Everything you need to know about the Nov. 3 election in Lane County

It’s nearly here: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, is the deadline for Oregon voters to return ballots in November’s general election.

Here’s what you need to know:

Do I have time to vote?

You’re cutting it close, but you still have time to dig that ballot off your kitchen table and return it in time to be counted.

At this point in the election, officials urge you to not mail your ballot, because of reported delays in U.S. Postal Service delivery. If you want to be sure your ballot makes it in time to the Lane County Elections Office, place it in one of the ballot drop boxes located throughout the county. Here’s a list of ballot drop-off box locations.

Those boxes are open until 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Most of your neighbors are using the drop boxes: Nearly 82% of Lane County voters so far have dropped their ballots into one of the boxes, up from the 74% figure in May’s primary.

If you want to roll the dice, state law allows ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 to be counted — as long as they arrive at election offices by Nov. 10. You can mail ballots back in the postage-paid envelope that came with your ballot.

What’s the turnout? 

Voter turnout in Lane County has been trending ahead of previous elections, and was just over 49% as of Monday. The number will surge on Election Day. Statewide, turnout as of Monday morning was a little less than 42%.

Lane County turnout in the November 2022 election — the last time that a governor’s race was on the Oregon ballot — was about 69%.

In total, Lane County mailed 284,811 ballots to eligible voters. 

When will results be announced?

Election officials plan to release the first batch of results shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday. But that’s just the first batch, and numbers will change as officials process ballots throughout the night. 

Officials say they plan to update results throughout the evening, and have promised a second batch of results before midnight Tuesday, although results might be updated before then.

But remember that ballots can be counted up to a week after Election Day, and those ballots could make a difference in very close races.

Final results of the election will be certified on Nov. 25.

What’s on the ballot?

All voters in Lane County will be weighing in on federal and statewide races, including a hotly contested gubernatorial contest and elections for the U.S. Senate and the 4th Congressional District.

Lane County voters also will determine the winner of a seat on the county Board of Commissioners, with incumbent Heather Buch facing challenger Jake Pelroy.

Countywide, three state Senate contests and seven state House races are on the ballot, although two incumbents — Sen. Floyd Prozanski and Rep. David Gomberg — are unopposed. Perhaps the most closely watched legislative race in the county pits Democrat Kori Rodley against Republican Adam Wilson for an open seat in House District 7 in the Springfield area, a seat held by the Democrat John Lively, who is retiring.

In Eugene, voters will decide on a ballot measure calling for the creation of a Clean Energy Fund, which would be funded by a 2% license fee on gross profits from large retailers. Proceeds would be used to fund renewable energy and energy-efficiency programs. Voters also will settle a race between incumbent Mike Clark and challenger Athena Aguiar for the Ward 5 seat on the City Council.

In Springfield, voters will determine who will serve as the city councilor for Ward 4, incumbent Jill Cuadros or challenger Callee Ackland.

Dunes City voters will decide on a ballot measure to prohibit new short-term vacation rentals and also have contested races for mayor and city councilors.

Voters in Oakridge and the Western Lane Ambulance District face measures about how to fund ambulance services.

And voters in Oakridge, Cottage Grove, Florence, Junction City and Veneta have contested municipal elections on their ballot. 

Voters in Coburg, Creswell, Lowell and Westfir also have municipal candidates on their ballots, but those candidates either are unopposed or guaranteed election — in Coburg, for example, one candidate (Nancy Bell) is running for reelection as mayor and three incumbents are running for three seats on the City Council.

Lookout Eugene-Springfield’s election coverage Tuesday will be free to all readers.