ORS 254.473
State payment for return of ballots by mail

Text
Annotations

(1)

Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, for each election held in this state, electors shall be provided with a return identification envelope that may be returned by business reply mail. The state shall bear the cost of complying with this subsection.

(2)

The Secretary of State may require that the return identification envelopes provided to electors be returned by mail by using a method other than business reply mail if the secretary determines that an alternative method is more cost effective or efficient. The state shall bear the cost of returning ballots by mail under any method adopted by the secretary under this subsection.

(3)

As used in this section, “business reply mail” means a mailing service allowing a preaddressed return identification envelope to be mailed by an elector without charge, with the state paying the mailing fee for a return identification envelope that is returned by United States mail but not for a return identification envelope that is not returned by United States mail. [2019 c.638 §2]

Source: Section 254.473 — State payment for return of ballots by mail, https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors254.html (accessed May 26, 2025).

254.005
Definitions 254.016
Elections conducted under this chapter 254.025
Construction of statutes applicable to primary elections 254.035
Time and place of elections for city officers 254.046
Expense of city election 254.056
Date and purpose of general election and primary election 254.065
Person receiving most votes nominated or elected 254.068
Simulated election for individuals under 18 years of age 254.071
Information regarding ballot format and method of voting ballot 254.074
County elections security plan 254.076
Register of candidates for nomination 254.085
Secretary of State’s statement of offices, candidates and measures 254.095
City elections officers’ statements of offices, candidates and measures 254.098
Expenses for change in information filed under ORS 254.085 or 254.095 254.103
Filing of measures referred by county governing body 254.108
Numbering county, city and district measures 254.115
Official primary election ballot 254.125
Nominating ballot for candidates to nonpartisan office 254.135
Official general or special election ballots 254.145
Design and contents of official ballots 254.155
Order of candidate names on ballot 254.165
Adjusting ballot when vacancy occurs 254.175
Providing ballot title and financial estimates in lieu of printing on ballot 254.185
Printing or furnishing of ballots by county clerk 254.195
Ballot specifications 254.235
Testing of voting machines and vote tally systems 254.321
Providing map of proposed boundaries for election on establishing or changing county or city boundaries 254.365
Voting at primary election by major party members and nonaffiliated electors 254.370
Record of nonaffiliated electors 254.399
When ballot considered legally cast 254.400
Elector right to cast vote in confidential manner 254.408
Procedure for voting by person for whom no evidence of registration is found 254.411
Voting after name change 254.415
Challenging ballot of person offering to vote 254.426
Procedure on challenged ballot 254.431
Special procedure for ballots challenged due to failure to sign return envelope or nonmatching signature 254.445
Assistance in marking ballot 254.458
Alternatives to secrecy envelope procedures 254.465
Elections to be conducted by mail 254.470
Procedures for conducting election by mail 254.471
Extension of deadline for returning ballots in case of emergency 254.472
Compartments for marking ballots 254.473
State payment for return of ballots by mail 254.474
Voting booths for primary and general elections 254.476
Personnel for counting ballots 254.478
Preparation for counting ballots 254.480
Replacement ballots 254.482
Persons authorized to watch receiving and counting of votes 254.483
Ballot security 254.485
Tally of ballots 254.495
Tally and return sheets 254.500
Tally of write-in votes 254.505
Ballots to be counted 254.515
Counting ballots marked “Federal only.” 254.525
Test of vote tally system 254.529
Choice of conducting hand recount of ballots or risk-limiting audit 254.532
Risk-limiting audit 254.535
Preservation of certain materials 254.545
Duties of county clerk after election 254.546
Duties of county clerk after recall election 254.548
Individual nominated or elected by write-in votes 254.555
Secretary of State’s duties after election 254.565
Duties of city elections officer after election 254.568
Certificate of election required before taking oath of office 254.575
Procedure when tie vote 254.650
Special election in case of death of nominee of major political party within 47 days of general election 254.655
Order calling special election 254.660
Conduct of special election

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§ 254.473’s source at oregon.gov

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Location: https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_254.473

Original Source: Section 254.473 — State payment for return of ballots by mail, https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors254.html (last accessed May 10, 2025).