La Pine Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center

10/22/2026

Download your application here: https://lapine.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Ltr-to-businesses-with-application-2026.pdf

10/22/2026

CAN I MARK MY BALLOT WITH A PENCIL, RED PEN, OR CRAYON?

I talked with Deschutes County Clerk Steve Dennison, and he had this to say about using pencils, crayons, or different colored pens to mark your ballot.

Here's Steve's answer, in his own words:

"Pencil, crayon or red pen all work but it may make it harder to determine how someone voted. Think of a scanned image of a ballot where it was lightly marked with pencil. It might be tricky for the system to pick it up as a vote. As I'd mentioned, we will review any marginally (or lightly) marked ballots such as these and will adjudicate them accordingly to capture the voter's intent. Ballot adjudication is when trained election workers carefully look at a ballot that a machine cannot read clearly. They follow rules to figure out which choice the voter meant to make, so every vote is counted fairly.

Crayon will probably be okay but I might not want to risk running it through our scanners in fear of having the wax (or whatever material crayons are made of) transfer to the sensors on our scanners.

Best bet is to not leave anything to chance and simply use black or blue pen."

CRUSTY SAYS:

So there you have it, straight from our Deschutes County Clerk!

Your ballot doesn't automatically become invalid because you used a pencil or the wrong color pen.

But why make things harder for the people counting our votes?

Use a BLACK or BLUE pen!

And now you know what BALLOT ADJUDICATION means, too!

CHECK CRUSTY

Deschutes County Elections:
https://www.deschutescounty.gov/elections

Questions? Call the Deschutes County Elections Office at 541-388-6547.

Please LIKE and SHARE! Someone you know may have this very question.

LA PINE VOTES IS ELECTION INFORMATION ONLY.

Please do not post support for or opposition to candidates, parties or ballot measures. Those comments will be removed. Questions about how elections work are welcome.

10/22/2026

YOU CAN WATCH. REALLY.

Did you know that members of the public can watch election workers do their jobs?

YES!

You don't have to be a candidate.

You don't have to belong to a political party.

You can ask to observe how elections are run.

WHAT CAN I WATCH?

At the County Elections Office, you may be able to observe workers:

Receive and sort ballot envelopes.

Check signatures.

Open accepted ballot envelopes.

Prepare ballots for counting.

Scan and count ballots.

Not all of these jobs happen at the same time.

Ask the Elections Office when the work you want to see will take place.

CAN I JUST WALK IN?

Call your County Elections Office first.

Ask when public observation is available.

Ask where to go and whether you need to sign in.

The office will explain the rules you must follow.

CAN I TOUCH THE BALLOTS?

NO.

You may watch, but you cannot handle ballots or election equipment.

You cannot interrupt workers or interfere with their work.

You must stay in the area set aside for observers and follow the office's instructions.

WILL I SEE HOW SOMEONE VOTED?

Ballot envelopes are checked first.

Then the envelopes are separated from the ballots before counting.

The ballots are counted without the voters' names attached.

Watching election work does not give you access to anyone's private voter choices.

WHO DO I CALL?

Deschutes County Elections

541-388-6547

[email protected]

1300 NW Wall Street, Suite 202
Bend, Oregon

If you live in Klamath or Lake County, contact your own County Elections Office.

WHY DOES OREGON ALLOW PEOPLE TO WATCH?

Public observation is part of Oregon's election process.

It lets people see how election work is done.

You don't have to take Crusty's word for it.

Ask questions.

Watch the process.

CHECK FOR YOURSELF!

CHECK CRUSTY

Deschutes County — Voting in Oregon FAQ
https://www.deschutescounty.gov/475/Voting-in-Oregon-FAQ

Deschutes County — Election Security
https://www.deschutescounty.gov/493/Election-Security

Deschutes County — Elections and Voting
https://www.deschutescounty.gov/471/Elections-Voting

Oregon — Vote-by-Mail Procedures Manual
https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/vbm_manual.pdf

PLEASE LIKE AND SHARE!

LA PINE VOTES IS ELECTION INFORMATION ONLY.

Please do not post support for or opposition to candidates, parties or ballot measures. Those comments will be removed. Questions about how elections work are welcome.

10/21/2026

10/21/2026

TONIGHT! La Pine City Council Candidate Forum

10/21/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19r8b3jzyP/

Today, the Deschutes County Clerk’s Office became aware of two issues related to the Nov. 3 election and wants to share that information with voters:

1. The letter “H” was accidentally left out of Deschutes County Commission Position 5 candidate Rob Imhoff’s last name in the printed voter pamphlet. The online version of the pamphlet has been corrected.

2. In addition, roughly 200 voters in recently annexed areas in the City of Bend were sent incorrect precinct ballots. All affected voters will receive a corrected ballot by mail this week.

If an affected voter has already returned the original ballot, they should complete and return the corrected ballot they receive. The County Clerk’s Office will ensure that only the valid ballot is counted.

Voters with questions should contact the Deschutes County Clerk’s Office at 541-388-6547.

The Deschutes County Clerk's Office regrets the errors and remains committed to ensuring that every voter receives accurate election information.

10/21/2026

MY BALLOT NEVER ARRIVED!

WHAT DO I DO?

First, don't panic!

Deschutes County started mailing ballots on Wednesday, October 14.

They don't all arrive on the same day.

But if yours hasn't arrived, here's what you can do.

FIRST: CHECK YOUR VOTER INFORMATION.

Go to Oregon's My Vote website.

https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/pages/myvote.aspx

You can check:

Whether you are registered.

Your address on file.

The status of your ballot.

If your registration says INACTIVE, contact your County Elections Office. Ballots are not mailed to inactive voters.

WHAT IF I MOVED?

Your ballot will NOT be forwarded to your new address by the post office.

Even if you filled out a change-of-address form with the post office!

You must update your address with Oregon Elections.

You can do that through My Vote or by contacting your County Elections Office.

CAN I GET ANOTHER BALLOT?

YES!

Call your County Elections Office and tell them your ballot never arrived.

They will check your voter record and help you get a replacement ballot.

You do not have to wait until Election Day to ask.

BUT WHAT IF SOMEONE FINDS MY FIRST BALLOT?

When the Elections Office issues a replacement ballot, it marks your original ballot as no longer valid.

Only one ballot can be counted for each voter.

IS THERE A DEADLINE?

YES. AND THIS IS IMPORTANT!

Thursday, October 29, is the last day Deschutes County Elections can MAIL replacement ballots.

But that does NOT mean you are out of options after October 29.

You can still contact the Elections Office about getting a replacement ballot in person.

Replacement ballots must be available at the County Elections Office through 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3.

WHO DO I CALL?

Deschutes County Elections

541-388-6547

[email protected]

1300 NW Wall Street, Suite 202
Bend, Oregon

If you live in Klamath or Lake County, contact YOUR County Elections Office instead.

REMEMBER!

If your ballot never arrived, you can ask for another one.

You don't have to give up because something went wrong with the mail.

CHECK CRUSTY

Deschutes County — November 3, 2026 General Election
https://www.deschutescounty.gov/1593/November-3-2026-General-Election

Oregon — My Vote
https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/pages/myvote.aspx

Oregon — Ballot Help
https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/pages/ballot-help.aspx

Oregon — Vote-by-Mail Procedures Manual
https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/vbm_manual.pdf

PLEASE LIKE AND SHARE!

LA PINE VOTES IS ELECTION INFORMATION ONLY.

Please do not post support for or opposition to candidates, parties or ballot measures. Those comments will be removed. Questions about how elections work are welcome.

10/20/2026

https://conta.cc/4hXsZmn

Email from LaPine Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center START PLANNING TODAY! LET'S LIGHT UP LA PINE!   CLICK THE FLYERS BELOW FOR THE DATES AND DETAILS ... APPLICATIONS TO PARTICIPATE AND TO SPONSOR

10/20/2026

CAN SOMEONE ELSE TAKE MY BALLOT TO THE DROP BOX?
YES!
You do not have to take your own ballot to the drop box.
You can ask someone else to deliver it for you.
A family member.
A friend.
A neighbor.
Someone you trust.
-
DO THEY HAVE TO LIVE WITH ME?
NO!
They do not have to live in your home.
They do not have to be related to you.
You can ask someone you trust to take your sealed ballot envelope to an official drop box.
-
IS THERE A TIME LIMIT?
YES!
Oregon has a rule for people who collect another person's ballot.
They must deliver it within TWO DAYS of receiving it.
Or by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
WHICHEVER COMES FIRST.
That means someone cannot collect your ballot and keep it until they happen to be going into town next week.
-
DO THEY NEED TO SIGN MY BALLOT ENVELOPE?
NO!
YOU sign your own ballot envelope.
The person delivering it does not sign it.
Before you hand it over, check that:
Your ballot is inside your official ballot envelope.
You have signed the envelope.
The envelope is sealed.
-
CAN THEY PUT MY BALLOT IN A DROP BOX IN ANOTHER COUNTY?
YES!
You can use any official Oregon ballot drop box.
Election workers will send ballots to the correct county elections office.
That includes Deschutes, Klamath, and Lake County ballots.
-
WHEN IS THE DEADLINE?
All ballots returned to an official drop box must be inside by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
If someone is delivering your ballot for you, remember the two-day rule.
-
CHECK CRUSTY
Oregon — Vote-by-Mail Procedures Manual
https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/vbm_manual.pdf
Deschutes County — Voting in Oregon FAQ
https://www.deschutescounty.gov/475/Voting-in-Oregon-FAQ
Deschutes County — Ballot Drop Box Locations
https://www.deschutescounty.gov/1291/Ballot-Drop-Box-Locations
-
PLEASE LIKE AND SHARE!
-
LA PINE VOTES IS ELECTION INFORMATION ONLY.
Please do not post support for or opposition to candidates, parties or ballot measures. Those comments will be removed. Questions about how elections work are welcome.
-
One useful clarification from Oregon's official 2026 election instructions: the person helping you can put your ballot in an official drop box OR place it in the mail within two days or by Election Day, whichever comes first.

Oregon Votes

The official instructions are here:
https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/pages/current-election.aspx

10/19/2026

DID YOU MISS THIS?

OREGON HAS NEW BALLOT TRACKING!

Last Friday, I, Crusty, told you about a new way to track your ballot.

It's free, and it's available to voters in all 36 Oregon counties!

But there's something especially important about the new system.

I spoke with Deschutes County Clerk Steve Dennison at last Friday's Chamber Breakfast. He answered lots of questions about how our elections work!

RECEIVED DOES NOT MEAN ACCEPTED!

When you sign up for ballot tracking, you can receive three important messages:

MAILED — Your ballot is on its way to you.

RECEIVED — Your ballot has arrived at your county elections office.

ACCEPTED — Your ballot envelope has passed the required checks, including the signature check. Your ballot can now be counted.

That's the big news!

You can now find out when your ballot has been ACCEPTED, not just received.

WHAT IF THERE'S A PROBLEM?

If your ballot envelope has a signature problem, you can receive an alert.

That gives you a chance to fix the problem before the deadline.

Your county elections office will also send you a letter explaining the problem and how to fix it.

HOW DO I SIGN UP?

Start with your local Deschutes County Elections website:

https://www.deschutescounty.gov/elections

The county website has election information and ways to contact your county elections office.

The new ballot-tracking alert sign-up is not yet listed there.

Here is the direct sign-up link for the new service:

https://oregonvotes.gov/track

Enter your first and last name, date of birth, and residential ZIP code.

Choose whether you want alerts by text, email, or phone call.

That's it!

CAN ANYONE SEE HOW I VOTED?

NO!

Ballot tracking follows your ballot envelope through the election process.

It does NOT show anyone how you voted.

Your vote is private.

Signing up is optional. You can vote without using ballot tracking.

CRUSTY SAYS:

RECEIVED is good!

ACCEPTED is even better!

And ACCEPTED does not mean your votes have already been counted. It means your ballot is ready to be counted.

CHECK CRUSTY

Deschutes County Elections:
https://www.deschutescounty.gov/elections

New ballot-tracking alerts:
https://oregonvotes.gov/track

Official explanation of the new service:
https://results.oregonvotes.gov/elections/Pages/track-your-ballot.aspx

Questions? Call Deschutes County Elections at 541-388-6547.

Please LIKE and SHARE!

Your friends and neighbors may not have heard about this new service yet.

LA PINE VOTES IS ELECTION INFORMATION ONLY.

Please do not post support for or opposition to candidates, parties or ballot measures. Those comments will be removed. Questions about how elections work are welcome.