Bend, Oregon Public Records

The Elections Division maintains current drop box locations on their website. Residents can register to vote online through the Oregon Secretary of State at https://electoralregistration.oregon.gov/. The state has implemented automatic voter registration through the DMV for eligible citizens, and same-day registration remains available through Election Day itself. To register online, voters need either a current Oregon driver license or ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. While Oregon allows registration up through Election Day, those who register at least 21 days before an election are guaranteed to receive their ballot by mail. Municipal elections for Bend take place in November of even-numbered years, with the Mayor and City Council positions elected on staggered terms. The Mayor serves a four-year term, as do the six City Councilors who represent the entire city at-large rather than specific wards. The next municipal election is scheduled for November 2026, when several council positions will appear on the ballot. Local voters can find information about candidates, ballot measures, and campaign finance through the City of Bend website at https://www.bendoregon.gov/ and the Deschutes County Elections page. Election records in Oregon are notably transparent and accessible to the public. Voter registration lists can be purchased for political purposes through the Secretary of State's office. Campaign finance records for both state and local candidates are searchable through the Oregon Elections Division's ORESTAR system at https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/. Precinct-level results are published by the Deschutes County Elections office at https://www.deschutes.org/clerk/page/election-results shortly after each election is certified. In the November 2024 presidential election, the county saw voter turnout reach approximately 80%, with roughly 100,000 ballots cast out of about 125,000 registered voters - reflecting Oregon's consistently high participation thanks to the mail-in ballot system. The November 3, 2026 general election will be critical for local voters. While Oregon's U.S. Senate seats are not up in 2026 (next in 2026 is Class II, which Oregon does not have), voters will decide Oregon's gubernatorial race, with the Governor's four-year term on the ballot. State legislative races will include Oregon House and Senate seats representing Bend (House District 53, 54, and 55, and Senate District 27). County-level positions on the ballot will include Deschutes County Commissioner seats and possibly county sheriff, district attorney, or other countywide offices depending on term expirations. Bend municipal offices (Mayor and City Council) will also appear on the November 2026 ballot. Voters should monitor the county Elections website beginning in summer 2026 for the official candidate list, local ballot measures, and the voters' pamphlet. Because Oregon is a universal vote-by-mail state, there is no traditional absentee ballot process - all registered voters automatically receive a ballot by mail for every election. Those who need a replacement ballot can request one through the Elections Division. Ballot tracking is available through https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/vr/showVoterSearch.do where voters can verify their registration status and confirm their ballot was received and counted.