Tuesday is the deadline to register for the May 20 election 

It’s not too late to register to vote in May’s special election.

But if you wait one more day, it will be.

Tuesday, April 29 is the deadline to register for May 20’s election. Under Oregon law, voters must be registered to vote at least 21 days before an election.

A filled-out registration card that’s postmarked Tuesday, April 29 qualifies. So does an online registration — but it has to be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday. (Click here for more information and to begin the online registration process.) 

Ballots for the May 20 election will be mailed beginning Wednesday, April 30.

In Lane County, the ballot features races in 18 school districts, including the Lane Community College Board of Education, and school boards in Eugene, Springfield, Bethel, South Lane and Fern Ridge.

The ballot also includes candidates running for boards throughout the county to help lead entities such as rural fire departments, libraries and water districts.

Residents of four Lane County communities will decide ballot measures:

• The Lowell Rural Fire Protection Department seeks a five-year operational levy.
• The Junction City School District wants to issue $40 million in bonds to improve safety and security and to expand its capacity.
• Santa Clara is asking voters to approve a local option tax for general operations.
• The Crow-Applegate-Lorane School District seeks renewal of a five-year local option levy for general operations.

Although these off-year elections often affect local institutions such as schools — and, occasionally, have an impact on voters’ pocketbooks — turnout tends to be much lower than in national or state elections. Turnout for the May 2023 election in Lane County, for example, was 31.7%. Turnout in May 2021 was 25.4.%

By contrast, Lane County turnout in the 2024 presidential election was 77%. Turnout in the November 2022 election, which featured a statewide gubernatorial race, was about 69%.