Washington County selected David V. Hamilton as its new Elections Division Manager, putting a 25-year elections veteran in charge of the county's vote-by-mail operation less than four months before the November 3, 2026, general election.
Hamilton started the job on June 27, according to a county press release published Tuesday, July 21.
He replaces Dan Forester, who held the elections post for four years before accepting the Tax Division Manager position.
Forester transferred to the tax role on February 28 and managed both the elections and tax divisions during the four-month vacancy until Hamilton's arrival.
Assistant County Administrator Marni Kuyl said the county considered several candidates before choosing Hamilton. "His experience in election administration and commitment to transparency make him an exceptional fit for this role," Kuyl said in the announcement.
"He steps into a position previously held by a highly respected colleague, and while those are big shoes to fill, we are confident he will carry that legacy forward."
Hamilton built his career in Washington state, starting in King County elections and the state legislature.
He went on to lead nonpartisan elections programs for three international organizations: the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.
In those roles, he managed large teams and guided voter education and outreach efforts. Hamilton said in the announcement that ensuring elections are accurate and accessible has guided his career.
The hire comes during a tense stretch for Oregon election administrators.
On Monday, July 20, Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read publicly rebuked the Trump administration over a Department of Justice letter warning that state election workers who facilitate noncitizen voting could face criminal prosecution.
Read called the threats political pressure, not an effort to improve elections. A federal judge blocked major parts of a Trump executive order on elections in June 2026, though the federal government has appealed.
Oregon has voted entirely by mail for nearly three decades. A 2020 review by the state Legislative Fiscal Office found 38 criminal convictions for voter fraud out of 60.9 million ballots cast from 2000 to 2019.
Washington County serves a population of 618,737, according to county figures. For Hillsboro voters specifically, the November 3 ballot will include City Council races in Ward 1 Position A, Ward 2 Position A, and Ward 3 Position A.
The county plans to mail ballots to all registered voters on Wednesday, October 14. The last day to register or change party affiliation is Tuesday, October 13.
At his July 20 press conference, Read urged voters who plan to mail their ballots to drop them in their mailbox by Tuesday, October 27, one week before Election Day, due to postal routing changes.
Voters can also use ballot drop boxes, which close at 8 p.m. on November 3.
