City Recorder & Elections

City Recorder

In the City of Springfield, the City Recorder serves as the City Elections Officer. This includes responsibility for providing candidates for local elected office with information they need in order to comply with filing and other reporting requirements. The City Recorder is also responsible for handling local initiative and referendum petitions.

The City Recorder is responsible for accepting and verifying filing materials for nominations or petitions; preparing and submitting proposed ballot titles to the County Clerk; preparing, posting and publishing election notices.

City Recorders keep all city election records, including petitions and the necessary forms filed by candidates for city elected office or citizens proposing city measures.

In addition to being the City’s Elections Officer, the City Recorder is the Clerk of the Council and the Records Manager, maintaining and distributing the Springfield City Code, Charter, ordinances and resolutions. As the City’s Records’ Manager, the City Recorder coordinates public records requests and is responsible for the maintenance, preservation and retention of city documents to ensure compliance with State records law.

Public Records Requests

To request copies of public records from the City Recorder, fill out the General Public Records Request FormPolice Records Request Form or Fire Report Request Form (If you are using Google Chrome as your internet browser, please save the form to your computer and then click the submit button) and submit it to the City Recorder in person, by email, or by mail (contact information is listed below). This form is available online or in the City Manager’s Office at 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon.

CONTACT INFO

Linda Craig
Legal Assistant
City Attorney’s Office
225 Fifth Street
Springfield, OR 97477
541-744-4061
publicrecords@springfield-or.gov

Election Information

Elections are held throughout the year in Oregon, in accordance with ORS 254.056. General elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year. Biennial primary elections are held on the third Tuesday in May of each even-numbered year.

Mayor and Council positions are the elective offices most commonly found on the City ballot in addition to Utility Board members, who are also elected.

Measures that appear on City ballots are proposed by City officials or by residents through the initiative and referendum process.

See the Springfield Municipal Code, Section 2.205 – 2.280, and the Springfield Charter, Chapter VIII, Sections 28 and 29, for specific information related to election regulations. Both documents can be accessed online either from the City’s webpage under the “Business” tab at www.springfield-or.gov or by clicking on Municipal Codes.

Candidates for the 2024 May Primary may now submit their forms by appointment to be included on the May ballot. Click here to view the 2024 Elections Candidate Packet