Tillamook Clerk encourages voters to use ballot drop boxes

Tillamook County Clerk Christy Nyseth is encouraging voters in the May primary election to turn in their ballots to ballot drop boxes rather than relying on the United State Postal Service, due to issues with some ballots being returned to voters.

Nyseth said that the issues are being caused by sorting equipment at the post office mistakenly reading voter information from the reverse of the ballot envelope rather than her office’s information from the front, leading ballots to be returned to voters.

Conversations with the Oregon Secretary of State’s office and the United State Postal Service have occurred, according to Nyseth. Mail carriers have been instructed to be on the lookout for ballot envelopes being returned to voters and to divert them to the clerk’s office.

However, Nyseth said that she would “strongly encourage” voters to take the time to drop their ballot at an official drop site to avoid potential complications. Nyseth also noted that all mail from Tillamook is being sorted at facilities in the Willamette Valley, which could delay issues coming to light as election day draws near.

Nyseth said that voters should reach out to her office with any questions and that staff were available to pick up ballots from any homebound citizens in the county. The phone number for the clerk’s office is (503) 842-3402.

Ballots may be dropped at the clerk’s office at the Tillamook County Courthouse or at drop boxes located at the following sites:

Cloverdale- 34370 Hwy. 101 South

Cloverdale, OR. 97112.

Pacific City

Kiawanda Community Center

34600 Cape Kiwanda Drive

Pacific City, OR. 97135

TillamookCounty Courthouse North Stairs

201 Laurel Avenue

Tillamook, OR. 97141

Drive-up drop box

NW Corner of 3rd and Laurel

Tillamook Library Main Branch (at building’s rear)

1716 3rd Street

Tillamook, OR. 97141

Bay City City Hall

5525 B Street

Bay Ciry, OR. 97107

Garibaldi City Hall

107 6th Street

Garibaldi, OR. 97118

Rockaway Beach City Hall

276 Hwy. 101 South

Rockaway Beach, OR. 97136

Manzanita City Hall

543 Laneda Avenue

Manzanita, OR. 97130