According to the Oregon Secretary of State, less than 70 percent of eligible Oregon voters aged 18-34 participated in the 2020 general election. According to the Pew Research Center, roughly two-thirds of eligible voters of any age participated in the general election nationwide. Yet, two-thirds is the highest turnout rate since the year 1900, and given the significance of this constitutional right, breaking longstanding trends such as this is a victory for the nation’s democracy. There is still room for improvement, and there is an easy solution: make it easier to register. To that end, presented here is a guide to voter registration in the state of Oregon, in the hopes that newly registered voters take advantage of it and boost participation even higher.
Under the Oregon Motor Voter Act, any US citizen residing in Oregon of at least 16 years is automatically registered to vote if they go to the DMV to apply for, renew, or replace an Oregon driver’s license. After this “qualifying interaction,” voters will be sent an Oregon Motor Voter card, which will allow them to register for a political party or opt out of the voting process. It is important to note that the newly registered voter does not need to register with a party, or indeed do anything with the card to be eligible: they are opted in automatically.
If a voter does not have a license, however, they must go to the Oregon Online Voter Registration site to register. There, they will need to enter their name, address, and social security number. If a social security number or license is not available, then the following are also acceptable:
- Photo identification
- A utility bill
- A government document
- A paycheck stub
- A bank statement
- Proof of eligibility under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) or the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (VAEH)
Once this online form has been filled out, a voter with no driver’s license must print the form and mail it to their local county elections office. There, it will be processed, and after 3-7 days, voters will be able to see the status of their registration on the government site, MyVote. This process must be completed at least 21 days before the election day.
It is often said that voting is a sign of a healthy democracy, and the first step to voting is to register. So even if you feel ambivalent or just disinterested, it is so easy and quick to register, particularly when compared with the potential impact of doing so, that there is no good reason not to. If you are reading this and you are not registered to vote, whether in Oregon or anywhere else, consider doing so, as you have a responsibility as a citizen of a democracy to engage.
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