If you’re sitting there wondering when Oregonians actually cast their ballots for the 2024 presidential race, you’ve probably realized that Oregon doesn't do things like most other states. There are no long lines at stuffy elementary school gyms. No "I Voted" stickers handed out by a neighbor in a plastic vest.
Basically, Oregon is a pioneer in the vote-by-mail game.
Technically, the big date—the one everyone circles on their calendar—was November 5, 2024. But in reality, the "voting" part happened over a period of weeks. Honestly, by the time Election Day actually rolled around, millions of ballots were already sitting in secure drop boxes or tucked away in county clerk offices.
When Does Oregon Vote for President 2024? The Timeline That Matters
Oregon’s election cycle is a slow burn, not a one-day sprint. While the rest of the country was obsessing over "Election Day," Oregonians were living through "Election Month."
For the 2024 general election, the process kicked off way before November.
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The Primary: May 21, 2024
Most people forget that the presidential choice starts in the spring. Oregon held its primary on May 21, 2024. This is where the state's Democrats and Republicans officially picked their nominees. Even though the national frontrunners were pretty much a lock by then, Oregon’s primary still saw Joe Biden (who was the nominee at the time) and Donald Trump secure their respective parties' delegates.
The General Election: November 5, 2024
This was the "main event." But "voting" started when the ballots hit mailboxes between October 16 and October 22, 2024.
If you were a registered voter in Multnomah, Lane, or any of the 36 counties, you didn't have to go anywhere. Your ballot just showed up. You had until 8:00 p.m. on November 5 to get that purple or white envelope into a drop box or have it postmarked by the post office.
It's a weirdly relaxed way to handle the most powerful office in the world. You’ve got people filling out ballots at their kitchen tables while eating cereal. Kinda cool, if you think about it.
The Oregon "Motor Voter" Effect
You might’ve heard people talking about Oregon's massive voter registration numbers. That's largely thanks to the "Motor Voter" law.
Ever since 2016, if you go to the DMV to get your license, you're basically registered to vote automatically unless you opt out. Because of this, Oregon has one of the highest registration rates in the country. In 2024, the state had over 3 million registered voters.
But here’s the kicker: just because people are registered doesn’t mean they all show up.
In the 2024 election, Oregon saw a turnout of about 75.4%. Now, to someone in a state with 50% turnout, that sounds amazing. But for Oregon, it was actually a bit of a dip. In 2020, the turnout was over 78%. It seems like even with the ease of mail-in voting, a little bit of "election fatigue" might have set in for some folks.
How the Votes Actually Shook Out
When the dust settled and the Secretary of State certified the results, the numbers told a familiar story for the Beaver State. Oregon hasn't gone for a Republican since Ronald Reagan in 1984.
The 2024 results kept that streak alive:
- Kamala Harris (Democrat): 1,240,600 votes (55.27%)
- Donald Trump (Republican): 919,480 votes (40.97%)
Oregon also got an extra Electoral College vote this time around. Thanks to the 2020 Census, the state moved from 7 to 8 electoral votes. That’s a small but significant bump in national relevance.
Interestingly, while the "red wave" hit many other states hard, Oregon mostly stayed its course. There were some shifts to the right in rural areas, but the big population hubs like Portland, Eugene, and Bend kept the state firmly in the blue column. Harris won the state by a margin of about 14.3%. It was closer than Biden’s 16% margin in 2020, but not by much.
The "Postmark" Rule: Why Results Take Forever
If you were watching the news on the night of November 5, 2024, you probably noticed Oregon didn't finish counting right away.
That’s because of a law passed in 2021.
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Before that law, your ballot had to be in the hands of the elections office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Now? As long as your envelope has a postmark from November 5 or earlier, it counts—even if it doesn't arrive until a few days later.
This is great for voters because it takes the pressure off. But it's a nightmare for news anchors who want instant results. We usually don’t see the final, certified "Abstract of Votes" until about 37 days after the election. For 2024, that meant the final official tally wasn't set in stone until mid-December.
The Incendiary Device Incident
We can't talk about the 2024 Oregon vote without mentioning the drama in Portland. On October 28, 2024, someone placed an incendiary device in a ballot drop box in Portland.
It sounds scary, and it was.
But Oregon’s system is surprisingly resilient. Because of the fire suppression systems inside the boxes and the quick work of election officials, only three ballots were damaged. Officials were able to contact those voters and get them replacement ballots. It was a weird reminder that even in a "chill" mail-in state, the political temperature can get pretty high.
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What Happens Next? Actionable Steps for Voters
The 2024 presidential race is in the rearview mirror, but the machinery of Oregon elections never really stops. If you’re looking to stay ahead of the curve for the next round of local or special elections, here’s what you should actually do:
- Check your status on "My Vote": The Oregon Secretary of State has a portal called "My Vote." Use it. It tells you if you’re registered, what party you’re in, and most importantly, it tracks your ballot. You can see exactly when the county received it and when they verified your signature.
- Update your address every time you move: The post office will not forward a ballot. If you moved to a new apartment in the Pearl District or bought a house in Bend, you have to update your registration or you won’t get a ballot.
- Signature hygiene: Oregon verifies your identity by comparing the signature on your envelope to the one they have on file (usually from the DMV). If your signature has changed—maybe you developed a "doctor’s scrawl" over the years—you might want to update your registration to give them a fresh signature. If they flag a mismatch, you have 21 days after the election to "cure" it, but it's a hassle you don’t want.
- Mark the 2026 Primaries: The next big statewide date is May 19, 2026. This will include races for the state legislature and other key offices.
Oregon makes voting about as easy as ordering a pizza. You get the "menu" (the Voters' Pamphlet) a few weeks early, the "delivery" (your ballot) arrives mid-month, and you just have to make sure it's back by the deadline.
Whether you love the mail-in system or miss the old-school booths, it's how Oregon does business. And based on the 75% turnout in 2024, it's a system that Oregonians are clearly sticking with.