(1) A candidate for election as a member of a district board shall be nominated by filing with the elections officer either:

(a) A petition for nomination signed by at least 25 electors, or 10 percent of the electors, residing in the election district for the office, whichever number is less; or

(b) A declaration of candidacy accompanied by a filing fee of $10.

(2) A petition for nomination or a declaration of candidacy shall be filed with the elections officer not sooner than the 40th day before the deadline specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection and:

(a) Not later than the 61st day before the date of the district election if the election is a regular district election or the first election at which members of the district board are elected.

(b) Not later than the 70th day before the date of the district election if the election is held on the date of a primary election or general election.

(3) A nominating petition or declaration of candidacy shall contain the information specified in ORS 249.031.

(4) The Secretary of State shall ensure that the templates for a nominating petition or declaration of candidacy provide the candidate with the option to provide the candidate’s race and ethnicity.

(5) In a district in which a position or zone number is assigned to each office on the district board, each petition for nomination or declaration of candidacy for election to the district board shall state the position or zone number of the office to which the candidate seeks election.

(6) The provisions of ORS 249.009 (1)(b) and 249.061 do not apply to nominating petitions filed under this section.

(7) A nominee for election to the district board may withdraw the nomination not later than 5 p.m. of the last day specified for filing a petition or declaration under this section by filing with the elections officer a written withdrawal of candidacy. The withdrawal shall be signed by the nominee and state the reasons for withdrawal. [Formerly 259.070; 1981 c.173 §34; 1983 c.350 §77; 1983 c.567 §17; 1985 c.808 §46; 1989 c.503 §17; 1989 c.923 §15; 1991 c.107 §15; 1995 c.607 §50; 1995 c.712 §70; 2013 c.1 §23; 2019 c.449 §9]