AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Oregon on Election Day

By DAVID SILVERSTEIN The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The presidential election and the race for control of the closely divided U.S. House are expected to dominate attention in Oregon on election night on Nov. 5. Voters will also decide a ballot measure to establish ranked-choice voting.

At the top of the ballot, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump will compete for Oregon’s eight electoral votes. The state had one of the closest vote margins in the 2000 presidential election but was overshadowed by the Florida recount. Since then, Oregon has moved sharply towards Democratic candidates in presidential elections, so much so that neither ticket has stepped foot in the state since becoming their parties’ nominees.

In the U.S. House, Republican incumbent Lori Chavez-DeRemer faces a tough reelection bid for a second term in a district where voters preferred President Joe Biden over Trump by almost 10 percentage points in 2020. The Democratic nominee is Janelle Bynum, a state representative. Three third-party or independent candidates are also on the ballot. Chavez-DeRemer was first elected in 2022 by a 51%-49% margin.

Republicans are targeting two first-term incumbents in Democratic-leaning districts covering the Salem and Eugene areas. Both Reps. Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas won their seats in 2022 with a fraction more than 50% of the vote, although Hoyle enjoyed an 8-point margin of victory over her Republican opponent. Biden carried both Hoyle’s 4th District and Salinas’ 6th District with 55% of the vote.

Voters will also consider Measure 117, which would establish ranked-choice voting. If passed, the measure would represent a significant shift in Oregon’s voting system. It’s one of five statewide questions on the ballot.

Voters are also casting ballots for Portland mayor and the city’s new 12-member City Council.

Oregon’s first reports typically focus on votes cast before Election Day, as the state primarily uses mail-in ballots. Oregon allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they arrive up to seven days later. This means initial results can shift as later ballots are processed. Key areas to watch include Clackamas and Deschutes counties, which are often pivotal in close races. Ballots were mailed out starting Oct. 16.

Here’s a look at what to expect in the 2024 election in Oregon:

Election Day

Nov. 5.

Poll closing time

11 p.m. ET.

Presidential electoral votes

8 awarded to statewide winner.

Key races and candidates

President: Harris (D) vs. Trump (R) vs. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (We the People) vs. Cornel West (Progressive) vs. Chase Oliver (Libertarian) vs. Randall Terry (Constitution) vs. Jill Stein (Green).

5th Congressional District: Chavez-DeRemer (R) vs. Janelle Bynum (D) and three others.

Ballot measures: Measure 117 (establish ranked-choice voting).

Other races of interest

U.S. House, state Senate, state House, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, Portland mayor and other ballot measures.

Past presidential results

2020: Biden (D) 56%, Trump (R) 40%, AP race call: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, 11 p.m. ET.

Voter registration and turnout

Registered voters: 3,051,923 (as of Oct. 2, 2024). About 33% Democrats, 24% Republicans and 36% nonaffiliated.

Voter turnout in 2020 presidential election: 80% of registered voters.

Pre-Election Day voting

Votes cast before Election Day 2020 and 2022: Almost all votes cast by mail.

Votes cast before Election Day 2024: See AP Advance Vote tracker.

How long does vote-counting take?

First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 11 p.m. ET.

By midnight ET: about 80% of total votes cast were reported.

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Associated Press writer Maya Sweedler contributed to this report.

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Read more about how U.S. elections work at Explaining Election 2024, a series from The Associated Press aimed at helping make sense of the American democracy. The AP receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.