7 of 11 Drop Boxes Failed Disability Standards. Will They Be Fixed by October 16?

Deschutes County's own internal auditor checked the county's 11 ballot drop boxes against federal disability-access standards. The boxes met most of the standards, but seven of the 11 had openings higher than the 48-inch limit, the height meant to keep them within reach for people using wheelchairs. Four had gaps in the pavement wider than half an inch, which can catch a wheel or a cane.

The audit found that staff inspected the boxes before and during elections but didn't check them against those disability standards, and had no plan to fix the height and pavement problems. The auditor recommended two things: inspect the boxes regularly against disability standards, and make a plan to fix the ones that fall short.

The Clerk's side

According to the report, the Clerk argued that disability standards didn't apply to some boxes because they are drive-up structures. The auditor wrote that either way, the height and pavement problems "created a tangible barrier to accessibility."

The same audit found that overall, election controls were working as intended. That's good news, and it's worth saying.

Where things stand

The county's latest public update lists both fixes as "in process," with a follow-up scheduled for 2026. I couldn't find a public report saying the work is finished. Drop boxes open on October 16.

What I'd do

Every voter should be able to return their ballot without help, including voters who use a wheelchair, a walker or a cane. If I'm elected, every county audit recommendation for the Clerk's office gets a public plan and a finish date, so voters can see what's fixed and what isn't.

If you have trouble reaching a drop box, call Deschutes County Elections at (541) 388-6547. If something goes wrong with your ballot, tell me what happened. You can read the audit findings, with sources, at jonathancurtis2026.netlify.app/audits.

Sources: Deschutes County audit summary and the full audit report (pages 10–14).

— Jonathan Curtis, candidate for Deschutes County Clerk

Learn more: jonathancurtis2026.netlify.app

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