Oregon Administrative Code

165-010-0070 Filling Vacancy in Nomination of Major Political Party (1) The purpose of this rule is to specify the period following a vacancy within which a major political party must notify the filing officer of the name of the new nominee. (2) The Secretary of State hereby spec…

165-010-0090 Order of Candidate Names on the Ballot (1) The purpose of this rule is to establish the procedure for determining the order in which candidate names will appear on the ballot. (2) The Secretary of State shall provide to the county clerk a random ordering of the lette…

165-010-0110 Filling Vacancy in Nomination to Nonpartisan Office or Vacancy in Nonpartisan Office (1) The purpose of this rule is to specify the period within which a candidate for a nonpartisan office may file a declaration of candidacy or nominating petition. This rule applies …

165-012-0005 Designating the Campaign Finance Manual and Forms The Secretary of State designates the Campaign Finance Manual revised 01/2025 and associated forms as the procedures and forms to be used for compliance with Oregon campaign finance regulations. [ED. NOTE: To view att…

165-012-0050 Contribution of Polls, Allocation of Polling Expenses (1) The purpose of this rule is to establish procedures for reporting the contribution of poll results, the allocation of polling expenses, the valuation of poll results, and the reporting of in-kind contributions…

165-012-0240 Administrative Discontinuation of a Political Committee (1) The Elections Division may administratively discontinue a political or petition committee when: (a) The committee has not filed any transactions under ORS 260.057 for one calendar year; (b) The committee’s e…

165-012-0525 Application of ORS 260.266 – Campaign Advertising Disclosures (1) The purpose of this rule is to establish guidelines for the implementation of ORS 260.266. (2) Definitions: (a) “de minimis” means having a fair market value of approximately $1.00 or less. (b) “Digita…

165-013-0010 Penalty Matrix for Other Campaign Finance Violations (1) This penalty matrix applies to civil penalties for campaign finance violations not covered by the penalty matrices in the Campaign Finance Manual. (2) Mitigating Circumstances. The only mitigating circumstances…

165-013-0020 Penalty Matrix for Non-Campaign Finance Civil Penalty Election Law Violations (1)(a) This penalty matrix applies to civil penalties for violations of election laws that are not covered by the penalty matrices in the Campaign Finance Manual (late and insufficient camp…

165-013-0030 Restrictions on Political Advocacy by Public Employees In addition to, and not in lieu of, any other elections processes contained in ORS chapters 246 through 260 and OAR chapter 165, the Secretary of State designates the Restrictions on Political Advocacy by Public …

165-013-0045 Application of ORS 260.537 - False Statement Intended to Mislead Electors (1) ORS 260.345 provides that, in certain circumstances, the Elections Division may take action against people who disseminate false statements concerning election law in violation of ORS 260.5…

165-014-0005 Designating the State and Local Initiative, Referendum, Referral and Recall Manuals and Forms (1) The Secretary of State designates the State Initiative and Referendum Manual revised 01/2024 and associated forms as the procedures and forms to be used for the state in…

165-014-0028 Review of Proposed Initiative Measures for Procedural Constitutional Compliance (1) The Secretary of State will review a proposed initiative measure submitted under the authority of Article IV, section 1 of the Oregon Constitution and ORS 250.045 to determine if it c…

165-014-0030 Statistical Sampling Procedures for State Petitions (1) This rule is adopted to implement ORS 250.045(1) and ORS 250.105(5). (2) The pre-processing of petition signature sheets is conducted by the Elections Division. (3) Verification of sampled signature lines agains…

165-014-0090 Time for Withdrawal of Prospective Petition Text in ORMS History: Reverted to ELECT 34-1990, f. & cert. ef. 9-14-90 ELECT 34-1990, f. & cert. ef. 9-14-90 ELECT 30-1990(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 7-23-90 Sunset on 09-28-2017

165-014-0100 Review of Specified Chief Petitioner Accounts (1) Each chief petitioner of an initiative, referendum or prospective petition who pays any person money or other valuable consideration to obtain signatures on the petition shall keep detailed accounts in accordance with…

165-014-0110 Statistical Sampling Procedures for Other than State Initiative or Referendum Petitions (1) This rule is adopted to implement ORS 248.008, 249.008, 249.875, 250.215, 250.315 and 255.175. (2) For this rule, the term: (a) Filing Officer refers to the person with whom t…

165-014-0260 Prohibition on Paying or Receipt of Payment based on the Number of Signatures Obtained on an Initiative, Referendum, Candidate Nominating Petition or Voter Registration Cards (1) The purpose of this rule is to interpret Article IV, section 1b of the Oregon Constituti…

165-014-0270 Circulator Certification (1) This rule applies to prospective initiative, initiative, referendum, recall, candidate nominating, minor political party formation and voters’ pamphlet petitions. (2) Circulators must certify that they witnessed the signing of the signatu…

165-014-0275 Completion of Optional Information on Petition Sheets (1) The purpose of this rule is to establish standards governing what an Elections Official will review for in determining if there has been a violation of ORS 260.567. This rule applies to all state and local ini…

165-014-0285 Circulating Unpaid Petitions by Paid Petition Circulators Under ORS 250.048(9), a person may not obtain signatures on a petition or prospective petition for which the person is being paid and, at the same time, obtain signatures on a petition or prospective petition …

165-016-0000 Designating the State Voters’ Pamphlet Manual and Forms The Secretary of State designates the State Voters’ Pamphlet Manual, revised 1/2026 and associated forms as the procedures and forms to be used to submit candidate statements, measure arguments, statements of ar…

165-016-0095 Inclusion Fees for County and Metropolitan Service District Measures (1) The purpose of this rule is to establish a schedule of fees for community college districts, counties or metropolitan service districts filing measures to be included in the State Voters' Pamphl…

165-016-9901 Filing Process and Deadlines for Measure 120 Arguments and Statements (1) Unless otherwise specified in Senate Bill 1599 (SB 1599) (2026), the Secretary of State designates the State Voters’ Pamphlet Manual, revised 1/2026 and associated forms as the procedures and f…

165-020-0007 Form SEL 704 as Cash/Security Deposit The Secretary of State hereby designates Form SEL 704 to comply with ORS 198.775 in contents required in filing a Cash/Security Deposit. Form SEL 704 shall be the deposit form and shall contain: (1) Name of district to be annexed…

165-020-0020 Notice of Election of Board Members for Special Districts (1) The Secretary of State hereby adopts by reference and designates SEL 815, Notice of Election of Board Members for Special Districts to comply with ORS 255.069. (2) The elections officer shall deliver the S…

165-020-0021 Record Retention for Preparation of Notice of Election of Board Members for Special Districts (1) In accordance with ORS 255.069(4) the election officer shall retain completed SEL 815, Notice of Election of Board Members for Special Districts, filed by the district e…

165-020-0030 Designation of Identification Numbers for Measures of Special Districts Located in More Than One County (1) ORS 246.150 requires the Secretary of State to adopt rules to facilitate correctness, impartiality and efficiency in administering elections laws. ORS 254.108 …

165-020-0035 Nominating Schedule for Filling Vacancy in Office of Board Member of District (1) The purpose of this rule is to provide a nominating schedule for candidates' names to be printed on the official district election ballot to fill the remainder of an unexpired term resu…

165-020-0050 Purpose (1) This rule provides a uniform billing system for state, county, city and special district elections as authorized under ORS 246.179, 254.046, and 255.305. (2) All chargeable costs incurred by the county election officer for the conduct of an election held …

165-020-0055 Definition of Terms (1) "Adjustment Cost." A value which occurs when the voter registration of a district which did not have an excess credit is multiplied by the adjustment cost per elector. (2) "Adjustment Cost Per Elector." A unit charge derived by dividing the to…

165-020-0125 Adjusting Terms of Special District Board Members; Ukiah School Dist., Umatilla Co. Text in ORMS History: SD 5-1984, f. & ef. 4-23-84 Reverted to SD 5-1984, f. & ef. 4-23-84 Sunset on 09-28-2017

165-020-0445 Adjusting the Terms of Office for Douglas County Transportation District Directors (1) This rule adjusts the terms of office of the district directors for the Douglas County Transportation District, a special district formed in Douglas County, and with governing dire…

165-022-0000 Definitions (1) The terms used in this chapter have the same definitions as identified in ORS 251.005(1), (3), (4), (5). For this chapter, the terms: (a) "Statements" refers to the county voters' pamphlet filings made by candidates; (b) "Arguments" refers to the fili…

165-022-0010 Filing Officer and Schedule for Filing Explanatory Statements, Measure Arguments and Candidate Statements (1) Any county, for any election, may choose to produce a county voters’ pamphlet. This rule applies to any county which produces a voters’ pamphlet. The purpose…

165-022-0030 Filing Candidate Statement and Portrait (1) Any candidate for local office may file a candidate statement and portrait with the county clerk of each county in which the local government is located. (2) The county clerk may require that the candidate statement be type…

165-022-0040 Filing Explanatory Statements (1) The governing body for any local government which has referred a measure to the voters, shall submit an impartial, simple and understandable statement explaining the measure and its effect. (2) For any initiative or referendum by pet…

165-022-0050 Filing Measure Arguments (1) Any person may file an argument supporting or opposing a measure with each county clerk of the counties in which the local government that filed the measure is located if the counties will be publishing a voters' pamphlet. (2) The county …

165-022-0060 Printing and Distributing the County Voters’ Pamphlet (1) The county clerk shall print the voters' pamphlet using a format which allows for equal space for every statement and portrait. (2) Candidate portraits shall be printed 1.5 inches by 1.75 inches. (3) Measure a…

165-022-0070 Notification Between Electoral Jurisdictions (1) If a local government is located in more than one county, the county clerk with whom the filings are made shall certify, within one business day after the filing deadline, to the county clerk of another county in which…

165-022-0080 Billing Electoral Jurisdictions for County Voters’ Pamphlet The formula used to determine the apportioned expenditure and revenue allocations for the county voters’ pamphlet as related to election costs is outlined in OAR 165-020-0050, 165-020-0055, and 165-020-0060,…

165-024-0005 Translations Definitions (1) The following definitions apply for purposes of OAR 165-024-0010 and OAR 165-024-0020. (2) Candidate Filer means a candidate or a candidate’s agent. (3) Candidate’s agent means a person who has actual oral or written authority, either exp…

165-024-0010 Translation Advisory Council (1) The Secretary of State shall select and appoint the members of the Council, shall provide administrative support to the Council, and shall consult with the Council concerning Community Validation of Selected Voters’ Pamphlet Material …

165-024-0015 Language Lists for Translation of State and County Voters’ Pamphlet Materials (1) This rule specifies data sources the Secretary of State uses to compile lists of the most commonly spoken languages other than English and the estimated numbers of individuals who speak…

165-024-0020 Professional Translations of Selected State and County Voters’ Pamphlet Materials (1) Required translations of Selected State and County Voters’ Pamphlet Materials shall be performed according to the highest degree of professional accuracy. (2) Professional translato…

165-024-0025 Translation of County Voters’ Pamphlet Materials (1) This rule governs the required translation of certain county voters’ pamphlet materials by the Secretary of State for elections in which the county mails county residents a voters’ pamphlet. (2) Pursuant to ORS 251…

165-024-0030 Translation of State Voters’ Pamphlet Materials (1) This rule governs the required translation of certain state voters’ pamphlet materials by the Secretary of State for elections in which the Secretary of State produces a voters’ pamphlet. (2) Pursuant to ORS 251.167…

165-025-0100 Candidates for Presidential Elector (1) For purposes of this rule, a “certifying party” is any major or minor party, assembly of electors, or chief sponsor of a certificate of nomination made by individual electors who may certify names of candidates for presidential…

165-025-0110 Certificates of Ascertainment (1) In addition to the certificates of election issued under OAR 165-025-0100 (6), the Secretary of State shall issue certificates of ascertainment of presidential electors as required by law. (2) Each year in which a President and Vice-…

165-025-0120 Convening of Presidential Electors (1) Not later than six days prior to the convening of presidential electors, the Secretary of State shall (a) prepare and sign certificates of ascertainment in the manner required by law; (b) ensure the certificates of ascertainment…