• The initiative and referendum processes are methods of direct democracy that allow people to propose or amend local laws and charters or to adopt or reject an ordinance or other legislative enactment passed by a local governing body.
• If chief petitioners gather and file the required number of signatures, the initiative or referendum is placed on the ballot for voters to adopt or reject.
• Please note, some special districts do not allow for the initiative or referendum process. Check with your district to see if citizens of the district have the ability to enact legislation and exercise the power of initiative or referendum for that district.
• For more information about the exact process, along with filing forms, please see the County, City and District Initiative and Referendum Manual.

• Filing forms can be found on the Candidate filing forms page of the Coos County website, as well as on the Oregon Secretary of States website.
• For more information about the process, including timelines for filing, please see the County, City and District Candidate Manual.
• The County Clerk is the filing officer for county and special district offices, with the exception of the Coos Soil & Water Conservation District. The City Elections Officer is the filing officer for city offices. The Oregon Secretary of State's Elections Division is the filing officer for state and federal offices.
• For information regarding a specific election, please refer to that election's page of the Coos County website or contact this office.
  • Email:                    elections@co.coos.or.us
  • Phone:                  (541) 396-7610
  • In Person:           250 N Baxter St, Coquille, OR 97423

Coos County does not produce a voters’ pamphlet. The Oregon Secretary of State produces a voters’ pamphlet for primary and general elections.

• In Coos County, only county candidates are eligible to file for inclusion in the Oregon Secretary of State’s Voters' Pamphlet. Candidates file directly with the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office. For more information about the exact process, please see the State Voters’ Pamphlet Manual.
• For measure arguments, if a statewide measure, file directly with the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office. Please see the State Voters’ Pamphlet Manual for information on filing with the Oregon Secretary of State's Elections Division. If a county measure, file with the County Clerk. For more information on filing with the County Clerk, contact us in one of the following ways.
  • Email:                    elections@co.coos.or.us
  • Phone:                  (541) 396-7610
  • In Person:             250 N Baxter St, Coquille, OR 97423

• A referral is a method a county, city or district governing body may use to place a local law on the ballot for voters of the jurisdiction to decide. For more information about the exact process, along with filing forms, please see the County, City, and District Referral Manual.
• If someone outside of a governing body wants to place a local law on the ballot, they can use the initiative or referendum process. For more information, see the FAQ “How do I file an initiative or referendum petition?”

• The Oregon Constitution allows any non-federal public office holder, whether appointed or elected, to be recalled from office before the term has expired. A prospective recall petition may be filed only after the public office holder has actually served at least six months of their current term of office, except for an elected State Senator or State Representative. If a petition is submitted containing the required number of signatures, and the office holder does not resign, an election will be held for voters to decide whether the person should be recalled from office.
• For more information about the exact process, along with fling forms, please see the Recall Manual.
• Local public offices, where the County Clerk is the filing officer, include county and special district positions. Recalls for city offices are filed with the City Elections Official. Recalls for state offices are filed with the Oregon Secretary of State's Elections Division.
• Recall elections are held at the expense of the district holding the election.