Clackamas County has kicked off its primary election season by sending out ballots to more than 315,000 registered voters starting today. As detailed by Clackamas County Elections, a significant change this year is a newly designed ballot packet, sized at 6-by-9 inches and emblazoned with the "Official Election Mail" logo for easy identification.

In a move towards greater security, the ballots are enclosed in a special envelope with a privacy weave that eliminates the requirement for a traditional secrecy sleeve. This has been given the thumbs-up by the Secretary of State's Office and the United States Postal Service. It is a reflection of the best practices employed by Vote-by-Mail states like Washington, Oregon, and Utah, as well as in the financial sector used to protect personal information.

This primary election promises to keep voters informed every step of the way with the Track Your Ballot service. By opting into this service, constituents will receive alerts via text, call, or email regarding the status of their mailed ballot. "If you forget to sign your ballot envelope, or your signature does not match, we will notify you," the county's notice assured, signaling a move towards proactive voter assistance.

Ballots can be returned either by mail with a valid postmark or at one of the 25 official ballot drop sites within Clackamas County before 8 p.m. on Election Day, May 21, 2024. Changes to drop site locations have been made in areas like Milwaukie and Happy Valley, with the latter offering a 24-hour drive-up ballot drop site at City Hall due to library construction. This new approach ensures that voting remains an accessible and uncomplicated process for all registered voters.