On this page
- Information about Special District Elections
- Education Service & Community College Districts
- School Districts
- Fire Districts
- Water Districts
- Urban Flood Safety & Water Quality District
- Candidate Filing Process
- Voters’ Pamphlet Filing Process: Candidate Statement
- Additional Candidate Resources & Information
- Shared Districts that File with Other Counties
Information about Special District Elections
- Special district elections are held on the 3rd Tuesday in May of odd-numbered years
- Special district directors and commissioners are typically elected to 4-year terms
- Office terms are staggered, with half a district’s offices scheduled to be on the ballot every two years
- If a vacancy occurs, the board may appoint someone to fill the position through the next Special District Election. If the next election falls only two years into the original officeholder's term, the position will appear on the ballot as a 2-year unexpired term. The elected candidate will serve for the remainder of the original term, and then the position will be on the ballot again for a regular 4-year term.
- Elected terms begin July 1 following May election
May 2027 Special District Election - Important Dates
- First day to file: February 6, 2027
- Deadline for elected incumbents to file candidacy: March 11, 2027, 5:00 pm
- Deadline for non-incumbents (new) and appointed incumbents to file candidacy: March 18, 2027, 5:00 pm
- Deadline to file Voters’ Pamphlet Candidate Statement: March 19, 2027, 5:00 pm
- Deadline to file candidate withdrawal (SEL 150): March 18, 2027
- Candidate Statement filings available for public inspection: March 23, 2027
- Election Day: May 18, 2027
Before Filing Your Candidacy for a Special District Office:
- Confirm you meet the office’s legal qualifications
- To check whether you meet a residence or landowner 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. In February of odd-numbered years, the Elections Division publishes a notice with all of the positions that will be on the May ballot, including any 2-year unexpired terms due to vacancies.
- Review the election’s filing deadlines
Education Service & Community College Districts
Multnomah Education Service District Board
May 2027: Positions 5 (Zone 1); 6 (at-large); 7 (Zone 3)
May 2029: Positions 1 (Zone 5); 2 (at-large); 3 (Zone 2); 4 (Zone 4)
Qualifications:
- All positions: Resident of the district for 1 year immediately preceding election
- Zone positions: Elector of the zone
- At-large positions: Elector of the district
At-large positions are elected by all voters registered in the district; zone positions are elected by voters registered in the zone.
Mt. Hood Community College Board
May 2027: Zones 3 & 5 ; At-large positions 6 & 7
May 2029: Zones 1, 2, 4
Qualifications:
- Zone positions: Elector who resides in the zone
- At-large positions: Elector who resides in the district
At-large positions are elected by all voters registered in the district; zone positions are elected by voters registered in the zone.
Portland Community College Board
May 2027: Zones 2, 3, 7
May 2029: Zones 1, 4, 5, 6
Qualifications: Elector who resides in the zone
Positions are elected by voters registered in the zone.
School Districts
Centennial School District Board
May 2027: Zone 2; At-large positions 4 & 5
May 2029: Zones 1 & 3; At-large positions 6 & 7
Qualifications:
- All candidates: Resident of the district for 1 year immediately preceding election
- Zone positions: Elector registered in the district and resident in the zone
- At-large positions: Elector registered in the district
Positions are elected by all voters registered in the district.
Corbett School District Board
May 2027: Positions 1, 6, 7
May 2029: Positions 2, 3, 4, 5
Qualifications:
- Resident of the district for 1 year immediately preceding election
- Elector registered in the district
Positions are elected by all voters registered in the district.
David Douglas School District Board
May 2027: Positions 4, 5, 7
May 2029: Positions 1, 2, 3, 6
Qualifications:
- Resident of the district for 1 year immediately preceding election
- Elector registered in the district
Positions are elected by all voters registered in the district.
Gresham-Barlow School District Board
May 2027: Positions 1 (Zone 1), 2 (Zone 3), 7 (At-large)
May 2029: Positions 3 (Zone 2), 4 (At-large), 5 (Zone 4), 6 (At-large)
Qualifications:
- All candidates: Resident of the district for 1 year immediately preceding election
- Zone positions: Elector registered in the district and resident in the zone
- At-large positions: Elector registered in the district
Positions are elected by all voters registered in the district.
Parkrose School District Board
May 2027: Positions 2, 3
May 2029: Positions 1, 4, 5
Qualifications:
- Resident of the district for 1 year immediately preceding election
- Elector registered in the district
Positions are elected by all voters registered in the district.
Portland School District Board
May 2027: Zones 1, 2, 3, 7
May 2029: Zones 4, 5, 6
Qualifications:
- Resident of the district for 1 year immediately preceding election
- Elector registered in the district and resident in the zone
Positions are elected by all voters registered in the district.
Reynolds School District Board
May 2027: Positions 5, 6, 7
May 2029: Positions 1, 2, 3, 4
Qualifications:
- Resident of the district for 1 year immediately preceding election
- Elector registered in the district
Positions are elected by all voters registered in the district.
Riverdale School District Board
May 2027: Positions 2, 4
May 2029: Positions 1, 3, 5
Qualifications:
- Resident of the district for 1 year immediately preceding election
- Elector registered in the district
Positions are elected by all voters registered in the district.
Fire Districts
Corbett Rural Fire Protection District Board #14
May 2027: Positions 3, 4, 5
May 2029: Positions 1, 2
Qualifications: Elector or landowner in the district
Positions are elected by all voters registered in the district.
Multnomah Rural Fire Protection District Board #10
May 2027: Positions 2, 4
May 2029: Positions 1, 3, 5
Qualifications: Elector or landowner in the district
Positions are elected by all voters registered in the district.
Riverdale Rural Fire Protection District Board #11J
May 2027: Positions 3, 4, 5
May 2029: Positions 1, 2
Qualifications: Elector or landowner in the district
Positions are elected by all voters registered in the district.
Sauvie Island Rural Fire Protection District Board #30J
May 2027: Positions 1, 2
May 2029: Positions 3, 4, 5
Qualifications: Elector or landowner in the district
Positions are elected by all voters registered in the district.
Water Districts
Alto Park Water District Board
May 2027: Positions 1, 3, 5
May 2029: Positions 2, 4
Qualifications: Elector of the district OR Oregon elector who owns and maintains real property in the district
Positions are elected by all voters registered in the district.
Burlington Water District Board
May 2027: Positions 2, 3, 4
May 2029: Positions 1, 5
Qualifications: Elector of the district
Positions are elected by all voters registered in the district.
Corbett Water District Board
May 2027: Positions 1, 3, 5
May 2029: Positions 2, 4
Qualifications: Elector of the district
Positions are elected by all voters registered in the district.
Lusted Water District Board
May 2027: Positions 1, 3, 5
May 2029: Positions 2, 4
Qualifications: Elector of the district
Positions are elected by all voters registered in the district.
Pleasant Home Water District Board
May 2027: Positions 3, 5
May 2029: Positions 1, 2, 4
Qualifications: Elector of the district
Positions are elected by all voters registered in the district.
Valley View Water District Board
May 2027: Positions 1, 2, 3
May 2029: Positions 4, 5
Qualifications: Elector of the district
Positions are elected by all voters registered in the district.
Urban Flood Safety & Water Quality District
May 2027: Positions 2, 3
May 2029: Positions 1, 4, 5
Qualifications:
- Position 1: Elector who resides in the district
- Position 2, 3, 4, 5: Elector who resides in the district, and who:
- Resides within the district’s managed floodplain, OR
- Owns real property located within the district’s managed floodplain, OR
- Is the designated representative of a business or other for profit or nonprofit corporation that owns real property located within the managed floodplain and is authorized in writing by the owner to be a candidate at the time of filing the declaration of candidacy
Positions are elected by all voters registered in the district.
Candidate Filing Process
The Elections Division is the candidate filing office for districts with their administrative offices located in Multnomah County. If you are filing for an office in a district that is located in more than one county, only file your candidacy with the district's candidate filing office.
May 2025 Special District Candidate Filing Guide (464.55 KB) Edit file
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
Candidate Filing Fee: $10
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:
- Original signature petition sheets with the required number of valid signatures must be received by the Elections Division by 5:00 pm on your candidate filing deadline
- Alto Park and Burlington water districts: Signatures required from at least 10% of electors residing in the office’s election district (contact the Elections Division for voter registration numbers)
All other special districts: At least 25 signatures from electors residing in the office’s election district
File Candidacy Online
The Multnomah County Elections Online Filing Portal is coming soon and will be available when the 2027 filing period opens.
Before filing candidacy online:
- 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 190)
- Ensure that all required fields are completed
- Verify that you have included both the district's name and the office's position number
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: $25
Voters’ Pamphlet Filing Information (forms and instructions)
Each county produces its own Voters' Pamphlet. If an office is elected by voters in more than one county, a separate Voters’ Pamphlet filing and fee must be submitted to each county where the statement is to be printed.
Portland Community College Zone 6 does not have any registered voters in Multnomah County. Voters' Pamphlet Candidate Statements for this position may only be filed with the elections offices in Washington and Yamhill 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.
Shared Districts that File with Other Counties
Portions of the districts listed below are in Multnomah County; however candidates file their SEL 190 candidate filing form with a different county elections office. Check with the filing office for position qualifications.
Voters' Pamphlet statements may be filed with the Multnomah County Elections Division once you have filed your candidacy with the filing office county.
Filing Office: Clackamas County Elections
- Clackamas Education Service District Board
- Lake Oswego School District Board
- Clackamas Fire District Board #1J
- Palatine Hill Water District Board
- Sunrise Water Authority Board
Filing Office: Columbia County Elections
- Scappoose School District Board
- Scappoose Rural Fire Protection District Board
Filing Office: Washington County Elections
- Beaverton School District Board
- Hillsboro School District Board
- Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue District Board
- Tualatin Valley Water District Board
- West Slope Water District Board