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How to Run for City Council in Port Orchard, WA

A nonpartisan guide to City Council in Port Orchard. Learn the requirements to run for office near you.
Filing opens
May 17, 2027
Election date
November 2, 2027
214
Days until filing opens
383
Days until election

About City Council

About this position

The City Legislature is the municipality's governing body, responsible for voting on ordinances and policies, and often is in charge of hiring a city manager.
Office level
City
Election frequency
Every 4 years
Affiliation
Nonpartisan
Positions
1 open seat

Election type

  • Partisan election (party labels appear on ballots)
  • Run-off election

How to run for City Council

  1. User Round
    Step 1

    Meet eligibility requirements

    Council candidates must be registered voters at the time of filing and have been residents of Port Orchard for one year prior to the election.

  2. File Text
    Step 2

    File for office

    Filing requirements
    Filing fee of 1% of the councilor's annual salary (approx. $120 as of 2017). In lieu of a filing fee, petitions containing a number of signatures equal to the whole number of dollars in the filing fee may be submitted.
    Filing period
    May 17, 2027 - May 21, 2027
    Paperwork instructions
    Submit paperwork to the County Auditor's office.
    Where to file
    619 Division St, 3rd floor, Port Orchard, WA 98366
    Filing phone
    360-337-7129
  3. Trending Up
    Step 3

    Launch your campaign

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Need help? You don't have to run alone. Join the GoodParty.org Community to get advice from real independents who have run and won.

Who's currently in office

Learn about who represents you in Port Orchard.

What this symbol means

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Are you ready for Port Orchard's next election?

Get registered and ready to vote, whether in person or by mail.

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Find your polling location

Learn where to go to vote in person.

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Request a mail-in ballot

Apply for an absentee ballot to vote by mail.

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Guide

How to Run for City Council: Requirements, Duties, and Steps

A step-by-step guide to running for City Council as an independent candidate, from deciding to run to election night.

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2026 Political Campaign Playbook

Your guide to launching a local campaign in 2026, with advice from winning candidates across the country.

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About this guide

GoodParty.org is a nonpartisan organization that helps people run for local office without backing from a political party. This voter guide shows you every race and candidate in one place. Candidates who take the GoodParty.org Pledge get a heart-and-star badge next to their name and can edit their own profiles.

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