Oregon Statutes 247.171 – State and federal voter registration cards; Secretary of State approval of voter registration application forms of voter registration agencies; content of voter registration cards
(1) Except as provided in this subsection, the Secretary of State shall design, prepare and distribute state voter registration cards. The Secretary of State shall also distribute federal registration cards. Any person may apply in writing to the Secretary of State for permission to print, copy or otherwise prepare and distribute the registration cards designed by the Secretary of State. The secretary may revoke any permission granted under this subsection at any time. All registration cards shall be distributed to the public without charge.
Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 247.171
- County clerk: means the county clerk or the county official in charge of elections. See Oregon Statutes 247.002
- Elector: means an individual qualified to vote under Article II, section 2, Oregon Constitution. See Oregon Statutes 247.002
- Person: includes individuals, corporations, associations, firms, partnerships, limited liability companies and joint stock companies. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
- Registration card: means a state voter registration card approved by the Secretary of State under ORS § 247. See Oregon Statutes 247.002
- United States: includes territories, outlying possessions and the District of Columbia. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
(2) The Secretary of State shall approve any voter registration application form developed for use by any agency designated as a voter registration agency under ORS § 247.208.
(3) Each voter registration card designed or approved by the Secretary of State shall describe the penalties for knowingly supplying false information on the registration card and shall contain space for a person to provide the following information:
(a) Full name;
(b) Residence address, mailing address or any other information necessary to locate the residence of the person offering to register to vote;
(c) The name of the political party with which the person is affiliated, if any;
(d) Date of birth;
(e) An indication that the person is a citizen of the United States; and
(f) A signature attesting to the fact that the person is qualified to be an elector.
(4) Any form containing a voter registration card may also include space for a person to provide:
(a) A telephone number where the person may be contacted; and
(b) If previously registered to vote in this state, the name then supplied by the person and the county and, if known, the address of previous registration.
(5) A person shall not supply any information under subsection (3) or (4) of this section knowing it to be false.
(6) A county clerk or other person accepting registration cards shall not request any information unless it is authorized by state or federal law.
(7) A person shall attest to the information supplied on the voter registration card by signing the completed registration card.
(8) Any completed and signed registration card described in subsection (3) of this section shall be the official registration card of the elector. [1957 c.608 § 36; 1965 c.464 § 2; 1971 c.241 § 5; 1975 c.678 § 16; 1977 c.168 § 4; 1979 c.190 § 47; 1985 c.808 § 4; 1985 c.833 § 3; 1987 c.320 § 150; 1987 c.719 § 11; 1987 c.733 § 3; 1989 c.20 § 3; 1989 c.173 § 1; 1989 c.979 § 5; 1993 c.713 § 10; 1995 c.742 § 3; 2015 c.8 § 4]
The amendments to 247.171 by section 7, chapter 492, Oregon Laws 2023, become operative June 1, 2026. See section 9, chapter 492, Oregon Laws 2023. The text that is operative on and after June 1, 2026, is set forth for the user’s convenience.
(1) Except as provided in this subsection, the Secretary of State shall design, prepare and distribute state voter registration cards. The Secretary of State shall also distribute federal registration cards. Any person may apply in writing to the Secretary of State for permission to print, copy or otherwise prepare and distribute the registration cards designed by the Secretary of State. The secretary may revoke any permission granted under this subsection at any time. All registration cards shall be distributed to the public without charge.
(2) The Secretary of State shall approve any voter registration application form developed for use by any agency designated as a voter registration agency under ORS § 247.208.
(3) Each voter registration card designed or approved by the Secretary of State shall describe the penalties for knowingly supplying false information on the registration card and shall contain space for a person to provide the following information:
(a) Full name;
(b) Residence address, mailing address or any other information necessary to locate the residence of the person offering to register to vote;
(c) The name of the political party with which the person is affiliated, if any;
(d) Date of birth;
(e) An indication that the person is a citizen of the United States; and
(f) Except as provided in ORS § 247.018, a signature attesting to the fact that the person is qualified to be an elector.
(4) Any form containing a voter registration card may also include space for a person to provide:
(a) A telephone number where the person may be contacted; and
(b) If previously registered to vote in this state, the name then supplied by the person and the county and, if known, the address of previous registration.
(5) A person shall not supply any information under subsection (3) or (4) of this section knowing it to be false.
(6) A county clerk or other person accepting registration cards shall not request any information unless it is authorized by state or federal law.
(7) Except as provided in ORS § 247.018, a person shall attest to the information supplied on the voter registration card by signing the completed registration card.
(8) Except as provided in subsection (7) of this section, any completed and signed registration card described in subsection (3) of this section shall be the official registration card of the elector.