Heppner, Oregon Public Records

The Oregon Bureau of Investigation offers additional resources for background checks, ensuring that Morrow County residents have access to necessary information for employment, housing, and other purposes.

The Heppner Police Department, located at 111 N Main St, Heppner, OR 97836, is the primary law enforcement agency serving the city of Heppner. The department's records, including incident reports, arrest records, and crime statistics, are considered public documents and can be requested through the department's records division. Residents and interested parties can also access the Oregon State Police's Criminal History Background Check service to obtain information about criminal history in the Heppner area.

Heppner voters are served by the Morrow County Clerk's Office, which administers all elections for county residents from its office at 100 Court Street (Courthouse), Heppner, OR 97836 (phone: 541-676-5604, website: https://www.co.morrow.or.us/clerk). Oregon is a vote-by-mail state, meaning all registered voters automatically receive ballots by mail approximately 18-20 days before each election, eliminating traditional polling places. Heppner residents register to vote online through the Oregon Secretary of State's website at https://sos.oregon.gov/voting/pages/registration.aspx; the deadline to register is 21 days before any election, and Oregon offers automatic voter registration through the DMV. Voters need an Oregon driver license or ID card number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number to register online. For municipal elections, the City of Heppner holds elections for mayor and city council positions; Heppner's city council consists of six councilors elected to four-year staggered terms, with the mayor elected separately. City elections are typically held in November of even-numbered years, with the next municipal election scheduled for November 2026. Candidates for city office file with the Morrow County Elections office. Because Oregon uses vote-by-mail, there are no assigned polling places; voters complete their ballots at home and return them by mail (postage-free) or drop them in official ballot drop boxes, with one located at the Morrow County Courthouse in Heppner. In the November 2024 presidential election, Morrow County reported approximately 65% voter turnout with roughly 4,200 ballots cast out of about 6,500 registered voters. On November 3, 2026, Heppner and Morrow County voters will decide several key races: Oregon does not have a U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2026 (Oregon's seats are up in 2026 and 2028; Jeff Merkley's seat is up in 2026), the Oregon Governor's race will be on the ballot as Tina Kotek's term ends in 2026, State House District 57 and State Senate District 29 (which include Morrow County) will have legislative races, and county offices including County Commissioner positions will be contested. Heppner city council positions may also appear on the November 2026 ballot. Oregon election records that are public include voter registration lists (with some personal information redacted), campaign finance reports through the Oregon Secretary of State's ORESTAR system (https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/), candidate filings and statements, and precinct-level election results published by the County Clerk after certification. All Oregon voters automatically receive vote-by-mail ballots; no separate absentee ballot application is required. Voters who need replacement ballots or have questions should contact the Morrow County Clerk's Elections division. Ballots must be received by 8:00 PM on Election Day, not just postmarked, so voters are encouraged to mail ballots at least one week before the election or use official drop boxes.