There are only three requirements:
- You must be at least 18 years of age
- You must live and be a registered voter in the county you file to become a PCP
- You must be a registered Republican for 180 days or more.
Here are ways you can become a PCP:
Elected PCP:
- Between September (of an odd numbered year) and March (of an even numbered year), you can file to run as a PCP by filing the Oregon Secretary of State’s form SEL105, “Filing of Candidacy for Precinct Committeeperson” and your name will appear on the ballot. This form is due by 5pm on the day of the statewide filing deadline for the Primary Election which generally occurs in early March. The filing period for the primary election on May 17, 2024, began in January 2024 and ended in early March 2024. For those candidates that submit the form by the deadline, their names will appear on the Republican primary ballots of voters in their precinct.
- If a person wishing to become a PCP does not file the appropriate SEL-105 form by the deadline, they can still become an elected PCP in the primary election as a write-in candidate by filing the SEL-105D form by the end of Election Day. The same residency and registration requirements apply. In order to be elected via write-in, candidates must receive at least three votes on the ballot.
- If a candidate is successful in being elected by having their name on the ballot or by write-in, the Douglas County Clerk will mail a certificate of election to all newly elected PCPs within the county no later than the 20th day after the primary election. The clerk will also mail an “Acceptance of Office” form to each person elected by write-in votes that includes a statement to be signed by the person elected that the person elected is qualified to hold the office.
Appointed PCP:
In the event that eligible PCP slots are not filled by candidates or write-ins on the primary election ballot, the slots are declared vacant. Vacant PCP slots may be filled by the County Central Committee by appointment.
Any person who has been a registered Republican for at least 180 days, registered in the precinct in which the vacancy exists, or registered in a precinct within the same county adjoining that precinct is eligible.
The Douglas County Republican Party accepts applications from it’s Executive Committee members or elected PCPs for eligible persons. Those applications are vetted by the Executive Committee, and then submitted to the Central Committee for an approval vote by a simple majority. You will need to be in attendance of that meeting to introduce yourself and maybe give a short speech of why you’d like to become a PCP. PCPs who are in attendance will vote yes or no on whether to appoint you.
Appointed PCPs are not able to vote on County Party Leadership but can vote on almost anything else.