Archive for the 'HAVA' Category

Tell your friends every vote counts with this Oregon “i voted” sticker

Published on October 28, 2012 in Elections, general election, HAVA, Headlines, Social Media and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

Because your vote is your voice and every voice matters…

Here in Oregon we vote by mail, but that doesn’t mean you can’t proudly wear an “i voted” sticker. Check out this custom digital sticker. It lasts longer than the one-use stickers of times past and won’t clash with your outfit, at least not if you use it as your social media profile photo.Post this "i voted" sticker as your social media profile photo!

Here is how it works. After you vote, post this free digital sticker as your profile photo on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, your blog, and LinkedIn – wherever you spend time or have connections. Use this sticker to let people know you’ve voted. Poke friends and family and remind them to vote too!

Visit Every Vote Counts for complete instructions and to download the “i voted” sticker. And please spread the word!

Oregon is a leader in voter turnout and is consistently in the top 10 nationally. Our vote-by-mail system is unlike any other system in the nation. It is cost effective, secure and accessible to everyone from downtown Portland to the rural routes of Malheur County.

Remember, voters have until November 6 at 8 p.m. to get their ballots turned in. Ballots must arrive in the mail by 11/6, or else be deposited in a secure drop box. Locate a drop site near you.

Oregon’s Secretary of State previews technology for Windows 8 exclusively to voters with disabilities

Published on October 22, 2012 in Elections, general election, HAVA, Headlines, Press Releases, Secretary Brown and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

SALEM – Under the leadership of Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown, Samsung has provided 10 tablet PC’s loaded with Microsoft’s new Windows 8 operating system to be used by Oregon voters with disabilities. Windows 8 provides many built in accessibility tools and features as well as USB plug-in capabilities for accessibility-enhancing devices that can simplify the process of marking a ballot for voters with disabilities. The Secretary of State’s office is piloting the software in conjunction with this election.

“Our relationship with Microsoft is another example of my strong commitment to increasing access to the ballot,” said Secretary of State Kate Brown. “Specifically, in this pilot project Oregon voters with disabilities will be encouraged to test their own accessibility devices with the brand-new technology that should increase the use and confidence in our accessible voting system.”

Currently, all 36 Oregon counties have tablets available for voters with disabilities. Last fall Oregon became the first state in the nation to utilize tablet technology in elections. This latest pilot featuring the Samsung Series 7 PC tablets with Windows 8 will be used during the November General Election. Oregon’s Secretary of State and Microsoft Corp. will be working together providing technical support and feedback during this latest pilot.

“Oregon is a recognized leader in elections solutions. We are pleased to work with them in this first usage in the U.S. of a Windows 8-powered tablet for elections,” said Mark Wernet, Microsoft.

Oregon voters with disabilities interested in accessing tablet technology to mark their ballot should contact Don DeFord at Don.Deford@state.or.us or call 503-986-1518.

Secretary of State distributes iPads statewide to assist Oregon voters with special needs

Published on May 10, 2012 in Elections, HAVA and Press Releases. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

SALEM – Last fall, Oregon became the first state in the nation to use iPads to mark ballots. The successful project was piloted in five Oregon counties. After evaluating the results of the pilot project it was clear that using the tablets improves access for voters with special needs, is easier for counties to administer, and is more cost-effective.

“Nearly 200 Oregonians used the iPad to mark their ballots during the pilot,” said Secretary of State Kate Brown. “We can do better. I am proud to expand the availability of this technology statewide to serve all Oregonians who may have accessibility needs. My goal is to make the ballot more accessible to all eligible Oregonians.”

Using federal Help America Vote Act dollars, the Secretary of State’s Elections Division provided each of Oregon’s 36 counties with at least one iPad and printer for use in the May Primary. Oregon Elections continued its successful partnership with Everyone Counts, the developer of the software that drives the system. The iPads replace an old system that was expensive to maintain and difficult to use. Oregon Elections provided county staff with the training needed to assist voters.

On Friday, May 11, 2012 Oregon Elections and the Washington County Voter Assistance team will visit Avamere Rehabilitation, an assisted living facility in Beaverton. The team will have iPads available for voters with special needs to use and mark their ballots. In an effort to explore the newest technology available for those with special needs, Oregon Elections invited Dr. Juan Gilbert, a professor and chairman of the Human-Centered Computing Division in Clemson University’s School of Computing to attend. During his visit Dr. Gilbert will demonstrate new software he is developing to assist voters with disabilities. Dr. Gilbert and his team will be present, along with representatives from Portland State University, University of Washington and Intel.

For more information, please contact

Andrea Cantu-Schomus
Communications Director
Oregon Secretary of State
503-986-2368
503-507-0082

Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown unveils online Civics Toolkit

Published on January 9, 2012 in Elections, HAVA, Press Releases, Secretary Brown and Uncategorized. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , , , .

Press Release

SALEM – Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown recently unveiled a new online Civics Tool Kit. The civic education curriculum was developed through a collaboration of efforts by local professors, teachers and Oregon elections staff. The goal is to provide a beginners guide to civics with an Oregon centric view that anyone can access and use.

Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown Tells McNary High School Students About New Civics Toolkit

Secretary Brown talks civics with McNary High School students

According to the most recent national civics examination, fewer than half of American eighth graders know the purpose of the Bill of Rights. In addition, only one in 10 demonstrated acceptable knowledge of the checks and balances among the legislative, executive and judicial branches.

“Democracies can only be sustained by citizens who have the basic knowledge, skills and dispositions – I think our online Civic Toolkit can help,” said Secretary of State Kate Brown. “As your Secretary of State and Oregon’s chief elections officer, it is my duty to engage Oregonians in the political process.”

The toolkit is made up of 10 lessons that cover everything from your rights and responsibilities as a good citizen, the history of voting in Oregon and what you need to know before you register to vote in our great state.

You can find the online Civics Toolkit by logging onto Oregon’s Secretary of State website (Elections Division), clicking on Voter Resources then Civics Toolkit or go directly to: http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/pages/voterresources/civics-toolkit/index.html.

Secretary Brown unveils Civics Toolkit at local high schools

Published on January 6, 2012 in Elections, HAVA, Headlines, Press Releases, Secretary Brown and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .
Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown Talks Civics at West Salem High School

Secretary Brown rolls out the new online Civics Toolkit

After more than two weeks off for the holidays, students welcomed Secretary Brown to their Government classes to talk civics. The secretary unveiled the online Civics Toolkit developed by her staff, local teachers and professors. Students got a first look at the 10 online lessons which cover everything from how to be a good citizen to how to register to vote. Secretary Brown encouraged students to get involved in the political process and reminded the teens that here in Oregon you can register to vote when you are 17 years old.

Reflecting on the day, Brown observed: “These students were sharp. Many had a great knowledge of Oregon and its government. We hope they find the Civics Toolkit online, learn it and share it. Special thanks to teachers Jason Whiteley and Doug Parker for opening up their classroom. These guys do an excellent job!”

You don’t need to be a teacher or student to take advantage of it. The Civics Toolkit is on the Secretary of State website at http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/pages/voterresources/civics-toolkit/index.html. Everyone is welcome to download these free resources and bone up on elections civics.

Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown Tells McNary High School Students About New Civics Toolkit

Secretary Brown visits McNary High School to talk civics

Oregonvotes.org – Frequently Asked Questions

Published on May 6, 2010 in Elections and HAVA. 2 Comments

Do you have more detailed questions about your ballot ahead of the May primary election? Oregonvotes.org can help! Here is the final TV spot being shown throughout the State.

Oregonvotes.org Spot – Ballot Help

Published on May 6, 2010 in Elections and HAVA. 0 Comments

Another helpful TV Spot, currently playing throughout the State of Oregon. If you are having any issues or need to know what to do with your ballot, please give our Elections Division a call at 503-986-1518 or head over to http://www.oregonvotes.org. There you can find information on where to drop off your ballot and what to do if your ballot is lost or damaged.

Online Voter Registration is LIVE!

Published on March 8, 2010 in Elections and HAVA. 0 Comments Tags: , .

As many of you are aware, Online Voter Registration has been LIVE for one week now!

In just one week of service, over 1049 Oregonians have registered to vote using the new system.

Remember, Online Voter Registration is NOT replacing paper registration, it is simply offering up an alternative to the paper system for those who would use it. As Secretary of State Brown stated in a recent Oregonian Op-Ed:

It will help people who find traditional procedures out of reach, including the housebound and the disabled community. With the right equipment, for example, sightless people can register without the assistance of another person to fill out a card. Our military servicemen and women will find far less delay in registration, eliminating worries about whether the snail mail will deliver their paperwork in time.

We are extremely happy to have the system up and running and hope that Oregonians continue to get registered to vote in the upcoming May Primary Election.

We’ll leave you today with a table with of some more detailed information on registrations done with the Online system:

Online Voter Registration Statistics as of 11:30am, 3/8/2010
Total Registrations 1049
Registration Type
Type # of Registrations
Electronic (DMV signature exists) 829
Paper (no DMV signature) 220
Total 1049
Registrations by Party
Party # of Registrations
Constitution Party 0
Democratic Party 346
Independent Party 140
Libertarian Party 13
Not a member of a party 198
Other 11
Pacific Green Party 17
Progressive Party 6
Republican Party 275
Working Families Party 5
No Party Selected 38
Total 1049
Registrations by County
County # of Registrations
Baker 1
Benton 9
Clackamas 96
Clatsop 9
Columbia 9
Coos 12
Crook 13
Deschutes 97
Douglas 28
Harney 2
Hood River 4
Jackson 62
Jefferson 9
Josephine 22
Klamath 23
Lake 3
Lane 117
Lincoln 7
Linn 29
Malheur 3
Marion 72
Morrow 1
Multnomah 219
Polk 20
Tillamook 2
Umatilla 3
Union 6
Washington 139
Wheeler 2
Yamhill 30
Total 1049
Registrations by Age
Age Group # of Registrations
17-19 49
20-29 246
30-39 240
40-49 167
50-59 152
60-69 124
70-79 55
80-89 16
Total 1049

Online Voter Registration Demo

Published on February 23, 2010 in Elections, HAVA, Secretary Brown and Social Media. 0 Comments Tags: , .

We are very excited to announce that our Online Voter Registration system going live on March 1st, and very busy getting ready for this monumental project to launch.

We wanted to invite everyone to take part in a webinar demo of the most user-friendly, convenient and secure way of registering to vote in the State of Oregon. This informational demo will take participants through the online registration process, from beginning to end, followed by a short question and answer session with Elections Director Steve Trout.

Our online participants will join members of the Legislature, advocacy groups and state wide media, who will be viewing the presentation from inside the Capitol Building in Salem.

The webinar will take place on February 25, 2010 at 9:00am. Registration information for the webinar can be found at this link:

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/790747411

We hope to see you there!

Ballot Drop Locator

Published on January 14, 2010 in Elections and HAVA. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Most every registered voter in the State of Oregon has received his/her ballot by now. So what are your options to make sure that your ballot gets in on time?

1. Mail your ballot in before Friday, January 22nd – After this date, the Postal Service cannot guarantee that it will deliver your ballot on time.

2. Drop your ballot off at an official ballot drop-off site before 8pm on January 26th - If you’re unable to send your ballot in before January 22nd, you can still drop your ballot off at one of many ballot drop-off sites.

To help with the process of finding the closest drop-off site, our Elections Division has created a Ballot Drop Locator, which plots the locations of drop-off sites on an online mapping application. If you’re still having trouble finding a drop-off site, take a look at our County Elections Office guide and give your county’s elections officials a call.