Information About Metro Office Elections
- Metro offices are on the Primary Election ballot (3rd Tuesday in May of even-numbered years)
- If no candidate for a Metro office receives more than 50% of the vote in the Primary, the two candidates who receive the most votes participate in a runoff at the November General Election
- Metro offices are elected to 4-year terms
- Metro office terms are staggered, with half the offices on the ballot every two years
- Terms begin the first Monday in January following election
May 2026 Primary Election - Important Dates
- First day to file: September 11, 2025
- Deadline for elected incumbents to file candidacy: March 3, 2026, 5:00 pm
- Deadline for non-incumbents (new) and appointed incumbents to file candidacy: March 10, 2026, 5:00 pm
- Deadline to file Voters’ Pamphlet Candidate Statement: March 12, 2026, 5:00 pm
- Deadline to file candidate withdrawal (SEL 150): March 13, 2026
- Voters’ Pamphlet Candidate Statement filings available for public inspection: March 18, 2026
- Election Day: May 19, 2026
Before Filing Your Candidacy for Metro Office:
- Confirm you meet the office’s legal qualifications
- To check whether you meet a Metro office’s residence qualification, search Multnomah County’s Voter Precincts map for your address and click on its surrounding precinct to see the list of districts in which it is located.
- Check when your office is scheduled to be on the ballot
- The schedule below shows regular election cycles for Metro offices.
- Review the election’s filing deadlines
Metro Council President
Next election: May 19, 2026
Qualifications:
- Qualified elector under the Oregon Constitution when term of office begins
- Resident of Metro for 12 months preceding when term of office begins
Elected at-large, by all registered voters in Metro.
Metro Councilor
Next election for Councilor Districts 1, 2, 4: May 19, 2026
Next election for Councilor Districts 3, 5, 6: May 16, 2028
Qualifications:
- Qualified elector under the Oregon Constitution when term of office begins
- Resident of the councilor district for 12 months preceding when term of office begins
Elected by voters registered in the councilor district.
Metro Auditor
Next election: May 19, 2026
Qualifications:
- Qualified elector under the Oregon Constitution when term of office begins
- Resident of Metro for 12 months preceding when term of office begins
- Certified Internal Auditor or Certified Public Accountant at the time of election
Elected at-large, by all registered voters in Metro.
Candidate Filing Process
All Metro candidates file their candidacy only with the Multnomah County Elections Division.
- The Candidate Filing Guide provides more detailed information about filing processes and is updated prior to the opening of the filing period
- Schedule an appointment with the District and Candidate Specialist to discuss questions about the filing process
Filing Fee or Signature Petition
- Metro President or Auditor Candidate Filing Fee: $100
- Metro Councilor Candidate Filing Fee: $25
The filing fee can be paid with a credit/debit card, cash, or check payable to Multnomah County Elections. The Elections Division must receive the fee (or signature petition) by the applicable deadline for the filing to be accepted.
To file by signature petition instead of paying a filing fee:
- 500 valid signatures from electors residing in the district are required
- The Elections Division must approve your Candidate Signature Sheets for circulation before you can collect any signatures
The Elections Division must receive the original signature sheets containing the required number of signatures by 5:00 pm on your candidate filing deadline
File Candidacy Online
The Multnomah County Elections Online Filing Portal will be available by March 2, 2026. If you are filing before then, you may email a copy of your Candidate Filing Form (SEL 101) to filings@multco.us and pay your filing fee with a credit/debit card over the phone (503-988-VOTE).
Before filing candidacy in the online portal:
- Only file online if you are the candidate
- Prepare to provide information for required fields: contact information, occupation, occupational background, educational background, and prior government experience
- Have a credit or debit card ready (American Express is not accepted)
If you are filing by signature petition, your candidate filing form may be submitted online, but the original petition sheets must be filed in person or by mail
File Candidacy in Person or by Mail
Deliver the filing to Multnomah County Elections, 1040 SE Morrison St, Portland OR 97214.
- Candidate Filing Form (SEL 101)
- Ensure that all required fields are completed
- Verify that you have included both Metro's name and the councilor district number (if applicable)
Mailed filings must be received by your filing deadline; postmarks do not count.
Voters’ Pamphlet Filing Process: Candidate Statement
Voters’ Pamphlet Candidate Statement Filing Fee: $100
Voters’ Pamphlet Filing Information (forms and instructions)
Each county produces its own Voters' Pamphlet. Voters’ Pamphlet Candidate Statements must be filed separately with each county where the statement is to be printed.
Metro Councilor Districts 3 and 4 do not have any registered voters in Multnomah County. Voters' Pamphlet Candidate Statements for these positions may only be filed with the elections offices in Washington (District 3 & 4) and Clackamas (District 3) counties.
Additional Candidate Resources & Information
Campaign Finance
Candidates and campaigns must comply with campaign finance regulations. State-level campaign finance reporting requirements may apply before you file to be listed as a candidate on the ballot. Review the State of Oregon Elections Division’s campaign finance resources as early as possible to understand your legal obligations.
- Campaign Finance Transparency & Education hub
- Register a candidate committee
- State Elections Division Manuals & Quick Guides
Candidate Order on the Ballot
Pursuant to state law (OAR 165-010-0090), the State of Oregon Elections Division produces a directive which provides the random alphabetic order in which candidate names will appear on the ballot. This directive is issued and delivered to counties no later than the 68th day before the date of any election. Once received, Multnomah County Elections places the directive on our website.
Candidate Withdrawal
If you have already filed your candidacy and would like your name removed from the ballot, you must file a Candidate Withdrawal Form (SEL 150) by the candidate withdrawal deadline.
If you are changing the position for which you are running, you must file a Candidate Withdrawal form before filing your candidacy for the new position.