Union County May 2026 Primary Ballot Features Commissioner Race, Levy Renewal

The deadline that matters first

April 28 is the hard stop. That is the last day Union County voters can register to vote or change their party affiliation for the May 19, 2026 primary, with online submissions accepted until 11:59 p.m. that day. Registration cards postmarked by April 28 or submitted online no later than 11:59 p.m. are valid. Miss it, and you're locked out of every race on the local ballot, including a three-way commissioner contest and a five-year levy renewal that directly funds weed control on private and public land throughout the county.

Oregon runs closed primaries, which adds a layer of urgency for anyone who has let their party registration lapse or recently moved. Oregon runs closed primaries, which means you must be registered with a political party to participate in primary elections. Folks who are not registered with a political party will still receive a ballot to vote in nonpartisan races, like those for city and judicial positions, but they will be shut out of the partisan commissioner contests. If you are unsure of your current registration status or party affiliation, contact the Union County Clerk's Office directly; the phone number and office hours are listed on the Elections page at unioncountyor.gov.

Commissioner Position 2: Incumbent under ethics scrutiny

The most closely watched race on the Union County ballot is Commissioner Position 2. Incumbent Matt Scarfo will face off against Donna Beverage and Rosa Rice. Scarfo is seeking his third term. Beverage previously served two terms in Position 3 on the Union County Board of Commissioners, which is currently held by Jake Seavert.

The race carries unusual weight because of an active ethics proceeding. After their initial review, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission voted 7-0 to continue investigating Commissioner Matt Scarfo's involvement with the ordinance. He is accused of using the county's legal counsel for personal use when he voted in favor of seeking a court decision regarding the constitutionality of commissioner term limits. That term-limits question has deep roots in local politics: residents brought forward an initiative petition to limit commissioners to two terms, and 68% of county voters supported the measure in the 2016 primary election. Whether that history weighs on May 19 ballots is now in voters' hands.

Commissioner Position 1 also appears on the primary ballot, with Cory D. Miller among the candidates listed in the Union County Clerk's published candidate-contact packet. Voters should download the full "Candidates on Ballot" PDF at unioncountyor.gov to confirm which names appear in their specific precinct, as local races can vary.

Measure 31-123: The noxious-weed levy renewal

Alongside the commissioner contests, voters will weigh in on Measure 31-123, a five-year local option levy renewal for noxious-weed control. The levy is not a new tax; it renews an existing funding stream for the Union County Weed Control Department, which manages invasive plant species across agricultural land, roadsides, and natural areas throughout the county. With the passing of the county weed levy, Union County Weed Control Department can now offer up to $500 in reimbursement per landowner for qualified noxious weed treatments. Noxious weed infestations are the second leading cause of wildlife habitat loss. If the levy lapses, that reimbursement program and the department's broader operations would face a funding gap. The county's candidate-contact packet lists the full measure text for review before you fill out your ballot.

Your ballot in the mail: April 29 through May 19

April 29, 2026 is the first day ballots are mailed to voters. Oregon is a vote-by-mail state, meaning your ballot arrives at your registered address automatically; you do not need to request one. If your address has changed since you last voted, update it before April 28 through the county clerk's office or online at oregonvotes.gov, or your ballot may go to the wrong address with no easy remedy.

Once your ballot arrives, you have two options for returning it. As a vote-by-mail state, Oregon allows voters to return ballots by mail, postmarked no later than Election Day, or deposit them in official drop sites, which close at 8 p.m. on May 19. If you mail your ballot, do not wait until the final weekend; ballots that miss the postmark deadline are not counted. If you prefer certainty, use a drop box.

Drop boxes: Where to go and when

The Union County Clerk's Elections page at unioncountyor.gov is the authoritative source for official drop-box locations and hours. County clerk's offices are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and official drop sites close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. Call the clerk's office directly if you need help identifying the closest drop site or confirming whether hours have changed near the election date, as the county updates that page as needed. Ballot drop sites are an especially practical option for anyone who worries about mail delivery timelines in rural areas.

Signature problems and the cure window

One of the most common reasons ballots are rejected in Oregon is a missing or mismatched signature on the return envelope. Voters whose signature is challenged or who forgot to sign their return envelope have 21 days after the election to cure those issues. That cure window runs through approximately June 9, 2026. If the county clerk's office contacts you about a signature problem, respond promptly. You can also check your ballot's status, including whether it has been received and counted, through the Oregon Secretary of State's elections portal. Many county offices also offer text or email notifications when your ballot is processed.

Accessibility and in-person help

The Union County Clerk's Office is the first stop for voters who need accessibility accommodations, language assistance, or replacement ballots. Contact information is posted on the Elections page. If you have questions about specific candidates or want to understand Measure 31-123 before voting, the candidate-contact PDF published by the clerk's office includes direct email addresses for candidates and measure contacts. Local candidate forums, if scheduled, are posted on the county and city event calendars.

The checklist before May 19

Before your ballot arrives April 29, work through these steps:

The Union County Commissioner races and the noxious-weed levy renewal are decisions that will shape county services for the next four to five years. The margin in local races is routinely small, and a missed registration deadline or an unsigned envelope can make the difference.