City of Salem Statement Regarding Ward 6 Nomination Eligibility

Following an independent legal review and consideration of all available information, the City Recorder has determined that Ms. Betsy Vega meets the requirements of the Oregon Constitution and Salem Charter to receive a certificate of nomination and her name will be provided to the Marion County Clerk to be placed on the November 2026 General Election Ballot.

Independent Legal Review

To be eligible for placement on the November 2026 General Election ballot, the primary election nominee for a city councilor position must be an eligible elector (voter) under the Oregon Constitution and reside in the ward they seek to represent for the 12-month period prior to being elected, in this case beginning November 3, 2025.

Following the receipt of information suggesting Ms. Vega may be ineligible as a candidate, the City has retained independent legal counsel from the Local Government Law Group, Truman A. Stone, to review information concerning Ms. Vega's residency within the ward.

Based on that review and outside counsel legal analysis, the City Recorder has determined that Ms. Vega, who received a majority of the votes for the Ward 6 City Council position at the May Primary Election, is qualified under the requirements of the Oregon Constitution and Salem Charter to receive a certificate of nomination and to appear on the November General Election ballot.

Available Facts and Information Considered.

As part of the review, the information considered were:

• voter registration records,
• information and a signed declaration provided by Ms. Vega,
• as well as other available information regarding her residency and domicile during the relevant period.

The review included the circumstances surrounding Ms. Vega's housing between November 2025 and March 2026 and whether those circumstances constituted a change in domicile under Oregon law.

Ms. Vega provided information and a signed declaration regarding her residency during the relevant period. She stated that, in November 2025, she left her residence within Ward 6 with the intent to move to another residence within the ward, but those plans did not materialize. She stated that she was homeless and temporarily stayed with friends and family while seeking housing within Ward 6. Ms. Vega provided evidence that she secured a new residence within the ward in March 2026. Ms. Vega updated her voter registration to reflect that address.

Ms. Vega stated that throughout this period she intended to maintain her residency within Ward 6 and did not intend to establish a new residence at the locations where she temporarily stayed.

Outside legal counsel's memorandum describes the evidence considered, the applicable legal standards, and provides the basis for the City Recorder's determination.

Candidate Eligibility Determination

The City's legal analysis concluded that the City Recorder, as the City's elections official, has a duty to perform ministerial election actions, such as issuing a certificate of nomination, unless the elections official has knowledge that a candidate is not eligible.

In this case, the City's legal analysis concluded that Ms. Vega never established a new residence, or domicile, outside of the ward.

Under the information reviewed and the applicable legal standards, there is not clear and convincing evidence that Ms. Vega established a new residence outside of the ward during the required residency period and was actively seeking a residential address inside the ward. Accordingly, the City Recorder will issue the certificate of nomination as required under Salem's Elections Code and State law.

City Role in Elections

The City's role is to administer elections in accordance with the Salem Charter and Oregon law. The City Recorder is required to act based on the evidence available and applicable legal standards.

Oregon law provides a process for individuals with legal standing to challenge election-related decisions, if they choose to do so.

Because this matter involves an active election process, the City will not comment further on the legal analysis beyond this memorandum supporting the City Recorder's decision.

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Read the Vega Ward Nomination Eligibility Analysis Memorandum

Read June 16, 2026 - City of Salem Statement on May 19 Election Results and Next Steps