Oregon Secretary of State

Committee Formation

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The definition of “candidate” for campaign finance purposes is broad. If you are considering a run for public office and have started spending money, even if it’s your own money, you likely have campaign​ finance reporting obligations. Review the information below to learn more. ​​

If youThen​


  • Serve as your own treasurer
and
  • Do not have an existing candidate committee
and
  • Do not expect to spend or receive more than $1,500 during the entire calendar year (including in-kind contributions and personal funds)
  • You do not need to register with the Elections Division if you meet all three criteria.
  • Keep track of all contributions and expenditures. 
  • If you exceed the $1,500 threshold you must establish a Candidate Committee within 3 business days after exceeding the threshold. You may be eligible to file a Certificate of Limited Contributions and Expenditures​ (PC 7). 
  • Fees paid for state or county voters’ pamphlet filing fees and de minimis costs associated with printing and circulating a petition in lieu of paying a fee for inclusion in a voters’ pamphlet, are not included when calculating contribution or expenditure totals. In general, the use of pens, paper, clipboards, and printer ink from existing household supplies qualifies as de minimis costs if the total combined value of using the items is less than $50. Items purchased specifically for the petition circulation effort do not qualify as de minimis costs.​

​Do not expect to receive a total of more than $5,000 or spend a total of more than $5,000 for the entire calendar year


  • ​​Establish a dedicated campaign bank account 
  • File a Statement of Organization for Candidate Committee on ORESTAR 
  • File a Certificate of Limited Contributions and Expenditures on ORESTAR no later than 7 days after receiving the first contribution or making the first expenditure 
  • Note: if you were previously under the $1,500 threshold, the Certificate must be filed not later than 7 days after exceeding the threshold

Expect to spend or receive more than $5,000

​
  • ​Establish a dedicated campaign bank account 
  • File a Statement of Organization for Candidate Committee on ORESTAR 
  • File campaign finance transactions on ORESTAR ​
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Select "Next" below to find out how to create an ORESTAR Account and Register a Committee.

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Next
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  • ​​​​​A political action committee is a combination of two or more individuals, or a person other than an individual, that receives a contribution or makes an expenditure for the purpose of supporting or opposing a candidate, measure, or political party. Each political action committee must establish a campaign account and file a Statement of Organization. 

  • In limited circumstances, some groups may begin engaging in political activity without being required to register as a PAC. See pages 6 and 20 of the Campaign Finance Manual​ for more information. ​​
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  • ​​​A petition committee is a committee formed by the chief petitioners of an initiative, referendum, or recall petition. 

  • Cover and signature sheets will not be approved for circulation until a petition committee is established. 

  • Some groups are not required to register as a petition committee even though they are circulating a petition. See page 7-8 of the Campaign Finance Manual​ for more information​
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