Oregon Code § 258.161·Enacted ·Last updated March 01, 2026
Statute Text
Filing
demand for recount with Secretary of State; partial or full recount; deposit;
waiver of deposit; deadline for filing demand; recount related to presidential
election.
(1) A
candidate or an officer of a political party on behalf of a candidate of the
political party may file a demand requiring the Secretary of State to direct
that a recount be made in specified precincts in which votes were cast for the
nomination or office for which the candidate received a vote.
(2) An elector
may file a demand requiring the Secretary of State to direct that a recount be
made in specified precincts in which votes were cast on any measure which
appeared on the ballot.
(3) A county
clerk may file a demand requiring the Secretary of State to direct that a
recount be made in specified precincts in which votes were cast for the
nomination or office for which a candidate received a vote or on any measure
that appeared on the ballot. The cash deposit requirement of subsection (5) of
this section shall not apply to a demand made under this subsection. The cost
of a recount conducted under this subsection shall be paid by the county of the
county clerk making the demand.
(4) Except as
provided in subsection (9) of this section, the person making a demand for a
recount may, in the first demand, specify a partial or a full recount. A person
making a demand for a partial recount shall specify the precincts in which
votes were cast for the nomination or office or on the measure to be recounted.
If in the first demand the person requested a partial recount, the person may
file a supplemental demand for a recount of all the remainder of the precincts.
(5) Except as
provided in subsections (3) and (6) of this section, each demand shall be
accompanied by a cash deposit of $15 for each precinct to be recounted up to a
maximum of $8,000 for a recount of all precincts in the state on a measure or
for a nomination or office. The Secretary of State may retain the deposit for
not more than 60 days after the election for which the recount was demanded,
without depositing it in the General Fund.
(6) Upon
application from a county clerk, the Secretary of State may waive the cash
deposit requirement of subsection (5) of this section if, after the first
demand, it appears that due to nondeliberate and material error by a local
elections official, as defined in ORS 246.012, or a county clerk, the outcome
of an election on a candidate or measure will be changed. The cost of a recount
conducted under this subsection shall be paid by the county of the county clerk
or the county of the local elections official who committed the error.
(7) Each demand
shall be in the form and shall contain the information prescribed by the
Secretary of State, including the names and addresses of all persons and
organizations providing any part of the cash deposit and the amount provided by
each.
(8) Except as
provided in subsection (9) of this section, the first demand shall be filed in
the office of the Secretary of State not later than the 42nd day and a
supplemental demand not later than the 52nd day after the date of the election
in which votes were cast for the nomination, office or measure.
(9) A demand for
a recount made under this section on behalf of the electors of presidential and
vice presidential candidates shall be for a full recount only and shall be
filed no later than five business days after the Secretary of State declares
the result of the election under ORS 254.555. [Formerly 251.520; 1981 c.142 §5;
1981 c.173 §37; 1995 c.607 §55; 1999 c.318 §40; 2001 c.965 §32; 2022 c.84 §5]
Plain English Explanation
This Oregon statute addresses Filing
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Key Points
01Part of Oregon statutory law
02Referenced as Oregon Code § 258.161
03Subject to legislative amendments
04Consult a licensed attorney for application to specific cases
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