Oregon Judicial Elections Initiative (2012)

Not on Ballot
This measure did not or will not appear on a ballot

A Oregon Judicial Elections Initiative did not make the November 6, 2012 statewide ballot as an initiated state statute. The proposed measure would have required a study to be conducted on the effects of the use of the word "incumbent" on ballots. If the study reveals that the word "incumbent" gives judges an advantage, then the word "incumbent" would be prohibited from use on ballots.

Text of measure

The official ballot title was:

Prohibits labeling judge as "incumbent" on ballot if required study shows advantage to incumbent candidates.

Result of "Yes" Vote: "Yes vote requires Secretary of State to conduct "study, poll, survey" on whether incumbent label on ballot gives judge advantage; if so, label prohibited.

Result of "No" Vote: "No" vote retains current law which requires that election ballot include the word "incumbent" following the name of each incumbent candidate for specified judicial offices.

Summary: Under current law, ballot must include the word "incumbent" following name of each candidate for judicial office who is current judge of the court to which the candidate seeks election. Measure requires Secretary of State, within six months of measure's effective date, to complete "study, poll, or survey" to determine whether word "incumbent" on ballot following current judge's name creates an advantage over another candidate for the same office. Measure provides that if, based on Secretary of State's analysis of results, study demonstrates that candidates labeled "incumbent" have "unfair advantage," "incumbent" may not appear on ballot. "Unfair advantage" exists when percentage of voters who are more likely to vote for candidates with the word "incumbent" following name exceeds survey's margin of error. Other provisions.

Path to the ballot

See also: Oregon signature requirements

In order to qualify for the ballot, supporters were required to collect a minimum of 87,213 valid signatures by July 6, 2012.

See also

Suggest a link

• Oregon 2012 ballot measures
• 2012 ballot measures

External links

• Initiative 4 status report
• Filed text
• Certified ballot text and Amended ballot text
• National Center of State Courts - Special 2012 Ballot Proposition Edition (July 27, 2011)