If you will be temporarily away from home when ballots are mailed, you may request an absentee ballot at http://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/SEL111.pdf. In-state absentee ballots are mailed 14 to 18 days before each election. Out-of-state absentee ballots are mailed 30 days before the election. Military and long-term absentee ballots are mailed 45 days before the election. The federal form for long-term “absent Uniformed Service members, their families, and citizens residing outside the U.S.” is at https://www.fvap.gov/uploads/FVAP/Forms/fpca2013.pdf. Note that an extended stay away may affect your Sherman County residency incentive eligibility; for details see the incentive checklist.