In November 2022 Portlanders made their voices clear: we want a city government that works well and represents all of our communities. Measure 26-228 passed with 58% of the vote, making way for a new government structure and elections system in Portland.
A change like this does not happen with a flip of a switch, but both the City of Portland and Multnomah County have worked with volunteer committee oversight to deliver a system we can be confident in.
See below for the new city government timeline, adapted from the City of Portland’s website, portland.gov/transition:
November 9, 2022 – The City of Portland launched the transition, including a brand new website to keep track of the changes: www.portland.gov/transition.
November 9 to December 1, 2022 – Applications open for Independent District Commission. Mayor will nominate and City Council will approve 13 members.
December 1 to January 31, 2023 – Applications open for Salary Commission. Mayor will nominate and City Council will approve 5 members.
January to February 12, 2023 – Applications open for Government Transition Advisory Committee. Mayor will nominate and City Council will approve 15 members.
January 2023 – Hiring of city transition staff.
January 25, 2023 – District Commission is seated. Meet the 13 members here.
March 8, 2023 – Salary Commission is seated. Meet the 5 members here.
March 22, 2023 – Government Transition Advisory Committee is seated. Meet the 15 members here.
April 19, 2023 – City Council adopts new elections system to implement ranked choice voting.
Between February to August 2023 – District Commission hosts public hearings, to help draw City Council district lines. The city engages in voter education about ranked choice voting and the new changes. View the City’s Transition-related events here.
By August 1, 2023 – Salary Commission sets elected officials’ salaries.
By September 2023 – District Commission approves a final map of City Council district lines.
November 2024 – First election using ranked choice voting within four districts (all City Council seats plus Mayor & City Auditor open and elected at the same time*).
January 2025 – Elected officials enter the new mayor-council form of government and work to hire a city administrator.
March 2025 – Transition Advisory Committee completes work (unless the Mayor or Council determines work is completed at earlier date or should be extended).
*In future election cycles, half of City Council will be elected during U.S. presidential elections, and the other half will be elected during congressional midterms/Oregon gubernatorial elections. The districts where voter turnout is historically lowest will elect their City Council representatives during U.S. presidential elections to take advantage of higher voter turnout.