Oregon — As Oregon’s May 19 election enters its final week, state officials are urging voters to use official ballot drop boxes rather than the mail as Oregonians prepare to decide one of the year’s most politically charged ballot measures: Referendum 120, the statewide vote on whether to repeal major portions of House Bill 3991, the 2025 transportation package that increased gas taxes, payroll taxes, and vehicle registration fees.
Secretary of State Tobias Read warned that recent U.S. Postal Service service cuts could jeopardize ballots mailed too close to Election Day, particularly in Eastern, Central, and Southern Oregon, where ballots often travel first to Portland for processing before returning to local counties. Ballots must be postmarked by May 19 and received within seven days, but officials say mailing within the final week carries added risk. To be counted, voted ballots must be received at any County elections office in Oregon or Official Ballot Drop Site location by 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 19, 2026, or postmarked by Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
“Oregonians who make their choices and cast their vote should not have that vote discounted due to cuts at the Postal Service,” Read said. “Official ballot drop boxes are the best way to ensure your vote will get counted and your voice heard.”
This year’s May election carries unusually high statewide stakes because Democratic legislative leaders moved the transportation referendum from a potentially higher turnout November election to the May primary through Senate Bill 1599, a move sponsors openly acknowledged was political. Senate President Rob Wagner said at the time, “Is it political? For sure,” while Republicans argued the lower-turnout primary favored supporters of the tax package.
Referendum 120 reached the ballot after the “No Tax Oregon” campaign gathered more than 250,000 signatures to challenge the law, an unusually rapid and large-scale signature drive targeting one of Oregon’s most controversial recent tax increases.
Supporters of repeal argue the law imposes significant new costs on fuel, workers, and vehicle owners, while backers of the transportation package say the revenue is needed for long-term infrastructure funding.
Ballots must be returned to official drop boxes by 8 p.m. May 19. For voters who must use the mail, state officials recommend going directly into a post office and requesting a manual postmark.
With turnout traditionally far lower in May primaries than November general elections, the final days of voting could play an outsized role in determining whether Oregon keeps or rejects the transportation tax increases.
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