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February 12, 2025
Portland City Elections is gearing up for the November 2026 election with a funding opportunity for Community Education Contractors. This election cycle, Portlanders will be voting for City Councilors in Districts 3 and 4 and City Auditor using ranked choice voting. City Elections is launching a funding opportunity through Community Education Contracts to support voter outreach and ranked choice voting education. Proposals will be accepted from February 23rd to March 23rd.
Seeking trusted messengers to help provide community-based voter education
Portland City Elections is seeking organizations to apply for the Community Education Contracts. Successful awardees will be trusted community messengers that can support City Elections’ capacity to provide non-partisan voter education to specific focus populations alongside citywide education. Focus populations are communities of Portlanders that may experience barriers to voting or would benefit from specialized outreach. Learn more about the focus populations for 2026 on the City Elections website.
Voter education contracts will be awarded in amounts up to $45,000 each. Contractors will receive training, materials, resources, and will be supported by subject matter experts. Contractors will use these resources to connect with their audiences to extend the reach of the standard voter education services provided directly by City Elections. Voter education services may be provided in a variety of ways, such as canvassing, ranked choice voting education events, and digital campaigns.
City Elections will begin accepting proposals in late February with final awards announced in May. The application process is a two-phased approach beginning with an open call for short proposals. A second phase will result in up to ten organizations who will develop full proposals. Up to five contracts will be awarded.
Important dates:
- Phase one application opens February 23, 2026
- Virtual information session at noon on March 5, 2026
- Phase one application closes March 23, 2026
To learn more about the Community Education Contract opportunity, eligibility, and how to apply, visit our website:
Additional funding opportunity for East County
In November 2026, Multnomah County residents will use ranked choice voting for the first time to elect a Chair, District Two Commissioner, County Auditor, and Sheriff. Multnomah County Elections will be implementing a grant program to support community-based voter education on ranked choice voting in the areas of East Multnomah County that are outside the City of Portland.
To learn more about this opportunity, contact Multnomah County Elections directly or go to their website: Voter Education Grant | Multnomah County
CONTACT
James Eccles
Elections Education Supervisor
Deborah Scroggin
Elections Division Manager
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