SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read asked the state legislature Sept. 8 for $1.25 million to strengthen the state's vote-by-mail infrastructure ahead of the Nov. 3 general election, proposing targeted investments in ballot drop boxes, statewide ballot-tracking and voter-notification mailings.
What the funding would cover
At a hearing of the Joint Interim Subcommittee on Human Services, Read said the request is intended to reduce uncertainty for voters and bolster the transparency and reliability of elections administered by counties across Oregon. The Secretary of State’s Office laid out three primary uses for the money:
- Add another 20 ballot drop boxes to the existing network of 324, bringing ballot return points closer to some voters.
- Expand the BallotTrax tracking program so more counties can offer voters updates from mailing to acceptance.
- Mail notice cards to inactive registrants so the office can proceed with voter-roll maintenance while ensuring eligible voters receive required communications.
Scope and current coverage
The Secretary of State’s Office reviewed current drop‑box locations to identify areas where an additional box "would fill a significant gap in voters' access to the best way to return their ballot," according to the agency's review. Read argued that placing boxes where they are most needed would make returning a ballot easier for some voters who now travel farther or rely on mail pickup.
BallotTrax — the tracking system that notifies voters about the status of their ballot from mailing to acceptance — is available now in five counties that together contain about 54% of Oregon’s population, the office said. Marion County is among those currently participating. Voters in participating counties can sign up online to receive notifications about their ballot’s progress.
| Item | Current figure | Proposed change |
|---|---|---|
| Ballot drop boxes | 324 | +20 |
| BallotTrax coverage | ~54% of residents (in 5 counties) | Expand statewide (funding request) |
| Inactive registrations removed so far | ~200,000 | More than 600,000 require mailed notice before removal |
Voter-roll maintenance and timing
Read reminded legislators that the state resumed removing inactive voter registrations in January after a nearly 10-year pause. The office has already removed about 200,000 inactive registrations, but more than 600,000 additional registrations require mailed notices before they can be cancelled under state procedures. Read said those removals cannot proceed until the mailings are sent and received, and inactive registrants do not receive ballots while listed as inactive.
"Would fill a significant gap in voters' access to the best way to return their ballot,"
The funding request seeks to cover those mailings without shifting costs to counties that would otherwise have to absorb the expense of expanding tracking services or sending notices. Office spokesperson Connor Radnovich noted that expanding BallotTrax to additional counties would be done in a way that does not add pressure to county budgets.
Practical impacts and next steps
If lawmakers approve the request, additional drop boxes and an expanded BallotTrax footprint would likely change how some voters choose to return ballots this fall. Read framed the proposal as a practical effort to ensure voters have reliable options and up-to-date information about their ballots — especially in communities currently without nearby drop boxes or BallotTrax notifications.
The measure now goes through the legislative budget process. The secretary's appearance before the subcommittee is an early step in securing the appropriation; the ultimate decision will rest with lawmakers who will weigh the request alongside other budgetary priorities before the Nov. 3 election.
In the coming weeks, county elections officials will be watching the legislature for clarity on funding and guidance that could affect public outreach, drop‑box placement and the availability of ballot-tracking services for voters across Oregon.
— Meredith Ashford, State Correspondent
