Who's on the ballot
Deschutes County Clerk is a nonpartisan office with a four-year term. The next term starts in January 2027. Fewer than three candidates filed, so the race goes straight to the November 3 general election. [County election page]
Jonathan Curtis
Grew up in Central Oregon and lives in Bend. Former wildland firefighter who went from Job Corps to the fireline and led crew physical training on Engine 335. Worked in construction and property management, and runs his own small businesses. Ran for Bend City Council in 2024. More about Jon
Steve Dennison (current Clerk)
Worked in election administration since 2001, including about 10 years with San Mateo County, California. Became Deschutes County's elections supervisor in 2017. The county commissioners appointed him Clerk in 2021, and he was elected without an opponent in 2022. [County] [Verified Voting]
What the County Clerk does
The Clerk is the county's chief election official and the official keeper of its public records. The office:
- Runs every election in Deschutes County, from mailing ballots to counting them
- Records property transactions
- Issues marriage licenses
- Accepts passport applications
- Archives and stores county records
- Supports the Board of Property Tax Appeals
Key dates for November 3
- October 13 Last day for new voters to register
- October 14 Ballots are mailed to voters
- October 16 County drop boxes open
- October 27 Mail your ballot by this date to be safe
- November 3 Election Day. Drop boxes close at 8 p.m.
- November 24 Last day to fix a challenged signature
Every step for voting in Deschutes County · Cómo votar (en español)
What the county's own auditor found
- Vote-counting security couldn't be checked. The 2025 elections audit says the Clerk refused to give auditors information about the security of the ballot-counting software.
- Vendor contracts flagged since 2021. Ballot printing, mailing and envelope printing had no contracts, and the fix was still "in process" in December 2025.
- Drop boxes. 7 of 11 had openings above the 48-inch disability-access limit.
- To be fair: the same audits found the core election work sound, and no fraud.
Where Jonathan Curtis stands
- Ballot processing on camera and online, with observers welcome from every party and from no party.
- After every election, a plain-language count of how many ballots came in, how many were counted, and why any were set aside.
- Hand-count audits that are easy to follow, with results posted publicly.
- No voter made inactive over a signature without a phone call, a text and an email first, and a second look from a different staff member.
- Ballot packets tracked from the printer to the mailbox, with fast, simple replacements.
- A public plan and finish date for every county audit recommendation, and confidential access for the county auditor to review vote-counting security.
Quick answers
- When is the election for Deschutes County Clerk?
- Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Oregon votes by mail. Ballots go out starting October 14, and drop boxes close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.
- Who is the current Deschutes County Clerk?
- Steve Dennison. The county commissioners appointed him in 2021, and he was elected without an opponent in 2022. His term ends in January 2027.
- Is the County Clerk race partisan?
- No. Deschutes County Clerk is a nonpartisan office.
- Why is the Clerk race only on the November ballot?
- Fewer than three candidates filed, so the race went straight to the November 3 general election.
- How long is the Clerk's term?
- Four years. The next term starts in January 2027.