OAR 165-005-0050: Registration Procedures for Newly Naturalized Citizens

(1) The purpose of these rules are to establish procedures for registering to vote an otherwise qualified person who will become a naturalized United States citizen after the registration cutoff but prior to the next election. (2) For purposes of this rule, these terms mean: (a) "Qualified Person" — A resident of the State of Oregon who is a United States citizen by 8pm on the day of the election; 17 years of age or older; has resided in this state for 20 days immediately preceding the election at which the person will vote; is registered more than 20 calendar days prior to the election. (b) "Naturalized United States Citizen" — A citizen of another country who has met the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services requirements to obtain U.S. citizenship and, through a legal procedure, becomes a citizen of the United States. (c) “Evidence of Citizenship” — A Certificate of Naturalization, which is an identity document proving U.S. citizenship, issued by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, after the person takes the Oath of Allegiance to the United States. (3) A person who will become a United States citizen after the 21st calendar day preceding an election, and who wishes to register to vote in that election, shall appear personally in the office of any County Elections Official, before the 20th day before the election, to request a voter registration form. The person shall explain that the person become a naturalized United States citizen after the voter registration deadline but prior to the next election. (4) The office of the County Elections Official shall permit the person to complete and submit a voter registration form. The County Elections Official shall include a notation that the individual will be a citizen, after the voter registration deadline but prior to the next election. (5) The office of the County Elections Official shall explain to the person that unless the person appears before the county clerk and provides evidence of citizenship by 8pm on the day of the election, the person's pending registration will be canceled. If the evidence of citizenship is presented before 8pm on election day, the person shall be issued a ballot for that election. (6) If the person fails to provide timely evidence of citizenship, the office of the County Elections Official shall cancel the person's pending registration.