The Primary Election determines which candidates will represent each political party at the General Election in November. In Wasco County, it is also the election for certain non-partisan County offices.
Election Deadlines
- September 14, 2023 – First day for candidate to file for office
- January 22, 2024 - First day for candidates for County positions to file candidate statement in State voters' pamphlet
- March 12, 2024 - Last day for candidate to file for office
- March 14, 2024 - Last day to file or withdraw candidate statements for State voters' pamphlet
- May 21, 2024 - Election Day. County Clerk's Office is open 7 am - 8 pm. Last day for voter to return ballot. Ballots that are mailed must be postmarked on or before Election Day. Ballots deposited in an official drop box must be received by 8 pm on Election Day. Unofficial election results will be released at 8 pm and at final count for the evening (typically around midnight).
State of Oregon Offices
The offices of District Attorney, Circuit Court Judge, State Senator and State Representative are filed directly with the Secretary of State Elections Division. To find out which positions are open, check the Open Office Positions for 2024 Primary Election. Offices are open for filing starting September 14, 2023 and closing March 12, 2024.
Wasco County Offices
The following Wasco County offices are open for filing starting September 14, 2023 and closing March 12, 2024. You must be "an elector under the Oregon constitution" (registered voter) to file for any position (ORS 204.016). Names listed next to the position indicates who has filed for office. Click on the name to see their filing form.
- County Assessor - Jill Filla Amery
- County Clerk - Chrissy Zaugg
- County Commissioner, Position #2 - Dan Richardson
- County Sheriff - Lane Magill
- County Treasurer - Elijah Preston
| Office | Minimum Age | Residency | Term of Office | Special Requirements |
| County Assessor (Assessor job description) |
18 |
Resident of Wasco County 1 year prior to Election Day |
4 years, elected during the Primary election* | Must be a registered appraiser or trainee and have 2 years accounting experience or 2 years employment in an Appraiser's office. Must be certified to be eligible by the Department of Revenue. ORS 204.016(4) |
| County Clerk (Clerk job description) |
18 | Resident of Wasco County 1 year prior to Election Day | 4 years, elected during the General Election** | |
| County Commissioner (Commissioner job description) |
18 | Resident of Wasco County 1 year prior to Election Day | 4 years, elected during the Primary election* | |
| County Sheriff (Sheriff job description) |
21 | Resident of Wasco County 1 year prior to Election Day | 4 years, elected during the General Election** | Proof of certification or eligibility for certification by Department of Public Safety Standards and Training must be provided to the filing officer no later than 70 days prior to election. ORS 206.015 |
| County Treasurer (Treasurer job description) |
18 | Resident of Wasco County 1 year prior to Election Day | 4 years, elected during the General Election** |
* When are the County Assessor and County Commissioner elected?
These offices can be won at the Primary Election if; only one (1) candidate files for this office in the Primary or two (2) or more candidates file for this office and one (1) receives the majority of votes (50%+1).
** When are the County Clerk, County Sheriff and County Treasurer elected?
For each office listed above, if 1 or 2 candidate(s) file they are both considered nominated and go forward to the General Election and their name(s) will be printed on the General Election ballot. The candidate(s) name will not appear on the Primary Election ballot.
If three (3) or more candidates file, their names will be printed on the Primary Election ballot. If one (1) candidate receives the majority of votes (50%+1), that candidate is nominated and their name will be printed on the General Election ballot. If no candidate receives the majority of votes, the top two (2) vote getters will go forward to the General Election and their names will be printed on the General Election ballot.
How Do I File for Office?
Candidates for Wasco County positions file using form SEL 101 by the filing deadline. A candidate can file by fee ($50) or by collecting signatures. If you would like to file by collecting signatures, please visit the Wasco County Elections office for signature sheets and more information. The County, City, and District Candidate Manual has additional details about running for office.
Campaign Finance Information
Each candidate must establish a campaign account (filing form SEL 223) and file a Statement of Organization (form SEL 220) designating a candidate committee unless the candidate meets the following requirements:
- The candidate serves as their own treasurer;
- The candidate does not have an existing candidate committee;
- The candidate does not expect to spend or receive more than $750.00 for the entire election.
Precinct Committeeperson Positions
Filing begins September 24, 2023 and closes March 12, 2024.
A precinct committeeperson is an elected representative of each major political party within a precinct. One PCP is elected for every 250 voters within a precinct. PCPs are elected every two years, in the even-year May Primary Election. A person may not hold office as a committeeperson in more than one precinct. A person may only file for one precinct committeeperson at the same election. Unless the person has withdrawn from the first filing, all filings are invalid. There is no filing fee for PCP candidates.
To complete the filing process a candidate must:
- File using Form SEL 105 Candidate Filing – Precinct Committeeperson by the filing deadline –OR-
- File a using Form SEL 105D - Write-In Candidate Declaration by 5pm on Election Day –OR-
- Be nominated by another individual using Form SEL 105N - Write-In Candidate Nomination
- Candidate MUST be nominated by a person of the same political party and House District and residents of the same county.
| Office | Minimum Age | Residency | Term of Office | Special Requirements |
| Precinct Committee Person | 18 |
A candidate may be elected to represent the precinct in which they reside OR an adjoining precinct in the same county OR a precinct in the same House District as the precinct they reside in. ORS 248.015 |
A precinct committeeperson holds office from the 35th day after the Primary to the 35th day after the next Primary. |
To be placed on the ballot, a candidate must be a member of the major political party by September 13, 2023. A write-in candidate must have been a member of the major political party for 180 days prior to the Primary election. A candidate must receive at least 3 votes to be elected to the office. |
| Precinct | Name | Active Voters | # of PCPs | Eligible Precincts for Filing |
| 1 |
West The Dalles |
2976 |
12 |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| 2 |
Colonel Wright |
2845 |
11 |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
| 3 |
Mid The Dalles |
2604 |
10 |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
| 4 |
East The Dalles |
2130 |
9 |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12 |
| 5 |
Rowena - Mosier |
2233 |
9 |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
| 6 |
Chenowith - Cherry Hts |
1446 |
6 |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
| 7 |
Mill Creek South - Dry Hollow |
674 |
3 |
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
| 8 |
Dufur |
1072 |
4 |
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
| 9 |
Tygh Valley - Wamic |
1089 |
4 |
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
| 10 |
Maupin City, W Maupin, Warm Springs |
1122 |
4 |
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
| 11 |
Antelope, Shaniko, E Maupin |
207 |
2 |
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
| 12 |
Petersburg |
280 |
2 |
4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |