In about a week, ballots for the May 21 primary election will begin reaching mailboxes in Salem and across Oregon.
Voters have a chance to weigh in on everything from presidential candidates to Salem city councilors.
What appears on your ballot will depend on where you live and what political party, if any, you’re registered with. Those variables mean Marion County has 408 distinct styles of ballots being mailed to voters, Clerk Bill Burgess said.
Voters have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to return ballots to a dropbox. Ballots postmarked by Election Day will be counted so long as they’re received within one week.
Turnout is typically higher for presidential primaries than in off years. During the 2020 presidential primary election, 46% of Oregon voters cast a ballot, versus just 38% in 2022.
Marion County has 224,908 registered voters as of April – about 1,300 more than a year ago. Of those, 27% are Democrats, 27% are Republicans and 40% are unaffiliated with a political party. The remainder are registered with third parties, with Independent and Libertarian the largest.
Polk County has 63,399 voters, up from 62,602 in 2023. They are 27% Democrats, 30% Republicans and 36% unaffiliated.
Here’s what to know about voting in 2024.
Check or change your party registration
Oregon has closed primaries, which mean unaffiliated voters can’t cast a ballot in Democratic or Republican nominations.
“That’s a huge thing, because in Oregon, every time we run a primary people come in and say, ‘Well, wait a minute, how come you sent me that party’s ballot? I wanted this party’s ballot,’” Burgess said.
Since Oregon began in 2016 automatically registering citizens when they get a driver’s license or state ID card, the share of unaffiliated voters has soared. Those voters can only vote in nonpartisan races, like city council and some county offices.
Voters can check which party they’re registered with online at oregonvotes.org, or in person by visiting the county clerk’s office. To make changes online, a voter will need to enter their birthdate and their Oregon license or identification number.
The deadline to make changes for the May 21 primary is April 30.
Voters can also check and change their mailing address.
What’s on your ballot
Salem voters can cast a ballot for mayor, and about half the city – wards 1, 3, 5 and 7 – will vote on a city councilor. Voters in those wards will get the city races regardless of their party designation since the offices are nonpartisan.
Marion County voters will also select a county clerk, the person who runs local elections and manages official records such as deeds, and a circuit court judge from among four candidates.
Polk County voters will select a new county commissioner.
Each county also has several incumbents who have no challenger. That includes Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell, who is running unopposed for the Republican nomination. No Democrats filed.
Other county races, including sheriff and treasurer, won’t appear on the ballot until November because they have two or fewer candidates running.
Voters registered with a political party will vote in several statewide races, including candidates for attorney general and secretary of state. They may also see candidates seeking their party’s nomination for state House and Senate seats.
Learn about candidates
In the coming days, Salem Reporter will publish articles based on interviews with local candidates for elected office.
Marion County voters should have received a Voter’s Pamphlet by mail. The pamphlet is also available online. Polk County does not produce a voter’s pamphlet, but the Secretary of State produces a Polk County version which includes statements from local candidates. That pamphlet is online here.
The State of Oregon Voter’s Pamphlet has also been mailed to voters and can be viewed online here.
The League of Women Voters of Marion-Polk Counties interviewed all candidates for Salem city offices and local county commissioners. Those interviews, produced by Capital Community Media, are online here.
The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce’s candidate forum for city candidates was held April 8 and can be viewed here.
Salem drop box locations
No postage is needed to return a ballot by mail or in a drop box.
Ballots are counted if they’re returned to any drop box in Oregon, even if it’s not in the voter’s home county. Here’s a list of locations in Salem. A full list of drop boxes in Marion County is here and Polk County is here.
Hayesville Roth’s Fresh Markets, 4746 Portland Rd. N.E., inside during business hours
Marion County Health, 3180 Center St. N.E. Salem OR 97301, 24 hours
Marion County Public Works, 5155 Silverton Rd. N.E., inside during business hours
Marion Courthouse Square Building & County Clerk’s Office, 555 Court St. N.E., Ste 2130. The drive-thru on the north side of the courthouse is only open Election Day and Monday prior from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. The clerk’s office is open business hours.
Sunnyslope Roth’s Fresh Markets, 4555 Liberty Rd. S., inside during business hours
Vista Roth’s Fresh Markets, 3045 Commercial St. S.E., inside during business hours
West Salem Roth’s Fresh Market, 1130 Wallace Rd. N.W., inside during business hours
Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.
SUPPORT OUR WORK – We depend on subscribers for resources to report on Salem with care and depth, fairness and accuracy. Subscribe today to get our daily newsletters and more. Click I want to subscribe!
Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers city news, education, nonprofits and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for a decade. Outside of work, she’s a skater and board member with Salem’s Cherry City Roller Derby and can often be found with her nose buried in a book.
