• Must have residency within the City of Hood River for a continuous period of 12 months immediately preceding election or appointment; and
• Be registered to vote within the City of Hood River for 12 continuous months immediately preceding election or appointment; and
• Continue residency within the City of Hood River during any term of office; and
• Not be an employee of the City of Hood River unless the employee’s position is substantially volunteer in nature.
• No person shall be a candidate in a single election for more than one elective City Office.
• No Councilor shall serve in more than one public elective city office.

Required forms are marked with an asterisk. Printed forms are available at the City Hall, 211 2^nd Street, Hood River, OR, starting June 3, 2026, or online here:

Please refer to the Secretary of State’s Candidate Manual for information on completing these forms. Please note, all forms are public record and are subject to disclosure.

• SEL 101 Candidate Filing – Major Political Party or Nonpartisan*
  • Submit to City of Hood River City Recorder. Please note, all Council seats are “Nonpartisan”.
• SEL 121 Candidate Signature Sheet – Nonpartisan*
  • Fill out top portion and Submit to City of Hood River City Recorder for approval.Please note, the City Recorder must approve your SEL 121 in writing before you begin circulating for signatures.Once the required signatures have been obtained, submit to the City Recorder. Signatures will be verified by the Hood River County Elections Office.
• SEL 220 Statement of Organization for Candidate Committee
  • Campaigns that expect to spend or receive over $1,500 are required to create a Candidate Committee.This form is submitted to the State Elections Division, online or by mail. Please refer to the Campaign Finance Manual for requirements and information about the SEL 220.
• SEL 180 Residence Address Exemption Request
  • Optional, submit online through Secretary of State
• SEL 338 Petition Submission – Candidate, Voter’s Pamphlet*
  • This is submitted to the City Recorder along with your completed signature sheets (SEL 121), containing 20 verified signatures from registered active voters who reside within the City limits of Hood River. It is highly recommended that candidates collect at least an additional 20% of signatures in case there are signatures that are disqualified.
• SEL 150 Candidate Filing – Withdrawal / (PDF Version)
  • May submit online or submit printed form to City Recorder’s Office

Step 1: Complete SEL 101 Candidate Filing and top portion of SEL 121 Candidate Signature Sheet

• See attached sample SEL 101 and sample SEL 121in the Candidates Packet.
• See page 33-35 of Secretary of State’s Candidate Manual.

Step 2: Submit completed SEL 101 and SEL 121 to the City Recorder

• An appointment is not required but is encouraged. Please contact Jennifer Gray, City Recorder, at (541) 387-5212 or j.gray@cityofhoodriver.gov, to set up an appointment during business hours (M-F, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.).

Step 3: The City Recorder will review documents, confirm candidacy requirements, and provide written approval to circulate the SEL 121 for signatures. The City Recorder will set up a meeting with you to pick up your SEL 121, grant written approval to circulate, and review important information.

Step 4: Meet with City Recorder to pick up your SEL 121, receive written approval to circulate your petition, and review important information. You are now approved to circulate your SEL 121 for signatures.

Step 5: Collect Signatures

• Candidates are required to collect 20 valid signatures.
• All signatures must be from active Oregon registered voters, registered within City limits of Hood River.
• Candidates are advised to collect more than the required number of signatures to ensure the petition contains a sufficient number of valid signatures. It is highly recommended that candidates collect at least an additional 20% of signatures in case there are signatures that are disqualified.
• See Secretary of State’s Candidate Manual for guidelines and requirements for circulators and signers.
• Guidelines for Circulation
  • Candidates must use approved signature sheets to collect signatures. Candidate nominating petitions may not be circulated electronically
• Circulator Requirements
  • One circulator per sheet
  • Circulator must personally witness each signature
  • Circulator must complete the circulator certification, including signature and date signed, after witnessing all signatures collected on a sheet

Step 6: Once at least 20 signatures are collected, submit signed SEL 121 petitions to the City Recorder. Before submitting, be sure circulators complete the required fields on the bottom portion of the form.

• See attached sample SEL 121 in the Candidates Packet.
• Please allow up to 10 days for signatures to be verified by the Hood River County Elections Office.
• Common reasons signatures are rejected:
  • Signer is not a registered voter, or signed before they were a registered voter
  • Signature does not match signature on voter registration
  • Voter is inactive
  • Voter lives outside of City limits
  • Printed signature
  • Duplicate signature

Step 7: Once signatures have been verified by the Hood River County Elections office, the City Recorder will notify you.

Step 8: If all forms are completed correctly, The City Recorder will send your name to the Hood River County Clerk to be added to the ballot for the November 3, 2026, General Election. All forms submitted are public record and your SEL 101 will be posted to City of Hood River website.

Candidate Withdrawal: The deadline to withdraw your name from the ballot is August 28, 2026. Please complete SEL 150 Candidate Withdrawal (online) to withdraw your name from the ballot. If the SEL 150 is not submitted by the deadline, the candidate’s name will appear on the ballot.

All candidacy filings must be delivered to and received by the City Recorder no later than 5:00 p.m. on the applicable filing deadline. Please allow ample time to collect the required signatures on your nominating petition and at least 10 business days for the Hood River County Clerk’s Office to verify signatures. We suggest beginning Step 1 no later than four weeks prior to the applicable filing deadline.