Document text
With all the current election coverage, I wondered how people can vote who don't have a fixed address. Since ballots are mailed to voters, what happens to those who are homeless? Are they excluded from voting? — Milicent, Eagle Point   Oregon law says homeless people may not be denied the opportunity to register to vote, even if they lack a permanent address. State law also allows homeless people to use a county clerk's office as a mailing address to register to vote and receive their ballots. Jackson County Clerk Chris Walker, who is in charge of the county's elections office and recording office, said homeless people can have ballots sent to general delivery at local post offices, or use the county elections office address at 1101 W. Main St. in Medford for voting. "Lots of people have fallen on hard times," Walker said. An Oregon voter registration card has one line for an Oregon residence address, plus another line for a mailing address, if that is different than the person's physical location of residence. For their Oregon residence address, homeless people can list any identifiable location — such as the Biddle Road exit off I-5, the Jackson Street bridge in Medford or even a Walmart parking lot, Walker said. She said people should not list that they live under the Medford I-5 viaduct, since that crosses through multiple precincts. On the voter registration card, a homeless person can name general delivery at a local post office or the elections office as their mailing address. Walker said people at the elections office understand being homeless causes difficulties for people who want to register to vote. "Just because you have no fixed address, you're still a citizen of the United States and have the right to vote," she said. "We try to be respectful and honor their wishes so they can at least exercise that right to vote. We know it's a sensitive issue. We encourage our voters to come in and register to vote." Walker noted many people face homelessness, including veterans. Other people who lack a permanent physical address — including those living in shelters, parks, motor homes and marinas — can also use the county clerk's office as their mailing address for voting, according to state law.   — Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected] . To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.