Prineville, Ore. — Crook County voters in the Juniper Canyon area now have a new location to return their ballots ahead of the November general election, following the installation of an official ballot drop box at the Juniper Canyon Fire Station.
The Crook County Clerk’s Office announced Wednesday that the new drive-up ballot drop box officially opened that morning, providing an additional convenient location for residents to return their ballots without traveling into Prineville.
The installation was made possible through emergency funding provided by the Oregon Secretary of State and approved by the Oregon Legislature to strengthen election operations statewide.
According to the county, the funding supports the purchase and installation of 20 new ballot drop boxes throughout Oregon, with Crook County among the jurisdictions selected to receive one.
“We are grateful to be among the counties selected to receive this funding,” said Crook County Clerk Cheryl Seely. “The new drop box enhances access for our voters and reinforces our commitment to secure and convenient elections.”
The announcement comes as ballots for the Nov. 3rd general election begin making their way to voters across Crook County.
The Clerk’s Office confirmed that ballots were mailed Wednesday, Oct. 14th, to all registered voters in the county. Ballots are expected to arrive no later than Wednesday, Oct. 21st.
Voters who have not received their ballots by Oct. 21st are encouraged to contact the Crook County Clerk’s Office Election Division for assistance.
Under Oregon law, completed ballots must be returned to an official ballot drop site by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3rd, or mailed with a valid postmark dated no later than Election Day and received by election officials within seven days.
The new Juniper Canyon location provides another option for residents who prefer to deposit their ballots directly rather than return them through the mail.
The Crook County Clerk’s Office also thanked residents for their continued participation in the election process and said it looks forward to serving voters throughout the election period.
Mr. Alderman is an investigative journalist specializing in government transparency, non-profit accountability, consumer protection, and is a subject matter expert on Oregon’s public records and meetings laws. As a former U.S. Army Military Police Officer, he brings a disciplined investigative approach to his reporting that has frequently exposed ethics violations, financial mismanagement, and transparency failures by public officials and agencies.
