At Oregon Food Bank, we believe that we cannot end hunger and its root causes without a government that is accountable to all of us, and ranked choice voting is a powerful tool to better reflect the voice of the people. Portland recently started ranked choice voting, and our next election is coming up in just a couple of months. In November 2026, Portland and East Multnomah County voters will use ranked choice voting in several local candidate contests.
Ranked choice voting allows you to rank candidates in order of preference instead of choosing just one. In the November 3, 2026 election, voters in Portland will use ranked choice voting for several local candidate contests.
Choose your first choice candidate.
Choose your second choice, if you have one.
Continue ranking candidates in order of preference, up to six.
You don’t have to rank every candidate.
Oregon Food Bank and Multnomah County Elections Division are working together to help Portlanders learn about ranked choice voting and feel prepared for the upcoming elections this November 2026.
We hope to help empower our communities to vote this election season, one person at a time.
If you are interested in learning more about ranked choice voting or helping your neighbors learn more, join us for our upcoming in-person and virtual events!
Ranked Choice Voting Mock Election Event (In-Person) – Join Oregon Food Bank to learn more about ranked choice voting and how to engage as we near the upcoming election season this November. We have one session in English and one in Spanish.
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 from 5–8 p.m. (English)
Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 12–3 p.m. (En Español)
These are in-person events in Gresham, Oregon. Specific location details will be shared after registration. These events will be an engaging and educational way to learn about ranked choice voting in Portland.
Join us for canvassing shifts!
Join a team of volunteers from the comfort of your own home – we will call our neighbors in Multnomah County to share resources and information on ranked choice voting. No experience necessary! Phone banking is a fun and easy way to reach others and connect with fellow advocates in our communities.
In November 2022, County voters approved a measure to require the use of ranked choice voting in all Multnomah County candidate contests (including Chair, County Commissioners, Auditor, and Sheriff) by November 2026.
In November 2026, Multnomah County voters will use ranked choice voting to fill these county positions: Chair, Auditor, Sheriff and District 2 Commissioner.
In November 2022, Portland voters also approved a measure to require the use of ranked choice voting (RCV) for all City of Portland candidate contests beginning in November 2024.
In early 2023, the Elections Division began a rigorous preparation and testing process to administer the first RCV elections for the City of Portland in November 2024, while laying the groundwork for a successful countywide implementation in 2026. The Elections Division successfully administered all six City of Portland candidate contests using RCV in the November 5, 2024 General Election. The Elections Division produced a final implementation report that details the preparation, outcomes, and lessons learned from this first RCV election.
The successful rollout of RCV for Portlanders in 2024 paved the way for its county-wide implementation in November 2026. To ensure all county voters are prepared, it is crucial to expand education to East Multnomah County outside of Portland, where voters have yet to experience voting with a ranked choice ballot. Elections are an opportunity to make our voices heard about our communities’ wants and needs. We hope to help empower our communities to vote this upcoming election season, one person at a time, and that starts with understanding how our voting system works.
Promote understanding of RCV to East Multnomah County voters
Equip voters with the knowledge and confidence to cast RCV ballots
Deliver focused RCV education through community partners
As a non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization, we do not endorse or support any candidates. Our goal is to educate voters on how to vote because we cannot achieve our mission to end hunger and its root causes without an inclusive democracy that works for all of us.
In addition to Portland and Multnomah County, several U.S. cities, counties and states use ranked choice voting to elect candidates, including: New York City; San Francisco; Minneapolis; Boulder, CO; Washington DC; Arlington, VA; Cambridge, MA; and the states of Alaska and Maine.
On August 24, the Supreme Court granted the Trump administration’s request to pause a lower court order that had blocked key portions of a March 2026 executive order while the case continues on appeal.
This ruling means the Trump administration can move forward with planning related to the executive order restricting mail-in voting. It does not mean that any mail-in voting restrictions are being implemented at this time.
Voting by mail remains a safe and reliable option. Voters can expect to receive their ballots by mail as usual and can return them to any Multnomah County ballot drop site or via USPS.
Currently, nothing changes for voters. The Supreme Court did not rule the executive order lawful, and its decision does not change how voters will cast their ballots this November.
The Multnomah County Elections Division remains focused on administering the November 3, 2026 General Election in accordance with Oregon law and ensuring every eligible voter can confidently cast their ballot.
There are ongoing court cases related to the executive order that still need to be decided, and future federal actions to implement the executive order may face additional legal challenges. We will continue to closely track developments and provide updated information as we learn more.
But, for now, nothing changes for voters in Oregon.
Oregon’s gold standard vote-by-mail elections are secure, accurate, fair.
Barcodes to track ballots and make sure no one votes more than once.
Signature verification.
Paper ballots that can’t be hacked.
Vote-tallying machines that are publicly tested before and after the election.
Claims about widespread voter fraud have been debunked time and time again.
In Oregon, a study determined there were 38 cases of improper voting over the course of two decades and more than 60 million ballots cast.
Voting in Oregon: The Basics of Registration and Vote by Mail
✅ October 13, 2026 — Last day to register to vote. Voter registration cards postmarked by this date, or online registrations submitted by 11:59 p.m., are valid.
✅ October 14, 2026 — First day ballots are mailed to voters
✅ October 27, 2026 — Last day to mail your ballot
✅ After October 27, you can still drop your ballot at an official ballot drop box.
🌟 Find an official drop box near you on the Oregon Department of State website.
🌟 Drop box locations are available approximately 20 days before the election.
🌟 Election Day: County elections offices are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. This is the last day to vote. You have two options for returning your ballot on Election Day:
Use an official ballot drop box. Make sure your ballot is deposited by 8 P.M. This is your best option.
Take your ballot to the Post Office. Ask a postal worker to apply a manual postmark before mailing it.
🌟 Voters’ pamphlets are mailed 2 to 3 weeks before each election and include information about candidates and ballot measures.
This article has several helpful talking points and information.
Playlist with all RCV videos – all languages, both lengths
Long Version Videos
Short Version Videos
Policy Updates
Policy Updates
Policy Updates
