oregon residential address. County listings provide more detailed placement and access information. Oregon permits voters to use any official drop site statewide, regardless of their home county. State officials have also cautioned that recently added boxes may appear in the published location list before they appear in the address-based locator.
Transportation can affect how residents reach an official site. Some metro trips have changed since recent TriMet service cuts altered bus routes and MAX connections, so riders may need to review current schedules before traveling. No specific effect on the two new ballot sites has been reported.
The Statewide Rollout Reached 17 of 20 Planned Boxes
The state allocated $618,000 in September for 20 new boxes and expenses associated with increased drop-box use, as part of a $1.25 million election-administration package.
By Oct. 14, when ballots began reaching voters, only three new boxes had been installed, Willamette Week reported Oct. 28. Installations continued later in the month.
The Oct. 27 state update listed five recent additions: two in Douglas County, at Glide and Roseburg, and one each in Tillamook, Umatilla and Wasco counties. They brought the confirmed total to 17.
Earlier installations were reported in communities such as Charleston, Bend, Shady Cove, Eugene and Mapleton. Host sites include public facilities, libraries and parking areas, rather than one uniform type of property.
Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read told Oregon Public Broadcasting on Oct. 27, “We’re racing to get the last ones in in time.” The statement did not confirm an operating date for the remaining locations.
Officials reviewed residents’ travel times to existing boxes and counties’ ability to prepare additional sites. In Tillamook County, installation required an underground utility check and contractor scheduling, according to local reporting.
A separate Oregon transportation priorities survey asked residents about transit, congestion and mobility earlier this year. It did not determine ballot-box locations.
The 17-box count refers only to the expansion, not Oregon’s existing network of more than 300 official boxes.
The November 3 Deadline Depends on How a Ballot Is Returned
Ballots at official drop sites must be deposited by 8 p.m. local time Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voters already in line at 8 p.m. may still deposit them. Return envelopes must be signed.
Mailed ballots need a valid postal indicator showing they were mailed by Nov. 3 and must arrive at the county elections office by Nov. 10. The Oct. 27 recommendation was intended to limit postmark and delivery risks.
For those who still need to mail a ballot, the Secretary of State’s office recommends taking it to a U.S. Postal Service counter and requesting a manual postmark. Placing a ballot in a mailbox on Nov. 3 does not by itself establish that the Postal Service will collect and postmark it that day.
Residents needing replacement ballots can call Multnomah County Elections at 503-988-VOTE (8683). The deadline to request a mailed replacement passed Oct. 28 at 7 p.m., but in-person pickup remains available.
The Portland elections building and Gresham Voting Center Express both offer extended service hours through Election Day. The county lists 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. for Oct. 29 and 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 31 and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 2.
On Nov. 3, the listed hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Replacement pickup requires confirmation from county staff.
Oregon’s optional ballot tracking provides notices when a ballot reaches the county and is accepted for counting. The statewide service became available in all 36 counties this election cycle.
Multnomah County’s system also reports when a ballot was mailed and when the signature was verified. Residents who enroll after returning a ballot may receive alerts only for future elections.
For Oregon ballot drop boxes, location and access hours remain the central practical details. The state and county publish their official lists separately, and voters can use either to confirm a drop site before traveling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the new Portland-area ballot drop boxes?
The new locations are at the East Portland Moose Lodge, 16411 NE Halsey St., and the Corbett Water District Office, 36120 Historic Columbia River Highway. Both are listed as official sites by Multnomah County.
How many new ballot drop boxes were installed?
The state reported 17 of its 20 planned new Oregon ballot drop boxes in service as of Oct. 27. Its update did not confirm when the other three would open.
What time do Oregon drop boxes close on Election Day?
Official drop boxes accept ballots until 8 p.m. local time on Nov. 3, 2026. Voters already in line at that time may still deposit their ballots.
Can mailed ballots arrive after November 3?
Yes, provided a valid postal indicator shows they were mailed no later than Nov. 3 and the county receives them by Nov. 10. State officials recommend an official drop box for late returns when possible.
