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Salem OR 97310
Salem OR 97310
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1 866 ORE VOTES
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Initiative, Referendum and Referral
General Information About Referendum Petitions
Any Act, or part of an Act, is subject to referendum if it does not have an emergency clause. (Article IV, Sect. 3). A referendum is voted on at the next regularly scheduled General Election, unless otherwise ordered by the Legislative Assembly (Article IV, Sect. 1(4)(c)). The law would not go into effect until 30 days after the election.
An Act is a Bill that has been passed by both houses of the legislature and has either been signed by the Governor or the deadline for the Governor to veto has passed. (During session the timeline for the Governor to veto is five week days.) Article V, Sect. 15b(1).
The chief petitioner must submit the complete text of the Act, a Prospective Petition for State Referendum Measure (SEL 310) designating no more than three chief petitioners, and a completed Statement One or More/No Petitions Circulators Will Be Paid (Initiative/ Referendum Only) (SEL 301). They should also file a completed Statement of Organization for Chief Petitioner Committees (SEL 222), as they can not receive written approval to circulate without a political committee.
The chief petitioner may submit cover and signature sheets for approval the same day they file the text of the Act, SEL 310 and SEL 301. The chief petitioners have 90 days after Sine Die to submit signatures for verification. Signature verification is done the same way as for initiatives.
After Sine Die, the Governor has 30 week days, (M-F, not business days) to either sign, veto or allow the Bill to go into law without his signature. Any Bill submitted to the Governor for his signature within five week days of Sine Die also falls into this 30 day window. Article V, Sect.15b(3).
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many signatures do I need to get a referendum on the ballot?
55,179
- Do I need to submit sponsorship signatures?
No. Sponsorship signatures are required when filing a prospective initiative petition.
- When can a chief petitioner file a referendum?
The chief petitioner may file the referendum, at any time after a Bill becomes an Act.
- When do I get a ballot title?
The ballot title process for a referendum does not begin until after it is determined that there are enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.
- When can the chief petitioner start circulating?
As soon as they receive written approval from our office.
- How long does it take to get approval of cover and signature sheets?
Our office has five business days to review cover and signature sheets to determine if they meet the statutory requirements. After our review a letter is sent to the chief petitioner outlining any changes that might need to be made or approving their cover and signature sheets. We process the cover and signature sheets as quickly as possible.
- If the Governor takes the whole 30 week days to sign, veto or let the law go into effect without his signature, does this "30 week days" count in the 90 day window, thereby shortening the time to collect signatures?
Yes. This is also true for those Bills sent to the Governor within five days of Sine Die.
- Does, Measure 26 (Article IV, Sect. 1b), the prohibition against compensating circulators on a per signature basis, apply to referenda?
Yes.