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Filing Local Measures

Filing County, District and City Measures

Filling Manual

The State of Oregon’s manual is intended to provide an overview of the county, city, and district initiative and referendum processes.

Some processes outlined in the manual below may be superseded by local ordinance or charter – check your local government’s rules as needed.

County, City and District Initiative and Referendum Manual
A person stamps a paper with a notary stamp

What Goes into a Local Measure

Ballot Title

Must be a concise and an impartial statement of the purpose of the measure.

  • There is a ballot title review process.
  • The Elections Office publishes ballot titles on our website and in a newspaper with general circulation in the area of the district filing the measure.
  • Anyone who feels the ballot title does not comply with the filing requirements has seven business days to contest the wording of the ballot title.
  • Proper wording for your tax measure is important. Please refer to the handbook “Tax Election Ballot Measures: A Guide to Writing Ballot Measures for Property Taxing Authority, published by the Oregon Department of Revenue” before submitting your measure and consult your district’s legal counsel.

Resources:

Guide to Tax Measure
SEL805 Ballot Title
SEL801 County
SEL803 District
SEL804 Withdrawal
Explanatory Statement

Must be a simple, understandable, impartial statement, which explains the measure and its effect.

  • This is required when a County Voters’ Pamphlet is printed. There is no cost for this filing.
  • If an explanatory statement is contested because it does not comply with the requirements, the following process will be observed:
    • A date and time will be set for the person contesting the explanatory statement to appear before Records and Elections Director.
    • Both sides will be given one-half hour to present their side of the issue.
    • The Records and Elections Director will determine if and or how the wording of the statement should be changed.

Resources:

Explanatory Statement Form and Instructions
City Measures

Contact your city recorder or manager for forms, instructions and deadlines.

  • Cities must also show proof that they have complied with all laws relating to required publications and challenged processes at the time of filing.
  • City submits Explanatory Statement and SEL802 Notice of City Measure Election to Benton County Elections.

Resources:

City of Adair Village
City of Albany
City of Corvallis
City of Monroe
City of Philomath

Filing Dates for County and District Measures

Day to FileMar 10, 2026
Special		May 19, 2026
Primary		Aug 25, 2026
Special		Nov 3, 2026
General
First Day to file SEL805Aug 18, 2025Dec 22, 2025Mar 2, 2026Jun 8, 2026
Last day to file SEL805Dec 19, 2025Feb 27, 2026Jun 5, 2026Aug 14, 2026
Last day to file SEL801/803/804Jan 8, 2026Mar 19, 2026Jun 25, 2026Sep 3, 2026
Last day to file
Explanatory Statement		Jan 8, 2026Mar 19, 2026Jun 25, 2026Sep 3, 2026

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