Candidate Filing Information and Forms

Important dates for the May 19, 2026 Primary Election

• 09/11/25    First day for candidate to file for office
• 03/03/26    Last day for elected incumbent to file for office
• 03/10/26    Last day for candidate to file for office
• 03/12/26    Last day for candidate’s statement to be filed for inclusion in voters’ pamphlet
• 03/23/26    Last day for candidate’s statement to be filed for inclusion in voters’ pamphlet (if the candidate files candidacy with governing body other than county clerk)

Information

County candidate requirements, political signage information and more can be found in the Supporting Documents section below. 

Candidate Filing Forms

You may complete the forms on your computer by tabbing through the fields and typing the appropriate information.  After completing the form, print and sign it before submitting it, with payment if required, to the elections office by the filing deadline. These forms are also available at the Deschutes County Clerk's office, 1300 NW Wall Street, Ste 202, Bend, OR  97703.

• 2026 Candidate Election Information
• Office & Election Requirements for County Candidates
• Filing by Declaration
  • SEL101:  Candidate Filing - Major Political Party or Nonpartisan
  • $50 filing fee
• Filing by Petition (500 Valid Signatures Required)
  • Before circulating, submit the following for County Clerk’s written approval:
    • SEL101:  Candidate Filing - Major Political Party or Nonpartisan
    • SEL121:  Candidate Signature Sheet - Nonpartisan
  • After signatures have been collected, candidate submits the following to the County Clerk no later than 5 pm on the filing deadline (allow 10 days for the County Clerk’s Office to verify signatures):
    • SEL121:  Candidate Signature Sheet - Nonpartisan
      • Each signature sheet must be signed and dated by the circulator
    • SEL338:  Petition Submission Form (must be submitted with completed signature sheets)
• SEL150:  Candidate Filing - Withdrawal

Precinct Committee Person Filing Information and Forms

It is the responsibility of the candidate to make sure they file in the correct precinct.

Any candidate who files a declaration of candidacy or write-in declaration (or any person who files a write-in nomination) before redistricting has been completed should contact the county elections office before the filing deadline to verify that they are a candidate in the correct precinct. If the candidate will not qualify in the redrawn precinct the original filing will need to be withdrawn and a new filing submitted in the correct precinct.

• SEL105:     Precinct Committee Person Candidate Filing
• SEL105D:  Precinct Committee Person Write-In Candidate Declaration
• SEL105N:  Precinct Committee Person Write-In Candidate Nomination

Voters' Pamphlet Filing Forms

ORS 251.325 sets the filing fees for candidate statements published in the County Voters' Pamphlet and does not provide a filing by petition option in lieu of fees. 

• Candidates Statement Form for Voters' Pamphlet
• Endorsement Form for Voters' Pamphlet

Campaign Finance

All candidate committees and political committees are required to file campaign finance information electronically with the Oregon Secretary of State's Elections Division, Campaign Finance.

There are no longer scheduled reporting deadlines. Committees continuously report campaign finance transactions. The filing of all transactions is done via the internet using the Elections Division's ORESTAR campaign finance reporting system.

If you have questions regarding where and how to start on your campaign finance reporting, refer to the Oregon Secretary of State's Campaign Finance Transparency & Education. You may also contact the Oregon Secretary of State's Elections Division at (503) 958-1518.