Gov. Kotek warns Oregonians their ballots could be delayed this November as she urges them to make sure their signatures are correct before mailing them

Oregon – Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek is urging voters to make sure their mail-in ballots are signed clearly before returning them, warning that missing signatures or signatures that do not match voter registration records can delay the counting process ahead of the November 3 general election.

“Your ballot only counts if it’s signed, and signed clearly,” Kotek wrote in an October 2026 post on X. She cautioned that a missing signature or a mismatch with the signature on a voter’s registration can delay a ballot, urging Oregonians to take a few seconds to sign their ballots correctly before sending them back.

Her reminder comes as Oregon election officials expand ballot-tracking services statewide and encourage voters to return their ballots early enough to address any problems before the election deadline.

The governor’s warning follows the statewide expansion of Oregon’s ballot-tracking program, which allows voters to receive notifications about their ballots by text message, email or phone call. The Oregon Secretary of State’s Office announced on October 14 that the service, known as BallotTrax, was available to voters in every Oregon county for the November general election.

FOX 12 Oregon reported on the expansion on October 15, explaining that voters can receive updates when their ballot is mailed, when it arrives at their county elections office and when it is accepted for counting. The system also alerts voters if their ballot is not accepted because of a signature issue, giving them an opportunity to correct the problem.

The program had previously been available in Clackamas, Marion, Multnomah, Washington and Yamhill counties. Statewide access was made possible through emergency funding approved by Oregon lawmakers in September to improve ballot tracking and expand access to official ballot drop boxes.

Oregon election officials compare signatures on returned ballot envelopes with signatures associated with voters’ registration records. A missing signature or one that does not match can prevent a ballot from being accepted until the issue is resolved.

According to guidance published by the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office, voters whose signatures are challenged are notified and have until 21 days after Election Day to confirm their signatures so their ballots can be counted. Officials advise voters to use their usual signature and sign clearly and completely inside the designated area on the return envelope.

Lane County officials also issued a reminder on October 21 urging voters to sign their ballot return envelopes and return ballots early. The county advised voters whose signatures have changed significantly to contact the elections office and warned that signing another person’s ballot envelope is illegal, even with that person’s permission.

Oregon’s general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026. The Secretary of State’s Office recommends that voters who plan to return ballots by mail do so by October 27, while ballots can also be returned to official drop boxes by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Voters can sign up for ballot notifications at OregonVotes.gov/Track, using their first and last names, date of birth and ZIP code as listed in their voter registration records. The service allows voters to monitor their ballot’s progress and receive notice if a signature problem requires action before their vote can be counted.