The City Recorder has received information that challenges the qualifications for a candidate for city elective office. The City Recorder and City Attorney are reviewing the information and will be prepared to make a determination on the issue upon the county election official’s certification of the results of the May primary election. That certification is expected to occur by June 22, 2026.  

To assist in understanding how elections work in the City of Salem, we offer the following summary of the City’s election process, role and responsibilities. 
 

Understanding Key Terms: 

• Elector: Someone who is qualified to vote, as defined by Oregon law. 

• Candidate: This is a person running for office.  

• Elective City Officer: The Municipal Court Judge, Mayor, and the eight City Councilors are elective city officers for the City of Salem.  

• Primary election: An election that occurs every May in even-numbered years that determines the nominees for a general election. 

• General election: An election that occurs every November in even numbered years to determine the election of candidates for elected office. 
  
  

The Salem Charter, Salem Revised Code and Oregon law establish the procedures and requirements to become a candidate: 

• Prospective candidates must file a nominating petition with the City Recorder. 

• The petition must include the candidate’s name and signature, place of residence (including street address), and the ward for city council candidates that they seek to represent. 

• The petition must be signed by qualified electors residing in the city. 

• For the Mayor and Municipal Court Judge offices, the petition must be signed by at least 200 qualified electors residing in the city, including electors residing in at least one-fifth of voting precincts in the city. 

• For city councilors, the petition must be signed by at least 50 qualified electors residing in the ward which the candidate resides and will represent. 

Role of the City Recorder: 

• The City Recorder is the City’s elections official. 

• The City Recorder reviews petitions for candidates for city elective office and issues candidate certificates upon determining they qualify. 

• Oregon law permits an elections official to rely on information provided by the candidates in their petition for candidacy, unless the official becomes aware that the person is not eligible. 

• In Salem, the City Recorder submits the candidate petition with the applicable county elections official and requests that the county verify the residence and voter registration status of the prospective candidate. 

• If the county verifies that information, the City Recorder will issue a candidate certificate to the person and inform the county elections official that the candidate qualifies for the primary election ballot. 

• After the May primary election results are certified by the county elections official, the City Recorder will then issue nomination certificates to qualified candidates. 

• If the City Recorder believes a candidate is no longer qualified, the Recorder may notify the candidate and refuse to issue the nomination certificate. 

Qualifications for Candidates: 

• Candidates must be qualified electors as required by Oregon law. 

• City Council candidates must live in the ward they seek to represent for 12 months prior to being elected or appointed as required by the Salem Charter. 

City Charter Establishes Qualifications for “Elective City Officer”: 

Once elected and during their term in office, City elective officers: 

• Must maintain their residency in the city or ward. 

• Must continue to be a qualified elector. 

Election Process in the City of Salem 

Before Election Day: 

• The City of Salem has a helpful elections webpage to assist those interested in running for Elected City Office. 

• The guide includes information concerning issues such as filing deadlines, campaign manuals and rules for campaign signs. 

After Election Day: 

• Once a primary election has been completed, the County elections official will certify the election results. 

• After this, the City Recorder will inform the City Council of the results and City Council will issue a proclamation of the election results.   

• The City Recorder will then issue nomination certificates. If one candidate receives more than half the votes, they will get a certificate of nomination. If no single person has a majority of votes, the top two candidates will each be issued a certificate of nomination. 

• If one candidate receives a majority of votes and is the nominee, only that candidate will be placed on the general election ballot. 

• If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, the top two vote-getters will be placed on the general election ballot.