Elections

Running For City Council

The 2026 general election takes place on November 3, 2026. Two seats on the City Council (those currently held by Councilor President Caroline Berry, and Councilor Sam Scull) are to be contested in this election.

Roles and Responsibilities

City Councilors serve four-year terms. Wilsonville does not have districts or precincts; each councilor serves the entire community at large. All seats are non-partisan.

To be eligible to sit on the City Council, a candidate must:

• Be a United States citizen
• Reside within Wilsonville city limits for at least 12 months prior to the election date
• Be registered to vote  

The Wilsonville City Council typically meets twice a month, on the first and third Monday of each month. However, should the Monday fall on a holiday, the meeting will be held that Thursday. Generally, a work session is held at 5:00 pm, followed by the regular meeting at 7:00 pm. If needed an Executive Session will occur before or after the City Council meeting.
 
City Councilors also serve as members of the Urban Renewal Agency (meetings held as necessary, usually before or after a Council meeting) and the Budget Committee (spring meetings to confirm the annual fiscal year budget). Councilors may receive additional assignments as liaisons to City Boards and Commissions and/or as representatives on state/county/regional boards.  

Running for Office

If you are interested in running for office the City strongly encourages you to set-up an appointment to review important filing deadlines, paperwork, and process. To schedule an appointment contact the City Recorder, by email at CityRecorder@wilsonvilleoregon.gov or by phone at 503-570-1506. 

Filing Dates

It is the candidates' responsibility to ensure paperwork is complete and submitted on time.

How to File

Please read carefully the County, City and District Candidates Manual and Campaign Finance Manual which will provide instructions to help you through the process. These manuals are available online at the Secretary of State’s Election Division website.

Step 1 - File Prospective Petition

Contact the City Recorder, by email at CityRecorder@wilsonvilleoregon.gov or by phone at 503-570-1506 to schedule a time to drop off the forms.

The following items must be completed for submission:

• SEL 101          Candidate Filing – Major Political Party or Nonpartisan
• SEL 121          Candidate Signature Sheet - Nonpartisan

Prior to gathering any signatures, the SEL 101 and SEL 121 must be approved by the City Recorder or designee.  Failure to do so will result in the rejection of those signature sheets.

Step 2 - Circulate Petition/Collect Signatures

Following notice of approval provided in writing by the City Recorder or designee, a candidate may circulate the Candidate Signature Sheet (SEL 121 ).

Pursuant to the City of Wilsonville Charter, a candidate must collect 20 valid signatures from registered voters in the Wilsonville city limits. It is highly advisable that candidates collect more than the 20 signatures to account for voters who may not be registered and/or who reside outside of Wilsonville.

All signatures must be original signatures of the signers, and witnessed by the petition circulator. The petition circulator must complete the Circulator Certification (at the bottom of the signature sheet) after witnessing all signatures collected on a sheet. Do not sign and date your petition sheet(s) until all signatures have been gathered. 

Step 3 - File Completed Petition

After a sufficient number of signatures have been collected, candidates must provide the City Recorder or designee the following: 

• SEL 338          Petition Submission - Candidate, Voters' Pamphlet
• SEL 121          Candidate Signature Sheet - Nonpartisan

Contact the City Recorder by email at CityRecorder@wilsonvilleoregon.gov  or by phone at 503-570-1506 to schedule a time to drop off the forms. The City Recorder will then verify the signatures for sufficiency and validity with the Clackamas County Elections Division. To allow time for verification and, if needed, collection of additional signatures, submit signature sheets to the City Recorder no later than August 11, 2026 for elected incumbent candidates, and August 18, 2026 for non-elected incumbent candidates. 

Step 4 - Statement of Organization and Campaign Finance Requirements

Review the Campaign Finance Manual for instructions and deadlines. Oregon law requires electronic filing through the Secretary of State’s Election Division using ORESTAR.

Candidates must establish a campaign account and file a Statement of Organization designating a candidate committee, unless the candidate meets all three of the following conditions:

• The candidate serves as the candidate’s own treasurer;
• The candidate does not have an existing candidate committee; and
• The candidate does not expect to receive or spend more than $1,500 during a calendar year.

If at any time during a calendar year the candidate exceeds $1,500 in either contributions or expenditures, the candidate must establish a campaign account and file a candidate committee not later than three business days after exceeding the $1,500 threshold. Further, the candidate must also either file all transactions or a Certificate of Limited Contributions and Expenditures (PC7) (if eligible) within 7 calendar days after aggregate contributions or aggregate expenditures exceed $1,500 during a calendar year. If the committee does not file a Certificate of Limited Contributions and Expenditures (PC7) , all transactions are due on the same date as the transaction that caused the committee to exceed the $1,500 threshold.

File directly with Secretary of State’s Election Division:

•  SEL 220        Statement of Organization for Candidate Committee

• PC7                 Certificate of Limited Contributions and Expenditures

Step 5 - Voters' Pamphlet(s)

Candidate Statements for the County Voters’ Pamphlet(s) must be filed directly with Washington and/or Clackamas Counties no later than 5:00 pm, August 25, 2026, for inclusion in the respective County Voters’ Pamphlet.

Additional information concerning cost, requirements, and filing deadlines are available from either Washington County or Clackamas County Elections Offices.

• JCVP-01         Joint County Voters' Pamphlet Candidate Statement
• JCVP-02         Joint County Voters' Pamphlet Candidate Statement of Endorsement

Withdrawal of Candidacy or Nomination

To withdraw from candidacy or nomination, a candidate must file a Withdrawal of Candidacy of Nomination (SEL 150) with the City Recorder or designee. This form must be filed no later than 5:00 pm, August 28, 2026; otherwise candidate’s name will be printed on the ballot.

• SEL 150          Candidate Filing - Withdrawal 

Signage Regulations

If you plan to display campaign signs, please note all signs subject to time, location, quantity and other restrictions stated in Wilsonville's Sign Regulations, including Wilsonville Code, Chapter 4, Section 4.156.10. These regulations are intended to ensure public safety, protect visibility along roadways, and maintain community aesthetics. 

For detailed requirements, please refer to:

• Wilsonville Guide to Lawn Signs

Questions? Contact the Code Compliance Coordinator, David Valenzuela at dvalenzuela@wilsonvilleoregon.gov or 503-570-1603.

Registering to Vote

To vote, you must be registered. You are eligible to register if you are a U.S. citizen, an Oregon resident, and at least 16 years old by the next general election. Voters under 18 will remain in pending status until their 18th birthday. If you move to or within Wilsonville, you must update your registration.

Register to vote online through the Oregon Secretary of State’s Election Division by 11:59 pm on the 21st day before the election.

You may also submit a paper voter registration form by mail or delivery. Forms must be received by 5:00 pm on the 21st day before the election (Clackamas or Washington County) to be eligible.

Voter registration forms must be mailed or delivered to the Elections Division at:

Clackamas County Elections Division
1710 Red Soils Court #100
Oregon City, OR 97045

elections@clackamas.us  l  503-655-8510

Washington County Elections Division
2925 NE Aloclek Drive #170
Hillsboro, OR 97124

elections@washingtoncountyor.gov  l  503-846-5800