How to Run for Office in Oregon
Getting on the Ballot
Oregon candidates file Form SEL 101 either by fee - Oregon's filing fees are modest - or by petition in place of the fee. State, legislative, and judicial candidates file with the Secretary of State (and can file and pay entirely electronically through ORESTAR); county candidates file with the county elections official; city candidates with the city elections officer or recorder.
If you take the petition route, sequence matters: you file SEL 101 marked "prospective petition" and receive written approval of your signature sheets before circulating - signatures on unapproved sheets are rejected.
Two timing rules catch people. Elected incumbents seeking re-election to the same office must file at least seven days before the deadline that applies to everyone else (appointed incumbents share the regular deadline), and candidates not affiliated with a party reach the general election ballot through either an assembly of electors or an individual-elector petition, each with its own process.
Where Local Candidates File
The county elections office (usually in the county clerk's office) handles county and district filings and the county voters' pamphlet; city recorders or city elections officers handle municipal filings. Campaign finance is uniform statewide: committees organize and file all transactions electronically in ORESTAR with the Secretary of State - a candidate must file a Statement of Organization within three business days of first receiving or spending money, unless staying under the small-campaign exemption (self-treasurer, under $1,500 for the calendar year).
Worth Knowing
- Plan voter contact around the ballot-drop date - ballots arrive about two weeks out, and a large share come back within days.
- The voters' pamphlet is a big deal in Oregon campaigns - statements are filed (and paid for) separately from candidacy, with their own deadlines, through ORESTAR for the state pamphlet or the county for local pamphlets.
- ORESTAR is public and searchable in near-real-time - your contributions and expenditures are visible to opponents and press within days of reporting.
Official Oregon Resources
Filing deadlines, fees, and signature requirements change from cycle to cycle. Always confirm current details with the official sources below.
This page was last reviewed on August 4, 2026. Process details above are believed current as of that date; deadlines and fees should always be verified with your election office.