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Oregon Measure 8, Require Separate Sentencing and Death Penalty for Murders Initiative (1978)
| Oregon Measure 8 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Death penalty |
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| Status |
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| Type Initiated state statute |
Origin |
Oregon Measure 8 was on the ballot as an initiated state statute in Oregon on November 7, 1978. It was approved.
A "yes" vote supported requiring a separate sentencing procedure after a murder conviction and mandating the death penalty based on the judge’s findings that the defendant's deliberate actions, probability of continuing to be violent threat to society, and an unreasonable response to provocation were “beyond reasonable doubt." |
A "no" vote opposed requiring a separate sentencing procedure after a murder conviction and mandating the death penalty based on the judge’s findings that the defendant's deliberate actions, probability of continuing to be violent threat to society, and an unreasonable response to provocation were “beyond reasonable doubt." |
Election results
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Oregon Measure 8 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
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573,707 | 64.29% | ||
| No | 318,610 | 35.71% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Measure 8 was as follows:
| “ | REQUIRES DEATH PENALTY FOR MURDER UNDER SPECIFIED CONDITIONS Purpose: Requires separate sentencing procedures before judge after murder conviction. Requires death penalty if judge, beyond reasonable doubt, finds: defendant acted deliberately with reasonable expectation death would result; and probability defendant is continuing violent threat to society; and defendant responded unreasonably to provocation, if any, by deceased. Automatic Supreme Court review. If any findings is negative, sentence is life with minimum 25 years confinement before parole. Adds homicide by air piracy or bomb to murder definition. “ESTIMATE OF FINANCIAL EFFECT: Passage of this measure will result in a one time cost of $130,000 in general revenue to construct a gas chamber.” | ” |
Full Text
The full text of this measure is available here.
Path to the ballot
An initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. There are 21 states that allow citizens to initiate state statutes, including 14 that provide for direct initiatives and nine (9) that provide for indirect initiatives (two provide for both). An indirect initiated state statute goes to the legislature after a successful signature drive. The legislatures in these states have the option of approving the initiative itself, rather than the initiative appearing on the ballot.
In Oregon, the number of signatures required for an initiated state statute is equal to 6% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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State of Oregon Salem (capital) |
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