Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., speaks to demonstrators at Memorial Circle to protest the proposed Triumphal Arch, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)
October 30, 2026 - 11:54 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Oregon voters will elect leaders for federal, state and other offices on Tuesday. Here are some of the key facts about the election and data points the AP Decision Team will monitor as the votes are tallied:
When do polls close?
Polls close at 8 p.m. local time, which is 10 p.m. ET and 11 p.m. ET, since the state spans Mountain and Pacific time.
What’s on the ballot?
The Associated Press will provide vote results and declare winners in races for U.S. Senate, governor, U.S. House, state Senate and state House.
How many people voted in the last midterm election?
About 1.9 million votes were cast in Oregon's 2022 U.S. Senate race. The latest advance vote totals for Oregon can be found in the AP’s advance vote tracker.
When are early and absentee votes released?
Since Oregon elections are conducted predominantly by mail, results from mail voting are released throughout the night and the following days. About four out of every five counties are also expected to release most or all in-person Election Day results in the first vote update.
How long does vote counting usually take?
The first results of the 2024 general election were reported starting at 10 p.m. ET as the first polls closed. The state reached 50% of votes reporting at 11:10 p.m. ET, and 90% of votes reporting at 7:15 p.m. ET on Nov. 8.
When will the AP declare a winner?
The Associated Press does not make projections and will declare a winner only when it’s determined there is no scenario that would allow a trailing candidate to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.
How do recounts work?
Recounts in Oregon are automatic in the event of a tie vote or if the vote margin is 0.2% of the total vote or less. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is subject to a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.
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Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2026 election at https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/.
News from © The Associated Press, 2026