Your monthly support provides voters the knowledge they need to make confident decisions at the polls. Donate today.
Laws governing ballot measures in Oregon
From Ballotpedia
This page provides an overview of resources addressing the laws and procedures that govern statewide and local ballot measures in Oregon, including the initiative and referendum process, constitutional amendments, signature requirements, recall procedures, and campaign finance regulations.
Explore the links below for more information:
- Types of ballot measures in Oregon
- Laws governing the initiative process in Oregon
- Amending the Nebraska Constitution
- Laws governing local ballot measures in Oregon
- Signature requirements for ballot measures in Oregon
- Laws governing recall in Oregon
- Laws governing state constitutional conventions in Oregon
- Campaign finance requirements for Oregon ballot measures
- Changes to laws governing ballot measures in Oregon
Laws governing ballot measures in Oregon
Types of ballot measures in Oregon
- Nebraska has three types of citizen-initiated ballot measures: initiated constitutional amendments, initiated state statutes, and veto referendums.
- In Oregon, the legislature can refer constitutional amendments, state statutes, advisory questions, constitutional revision questions, and constitutional convention questions to the ballot.
Laws governing the initiative process in Oregon
- In Oregon, citizens have the power to initiate state statutes or constitutional amendments, as well as the power to repeal legislation through veto referendums.
- Oregon adopted the initiative and referendum process in 1902, with voter approval of Measure Nos. 105-106.
- From 1900 to 2024, voters decided on 444 citizen-initiated ballot measures in Oregon.
Amending the Oregon Constitution
- Oregon became a state in 1859. The current state constitution was ratified in 1857.
- The Oregon Constitution can be amended in three ways:
- Legislatively referred constitutional amendment: The state Legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot, with a simple majority vote in each chamber in one session.
- Initiated constitutional amendment: Citizens can initiate constitutional amendments in Oregon.
- Convention-referred constitutional amendment: A state constitutional convention can vote to refer constitutional changes to the ballot.
- Constitutional revision questions: The state Legislature can propose a revision of part or all of the constitution by a 66.67% supermajority vote of the state legislature and a simple majority vote of the electorate on the revision question.
- The amendment becomes part of the constitution if a majority of those voting on the measure vote for it.
Laws governing local ballot measures in Oregon
- Article VI, Section 10 of the Oregon Constitution provides for initiative and referendum at the local leve.
Signature requirements for ballot measures in Oregon
- In Oregon, the number of signatures required for ballot initiatives is tied to the number of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election.
- An initiated constitutional amendment requires a number of signatures equal to 8% of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election.
- An initiated state statute or veto referendum requires a number of signatures equal to 6% of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election.
- Signatures are due four months before the general election.
Laws governing recall in Oregon
- Article II, Section 18 of the Oregon Constitution provides that: "Every public officer in Oregon is subject, as herein provided, to recall by the electors of the state or of the electoral district from which the public officer is elected."
Laws governing state constitutional conventions in Oregon
- Section 1 of Article XVIII of the Oregon Constitution states that a constitutional convention can only be held if "the law providing for such convention shall first be approved by the people on a referendum vote at a regular general election." The constitution does not define how such a referendum is to be put before voters.
Campaign finance requirements for Oregon ballot measures
- PACs that support or oppose ballot measures in Oregon must register and report campaign finance.
Changes to laws governing ballot measures in Nebraska
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
As of August 2025, the Oregon State Legislature had not passed legislation that changed the laws governing ballot measures in 2025.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Capital Press, "Judge voids Oregon law that banned urban growth boundary ballot initiatives," accessed September 10, 2024
- ↑ Oregon State Legislature, "House Bill 4026," accessed March 22, 2024
- ↑ Oregon State Legislature, "Senate Bill 1538," accessed April 3, 2024
- ↑ Oklahoma State Legislature, "Senate Bill 947," accessed June 21, 2023
- ↑ Oregon State Legislature, "House Bill 3348," accessed June 27, 2023
- ↑ Oregon State Legislature, "Senate Bill 731," accessed June 27, 2023
- ↑ Oregon State Legislature, "Senate Bill 761," accessed June 27, 2023
- ↑ Oregon State Legislature, "Senate Bill 1510," accessed June 28, 2023
