The list of Oregon ballot measures lists all statewide ballot measures to the present.
In Oregon, the initiative and referendum process dates back to 1902, when the efforts of the Direct Legislation League prompted amending the Oregon Constitution for the first time since 1859. The process of initiative and referendum became nationally known as the Oregon System.
Types
There are three types of ballot measures: initiatives, referendums, and referrals. Initiatives and referendums may be placed on the ballot if their supporters gather enough signatures from Oregon voters; the number of signatures is a percentage based on the number of voters casting ballots in the most recent election for the Governor of Oregon.
; Initiative: Any issue may be placed before the voters, either amending the Constitution or revising or adding to the Oregon Revised Statutes. Constitutional initiatives require the signature of eight percent of recent voters to qualify for the ballot; statutory reforms require six percent.
; Referendum: The public may act to undo any bill passed by the Oregon Legislative Assembly, by putting a referendum on the ballot. A referendum requires four percent of recent voters to qualify for the ballot.
; Legislative referral: The Legislative Assembly may refer any bill it passes to the public for approval, and they must do so for any amendment to the Constitution. Additionally, the Legislative Assembly may refer revisions to the Constitution; a revision differs from an amendment in that it may alter multiple existing provisions of the Constitution.
The constitutional foundation for ballot measures (and legislation produced by the Oregon Legislative Assembly) may be found in Article IV of the Oregon Constitution, and Chapter 250 of the Oregon Revised Statutes relates to initiative and referendum as well.
The Oregon Blue Book, produced by the Oregon government, maintains a list similar to this one.
1900s
1902
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ 1902 General Election
!meas.<br/>num !! passed !! Yes<br/>votes !! No<br/>votes !! %<br/>Yes !! Const.<br/>Amd.? !! Type
!meas.<br/>num !! passed !! Yes<br/>votes !! No<br/>votes !! %<br/>Yes !! Const.<br/>Amd.? !! Type
|-
| 20 || No || 1,988 || 2,646|| 42.90% || No || Leg || Amendment Fixing Salaries of County Officers of Umatilla County
|-
| 21 || No || 2,826 || 6,199|| 31.31% || No || Leg || To Provide Salaries for Certain Officials of Clackamas County
|}
1927
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ June 1927 Special Election
|-
| 9
| No
| 342,885
| 558,136
| 38.06%
| Yes
| Leg
| Prohibits property tax for school operations
|}
1973
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+May 1973 Special Election
! Meas. num.
!Passed?
! Yes votes
! No votes
!% Yes
! Measure
|-
| 1
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 615,012
| 520,939
|54.14%
| Extends Governor's Veto Deadline After Legislature Adjourns; Requires Prior Announcement—L1
|-
| 2
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 621,894
| 510,694
|54.91%
| Common School Fund Investments; Using Income for State Lands Management—L1
|-
| 3
|No
| 528,324
| 684,747
|43.55%
| Requires the Use of Safety Belts—L2
|-
| 4
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 947,805
| 252,985
|78.93%
| Requires Full Sentences Without Parole, Probation for Certain Repeat Felonies—I2
|-
| 5
|No
| 449,797
| 759,360
|37.20%
| Finances Intercollegiate Athletic Fund by Increasing Malt Beverage, Cigarette Taxes—I2
|-
| 6
|No
| 430,147
| 737,779
|36.83%
| Indoor Clean Air Law Revisions Banning Public Smoking—I2
|-
| 7
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 663,604
| 516,998
|56.21%
| Oregon Scenic Waterway System—I2 added almost 500 miles of protected waterways to the Oregon Scenic Waterways System (which was formed through an initiative passed in 1970, the original Oregon Scenic Waterways Act). The measure passed 663,604 votes to 516,998 votes. The chief petitioners were Ray Atkeson, Harry Lonsdale and Roy Bowden.
|-
| 8
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 626,751
| 561,355
|52.75%
| Revokes Ban on Sexual Orientation Discrimination in State Executive Branch—I2
|}
1989
{| class="wikitable"
|+May 1989 Special Election<br />
! Meas<br />num || Passed? || Yes votes || No votes ||% Yes || Const<br />Amd || Type)
|-
| 7 || No || 512,980 || 671,021|| 43.3 || Yes || Init || Guarantees Equal Protection: Lists Prohibited Grounds of Discrimination
|-
| 8 || style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes || 611,760|| 610,776 || 50.0 || Yes || Init || Public Employees Pay Part of Salary for Pension – required public employees to contribute 6% of their salary to their pension, overturned in 1996 by the courts in Oregon State Police Officers' Ass'n v. State.
|-
| 9 || style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes || 851,014|| 324,224 || 72.4 || No || Init || Adopts Contribution and Spending Limits, Other Campaign Finance Law Changes. Limited contributions to $100 for legislative candidates, $500 for statewide candidates. Most provisions struck down by Oregon Supreme Court in February 1997.
|-
| 10 || style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes || 763,507|| 415,678 || 64.7 || Yes || Init || Legislature Cannot Reduce Voter-Approved Sentence Without 2/3 Vote
|-
| 11 || style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes || 788,695|| 412,816 || 65.6 || No || Init || Mandatory Sentences for Listed Felonies; Covers Persons 15 and Up — established mandatory minimum sentences for certain violent felonies, required adult trials and sentencing for those felonies for defendants over age 15.
|-
| 12 || No || 450,553 || 731,146|| 38.1 || No || Init || Repeals Prevailing Rate Wage Requirement for Workers on Public Works
|-
| 13 || No || 592,746 || 630,628|| 48.5 || Yes || Init || Governments Cannot Approve, Create Classifications Based on, Homosexuality — also known as the "Minority Status and Child Protection Act", would have restricted public library access to materials dealing with homosexuality. (see also Oregon Ballot Measure 9 (1992).)
|-
| 14 || No || 500,005 || 679,936|| 42.4 || Yes || Init || Amends Chemical Process Mining Laws: Adds Requirements, Prohibitions, Standards, Fees
|-
| 15 || No || 438,018 || 760,853|| 36.5 || Yes || Init || State Must Maintain Funding for Schools, Community Colleges
|-
| 16 || style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes || 627,980|| 596,018 || 51.3 || No || Init || Allows Terminally Ill Adults to Obtain Prescription for Lethal Drugs — legalized doctor-assisted suicide. (aka "Death with Dignity Act")
|-
| 17 || style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes || 859,896|| 350,541 || 71.0 || Yes || Init || Requires State Prison Inmates to Work Full Time
|-
| 18 || style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes || 629,527|| 586,026 || 51.8 || No || Init || Bans Hunting Bears with Bait, Hunting Bears, Cougars with Dogs
|-
| 19 || No || 549,754 || 652,139|| 45.7 || Yes || Init || No Free Speech Protection for Obscenity, Child Pornography — would have amended state constitution to exempt obscenity from the state constitution's free speech protections.
|-
| 20 || No || 284,195 || 898,416|| 24.0 || Yes || Init || Equal Tax on Trade Replaces Current Taxes
|}
Note: Detailed information about elections from 1995 to the present, including ballot measure text, sponsorship, and arguments for and against, may be found at the Oregon Secretary of State's web site.
1995
May
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+May 1995 Special Election
!Ballot Title - and Notes
|-
| 23
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 466,580
| 177,218
| 72.47%
| Yes
| Leg
| Increases Minimum Value in Controversy Required to Obtain Jury Trial
|-
| 24
| No
| 279,399
| 360,592
| 43.66%
| Yes
| Leg
| Initiative Petition Signatures Must Be Collected From Each Congressional District
|-
| 25
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 349,918
| 289,930
| 54.69%
| Yes
| Leg
| Requires 3/5 Majority in Legislature to Pass Revenue-Raising Bills
|}
November
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ 1996 General Election
! Meas.<br />Num.
! Passed?
! Yes<br />votes
! No<br />votes
! %<br />Yes
! Const.<br />Amd.
! Type and official resultsWould have eliminated double majority requirement established by Measures 47 and 50.
|}
November
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+1998 General Election <br /> Detailed information on measures and official results available from the Oregon Secretary of State's office.
!Meas.<br />Num.
!Passed?
!Yes<br />votes
!No<br />votes
!%<br />Yes
!Const.<br />Amd.?
!Type
|-
| 55
| style="background:white;color:black" | No
|456,464
|579,251
|44.07%
| Yes
| Leg
|style="text-align: left"| Permits State To Guarantee Earnings On Prepaid Tuition Trust Fund.
|-
| 56
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
|874,547
|212,737
|80.43%
| No
| Leg
|style="text-align: left"| Expands Notice To Landowners Regarding Changes To Land Use Laws.
|-
| 57
| style="background:white;color:black" | No
|371,967
|736,968
|33.54%
| No
| REF
|style="text-align: left"| Makes Possession Of Limited Amount Of Marijuana Class C Misdemeanor.
|-
| 58
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
|621,832
|462,084
|57.37%
| No
| Init
|style="text-align: left"| Requires Issuing Copy Of Original Oregon Birth Certificate to Adoptees.Allowed adoptees access to original births certificates (and hence, previously secret information about their birth parents).
|-
| 59
| style="background:white;color:black" | No
|539,757
|561,952
|48.99%
| Yes
| Init
|style="text-align: left"| Prohibits Using Public Resources To Collect Money For Political Purposes.
|-
| 60
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
|757,204
|334,021
|69.39%
| No
| Init
|style="text-align: left"| Requires Vote By Mail In Biennial Primary, General Elections.
|-
| 61
| style="background:white;color:black" | No
|<br>
|<br>
|<br>
| No
| Init
|style="text-align: left"| Changes Minimum Sentences for Listed Crimes, Including Certain Repeat Offenses. "Vote Not tallied by court order."
|-
| 62
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
|721,448
| 347,112
|67.52%
| Yes
| Init
|style="text-align: left"| Requires Campaign Finance Disclosures; Regulates Signature Gathering; Guarantees Contribution Methods.
|-
| 63
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
|566,064
| 457,762
|67.52%
| Yes
| Init
|style="text-align: left"| Measures Proposing Supermajority Voting Requirements Require Same Supermajority For Passage.
|-
| 64
| style="background:white;color:black" | No
| 215,491
|897,535
|19.36%
| No
| Init
|style="text-align: left"| Prohibits Many Present Timber Harvest Practices, Imposes More Restrictive Regulations.
|-
| 65
| style="background:white;color:black" | No
| 483,811
|533,948
|47.54%
| Yes
| Init
|style="text-align: left"| Creates Process For Requiring Legislature To Review Administrative Rules. Sought to restrict Legislature's ability to regulate land use.
|-
| 66
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
|742,038
|362,247
|67.20%
| Yes
| Init
|style="text-align: left"| Dedicates Some Lottery Funding To Parks, Beaches; Habitat, Watershed Protection.
|-
| 67
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
|611,190
| 508,263
|54.60%
| No
| Init
|style="text-align: left"| Allows Medical Use Of Marijuana Within Limits; Establishes Permit System. Legalized medical marijuana.
|}
1999
November
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+1999 Special Election <br /> Detailed information on measures and official results available from the Oregon Secretary of State's office.
!Meas.<br />Num.
!Passed?
!Yes<br />votes
!No<br />votes
!%<br />Yes
!Const.<br />Amd.?
!Type
|-
| 69
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
|406,393
|292,419
|58.15%
| Yes
| Leg
|style="text-align: left"| Grants Victims Constitutional Rights In Criminal Prosecutions, Juvenile Court Delinquency Proceedings.
|-
| 70
| style="background:white;color:black" | No
|289,783
|407,429
|41.56%
| Yes
| Leg
|style="text-align: left"| Gives Public, Through Prosecutor, Right To Demand Jury Trial In Criminal Cases.
|-
| 71
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
|404,404
|292,696
|58.01%
| Yes
| Leg
|style="text-align: left"| Limits Pretrial Release Of Accused Person To Protect Victims, Public.
|-
| 72
| style="background:white;color:black" | No
| 316,351
| 382,685
| 45.26%
| Yes
| Leg
|style="text-align: left"| Allows Murder Conviction By 11 To 1 Jury Verdict.
|-
| 73
| style="background:white;color:black" | No
| 320,160
| 369,843
| 46.40%
| Yes
| Leg
|style="text-align: left"| Limits Immunity From Criminal Prosecution Of Person Ordered To Testify About His Or Her Conduct.
|-
| 74
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
|368,899
| 325,078
|53.16%
| Yes
| Leg
|style="text-align: left"| Requires Terms Of Imprisonment Announced In Court Be Fully Served, With Exceptions.
|-
| 75
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
|399,671
| 292,445
|57.75%
| Yes
| Leg
|style="text-align: left"| Persons Convicted Of Certain Crimes Cannot Serve On Grand Juries, Criminal Trial Juries.
|-
| 76
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
|372,613
| 314,351
|54.24%
| Yes
| Leg
|style="text-align: left"| Requires Light, Heavy Motor Vehicle Classes Proportionately Share Highway Costs.
|}
2000s
2000
May
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ 2000 Primary Election<br />Detailed information about Measures 77-82 and election results available at the Secretary of State's website.
!Meas.<br />Num.
!Passed?
!Yes<br />votes
!No<br />votes
!%<br />Yes
!Const.<br />Amd.?
!Type
!Ballot Title
|-
| 77
| No
| 336,253
| 432,541
| 43.74%
| Yes
| Leg
| Makes Certain Local Taxing Districts' Temporary Property Tax Authority Permanent
|-
| 78
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 528,129
| 327,440
| 61.73%
| Yes
| Leg
| Lengthens Period For Verifying Signatures On Initiative And Referendum Petitions
|-
| 79
| No
| 356,912
| 505,081
| 41.41%
| Yes
| Leg
| Increases Signatures Required To Place Initiative Amending Constitution On Ballot
|-
| 80
| No
| 310,640
| 559,941
| 35.68%
| Yes
| Leg
| Authorizes Using Fuel Tax, Vehicle Fees For Increasing Highway Policing
|-
| 81
| No
| 219,009
| 650,348
| 25.19%
| Yes
| Leg
| Allows Legislature To Limit Recovery Of Damages In Civil Actions
|-
| 82
| No
| 109,741
| 767,329
| 12.51%
| No
| REF
| Repeals Truck Weight—Mile Tax; Establishes And Increases Fuel Taxes
|}
November
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ 2000 General Election<br />Detailed information about Measures 83-99 and 1-9 and election results available at the Secretary of State's web site.
!Meas.<br />Num.
!Passed?
!Yes<br />votes
!No<br />votes
!%<br />Yes
!Const.<br />Amd.?
!Type
!Ballot Title
|-
| 83
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 1,084,870
| 365,203
| 74.81%
| Yes
| Leg
| Authorizes New Standards, Priorities For Veterans' Loans; Expands Qualified Recipients
|-
| 84
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 1,211,384
| 222,723
| 84.47%
| Yes
| Leg
| State Must Continue Paying Local Governments For State—Mandated Programs
|-
| 85
| No
| 634,307
| 767,366
| 45.25%
| Yes
| Leg
| Modifies Population, Minimum Area Requirements For Formation Of New Counties
|-
| 86
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 898,793
| 550,304
| 62.02%
| Yes
| Leg
| Requires Refunding General Fund Revenues Exceeding State Estimates To Taxpayers - mandated kicker checks in the state Constitution. (Previous kicker law was a statute.) explanation of measure, page 17 of Voters' Pamphlet <!-- http://www.blueoregon.com/2008/01/time-is-up-for.html?cid=98877806#comment-98877806 http://www.blueoregon.com/files/20080126SJopedEdwardsKicker.pdf -->
|-
| 87
| No
| 694,410
| 771,901
| 47.36%
| Yes
| Leg
| Allows Regulation Of Location Of sexually oriented businesses Through Zoning
|-
| 88
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 739,270
| 724,097
| 50.52%
| No
| Leg
| Increases Maximum Deductible In Oregon For Federal Income Taxes Paid
|-
| 89
| No
| 622,814
| 828,117
| 42.93%
| No
| Leg
| Dedicates Tobacco Settlement Proceeds To Specified Health, Housing, Transportation Programs
|-
| 90
| No
| 158,810
| 1,208,545
| 11.61%
| No
| REF
| Authorizes Rates Giving Utilities Return On Investments In Retired Property
|-
| 91
| No
| 661,342
| 814,885
| 44.80%
| Yes
| Init
| Makes Federal Income Taxes Fully Deductible On Oregon Tax Returns
|-
| 92
| No
| 656,250
| 815,338
| 44.59%
| Yes
| Init
| Prohibits Payroll Deductions For Political Purposes Without Specific Written Authorization
|-
| 93
| No
| 581,186
| 865,091
| 40.18%
| Yes
| Init
| Voters Must Approve Most Taxes, Fees; Requires Certain Approval Percentage
|-
| 94
| No
| 387,068
| 1,073,275
| 26.51%
| No
| Init
| Repeals Mandatory Minimum Sentences For Certain Felonies, Requires Resentencing - would have repealed 1994's Measure 11.
|-
| 95
| No
| 514,926
| 962,250
| 34.86%
| Yes
| Init
| Student Learning Determines Teacher Pay; Qualifications, Not Seniority, Determine Retention
|-
| 96
| No
| 527,613
| 866,588
| 37.84%
| Yes
| Init
| Prohibits Making Initiative Process Harder, Except Through Initiative; Applies Retroactively
|-
| 97
| No
| 606,939
| 867,219
| 41.17%
| No
| Init
| Bans Body—Gripping Animal Traps, Some Poisons; Restricts Fur Commerce
|-
| 98
| No
| 678,024
| 776,489
| 46.61%
| Yes
| Init
| Prohibits Using Public Resources For Political Purposes; Limits Payroll Deductions
|-
| 99
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 911,217
| 539,414
| 62.82%
| Yes
| Init
| Creates Commission Ensuring Quality Home Care Services For Elderly, Disabled
|-
| 1
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 940,223
| 477,461
| 66.32%
| Yes
| Init
| Legislature Must Fund School Quality Goals Adequately; Report; Establish Grants
|-
| 2
| No
| 605,575
| 779,190
| 43.73%
| Yes
| Init
| Creates Process For Requiring Legislature To Review Administrative Rules - sought to restrict Legislature's ability to regulate land use
|-
| 3
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 952,792
| 465,081
| 67.20%
| Yes
| Init
| Requires Conviction Before Forfeiture; Restricts Proceeds Usage; Requires Reporting, Penalty. prohibited forfeiture without conviction.
|-
| 4
| No
| 650,850
| 789,543
| 45.19%
| No
| Init
| Dedicates Tobacco-Settlement Proceeds; Earnings Fund Low-Income Health Care
|-
| 5
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 921,926
| 569,996
| 61.79%
| No
| Init
| Expands Circumstances Requiring Background Checks Before Transfer Of Firearm
|-
| 6
| No
| 586,910
| 838,011
| 41.19%
| No
| Init
| Provides Public Funding To Candidates Who Limit Spending, Private Contributions
|-
| 7
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| colspan=2 | Not published
| 53%
| Yes
| Init
| Requires Payment To Landowner If Government Regulation Reduces Property Value. precursor to Oregon Ballot Measure 37 (2004); restricted land use regulation, but was struck down by the Oregon Supreme Court.
|-
| 8
| No
| 608,090
| 789,699
| 43.50%
| Yes
| Init
| Limits State Appropriations To Percentage Of State's Prior Personal Income. would have capped state spending
|-
| 9
| No
| 702,572
| 788,691
| 47.11%
| No
| Init
| Prohibits Public School Instruction Encouraging, Promoting, Sanctioning Homosexual, Bisexual Behaviors. would have prohibited "encouragement" of homosexuality by public schools.
|}
2002
May
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ 2002 Primary Election<br />Detailed information for 2002 Primary measures (10, 11, and 13) and official results available from the Oregon Secretary of State's office.
!Meas.<br />Num.
!Passed?
!Yes<br />votes
!No<br />votes
!%<br />Yes
!Const.<br />Amd.?
!Type
!Ballot Title
|-
| 10
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 608,640
| 177,004
| 77.47%
| Yes
| Leg
| Allows Public Universities to Receive Equity in Private Companies as Compensation for Publicly Created Technology
|-
| 11
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 589,869
| 190,226
| 75.62%
| Yes
| Leg
| Authorizes Less Expensive General Obligation Bond financing for OHSU Medical Research and other Capital Costs
|-
| colspan=7 | 12 — Scaled-down version of Measure 13 referred by Legislature. Removed from ballot per a Marion County judge's order.
|-
| 13
| No
| 376,605
| 411,923
| 47.76%
| Yes
| Leg
| Authorizes Using Education Fund Principal In Specified Circumstances; Transfers $220 Million to School Fund - Referred to as "rainy day fund" in media. and official results and official election results available at the Secretary of State's web site.
!Meas.<br />Num.
!Passed?
!Yes<br />votes
!No<br />votes
!%<br />Yes
!Const.<br />Amd.?
!Type
!Ballot Title
|-
| 14
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 867,901
| 352,027
| 71.14%
| Yes
| Leg
| Removes Historical Racial References in Obsolete Sections of Constitution, Article VII (Original), Article XVIII
|-
| 15
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 671,640
| 535,638
| 55.63%
| Yes
| Leg
| Authorizes State to Issue General Obligation Bonds for Seismic Rehabilitation of Public Education Buildings (Defined)
|-
| 16
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 669,451
| 530,587
| 55.79%
| Yes
| Leg
| Authorizes State to Issue General Obligation Bonds for Seismic Rehabilitation of Emergency Services Buildings (Defined)
|-
| 17
| No
| 341,717
| 910,331
| 27.29%
| Yes
| Leg
| Reduces Minimum Age Requirement to Serve as State Legislator from 21 Years to 18 Years
|-
| 18
| No
| 450,444
| 704,116
| 39.01%
| Yes
| Leg
| Allows Certain Tax Districts to Establish Permanent Property Tax Rates and Divide into Tax Zones
|-
| 21
| No
| 526,450
| 668,256
| 44.07%
| Yes
| Init
| Revises Procedure for Filling Judicial Vacancies, Electing Judges; Allows Vote for "None of the Above"
|-
| 22
| No
| 595,936
| 610,063
| 49.41%
| Yes
| Init
| Requires Supreme Court Judges and Court of Appeals Judges to be Elected by District
|-
| 23
| No
| 265,310
| 969,537
| 21.49%
| No
| Init
| Creates Health Care Finance Plan for Medically Necessary Services; Creates Additional Income, Payroll Taxes - would have established universal health care in Oregon.
|-
| 24
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 907,979
| 286,492
| 76.02%
| No
| Init
| Allows Licensed Denturists to Install Partial Dentures; Authorizes Cooperative Dentist—Denturist Business Ventures
|-
| 25
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 645,016
| 611,658
| 51.33%
| No
| Init
| Increases Oregon Minimum Wage to $6.95 in 2003; Increases for Inflation in Future Years - tied it to the consumer price index.
|-
| 26
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 921,606
| 301,415
| 75.35%
| Yes
| Init
| Prohibits Payment, Receipts of Payment Based on the Number of Initiative, Referendum Signatures
|-
| 27
| No
| 371,851
| 886,806
| 29.54%
| No
| Leg
| Requires Labeling of Genetically engineered Foods (as Defined) Sold or Distributed in or from Oregon. Opponents spent $5.5 million, tying an Oregon spending record.
|}
2003
January
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ January 2003 Special Election<br />Detailed information on Measure 28 and election results at the Oregon Secretary of State's site.
!Meas.<br />Num.
!Passed?
!Yes<br />votes
!No<br />votes
!%<br />Yes
!Const.<br />Amd.?
!Type and election results at the Oregon Secretary of State's site.
!Meas.<br />Num.
!Passed?
!Yes<br />votes
!No<br />votes
!%<br />Yes
!Const.<br />Amd.?
!Type and official results available from the Oregon Secretary of State.
!Meas.<br />Num.
!Passed?
!Yes<br />votes
!No<br />votes
!%<br />Yes
!Const.<br />Amd.?
!Type
!Ballot Title
|-
| 30
| No
| 481,315
| 691,462
| 41.04%
| No
| REF
| Enacts Temporary Personal Income Tax Surcharge; Increases, Changes Corporate, Other Taxes; Avoids Specific Budget Cuts.
|}
November
In the fall election, Measure 36 (outlawing gay marriage) dominated public attention: 81,667 (or 4.7%) more votes were cast on Measure 36 than the average of all other measures on the ballot. Measure 37 (restricting land use regulation) was contentious before the election, and became more controversial after the fact, as state and local governments attempted to implement it.
Two other measures passed in 2004, both referred by the Legislature for the general election, and neither one drawing any opposition in the Voters' Pamphlet. Measure 31 made it possible to postpone certain elections in the event of a candidate's death, and Measure 32 changed the way revenue from mobile home taxes is handled.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+2004 General Election<br />Detailed information about the measures and official results available from the Oregon Secretary of State.
!Meas.<br />Num.
!Passed?
!Yes<br />votes<br />
!No<br />votes<br />
!%<br />Yes
!Const.<br />Amd.?
!Type
!Ballot Title
|-
| 31
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 1,122,852
| 588,502
| 65.61%
| Yes
| Leg
| Authorizes Law Permitting Postponement of Election for Particular Public Office when Nominee for Office Dies.
|-
| 32
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 1,048,090
| 661,576
| 61.30%
| Yes
| Leg
| Deletes Reference to Mobile Homes from Provision Dealing with Taxes and Fees on Motor Vehicles.
|-
| 33
| No
| 764,015
| 1,021,814
| 42.78%
| No
| Init
| Amends Medical Marijuana Act: Requires Dispensaries for Supplying Patients/Caregivers; Raises Patients' Possession Limit.
|-
| 34
| No
| 659,467
| 1,060,496
| 38.34%
| No
| Init
| Requires Balancing Timber Production, Resource Conservation/Preservation in Managing State Forests; Specifically Addresses Two Forests.
|-
| 35
| No
| 869,054
| 896,857
| 49.21%
| Yes
| Init
| Limits Noneconomic Damages (defined) Recoverable for Patient Injuries Caused by Healthcare Provider's Negligence or Recklessness.
|-
| 36
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 1,028,546
| 787,556
| 56.63%
| Yes
| Init
| Only Marriage Between One Man and One Woman is Valid or Legally Recognized as Marriage.
|-
| 37
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 1,054,589
| 685,079
| 60.62%
| No
| Init
| Governments Must Pay Owners, or Forgo Enforcement, When Certain Land Use Restrictions Reduce Property Value.
|-
| 38
| No
| 670,935
| 1,037,722
| 39.27%
| No
| Init
| Abolishes SAIF; State Must Reinsure, Satisfy SAIF's Obligations; Dedicates Proceeds, Potential Surplus to Public Purposes.
|}
2006
In 2006, voters considered 11 statewide ballot measures. All were placed on the ballot by initiative.
Nearly all the measures were defeated. Measures extending prescription drug pricing benefits (Measure 44) and restricting the government's power of eminent domain (39) were the only ones that passed without qualification; a campaign finance reform system (47) passed as well, but a companion measure (46) that would have provided necessary constitutional support for it failed.
Out-of-state interests spent millions of dollars supporting—and in one significant case, opposing—Oregon ballot measures. None of these big-money measures passed; in fact, Measures 39 and 44 passed without drawing any organized opposition.
Unsuccessful measures
Measures 41 and 48 aimed to restrict the amount of money the State government could raise and spend, respectively. They were both mostly funded by the Taxpayers Association of Oregon, which in turn received nearly all its funding from Illinois-based Americans for Limited Government. Opposition to these two measures was paired as well, spending $1.9 million to defeat the two measures.
Measure 45, almost entirely financed by $1.2 million from Illinois-based U.S. Term Limits, would have established strict term limits in the Oregon Legislative Assembly. Term limits had previously been in place in the late 1990s, but the prior law was declared unconstitutional by the Oregon Supreme Court. The measure failed.
Measures 46 and 47 were presented as a single package; 46 would have amended the Constitution to allow limitations on campaign financing (heavily favoring popular vote, and requiring a 75% vote for such changes in the Legislature); and 47 detailed specific limitations. Measure 47 passed, but in the absence of the kind of Constitutional support Measure 46 would have provided, it will have No effect. The campaigns both for and against this package were funded almost entirely from Oregon sources.
Measure 40 sought to require that judges of the Oregon Supreme Court be elected by district, rather than statewide.
Measure 43 sought to require parental notification in the event of certain teenage abortions. (Two measures restricting abortion were also rejected in the 1990 general election.)
Successful measures
Measure 39, described by its proponents as a natural extension of 2004's Measure 37, restricted the governments powers of eminent domain. Measure 44 extended a state prescription drug benefit, previously only available to seniors, to cover all uninsured Oregonians.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+2006 General Election<br />Detailed information on measures and official results available from the Oregon Secretary of State.
!Meas.<br />Num.
!Passed?
!Yes<br />votes
!No<br />votes
!%<br />Yes
!Const.<br />Amd.?
!Type
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 694,918
| 615,256
| 53.04%
| No
| Init
| Revises Campaign Finance Laws: Limits or Prohibits Contributions and Expenditures; Adds Disclosure, New Reporting Requirements.
|-
| 48
| No
| 379,971
| 923,629
| 29.15%
| Yes
| Init
| Limits Biennial Percentage Increase in State Spending to Percentage Increase in State Population, Plus Inflation.
|}
2007
In 2007, voters considered 2 statewide ballot measures.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+November 2007 Special Election<br />Detailed information on measures <!--and official results--> available from the Oregon Secretary of State.
!Meas.<br />Num.
!Passed?
!Yes<br />votes
!No<br />votes
!%<br />Yes
!Const.<br />Amd.?
!Type
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+2008 Primary Election<br />Detailed information on measures and official results
|-
| 52
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 738,092
| 247,738
| 74.87%
| Yes
| Leg
|style="text-align: left"| Enables crime victims to enforce existing constitutional rights in prosecutions, delinquency proceedings; authorizes implementing legislation.
|-
| 53
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 489,592
| 489,042
| 50.03%
| Yes
| Leg
| style="text-align: left"| Modifies provisions governing civil forfeitures related to crimes; permits use of proceeds by law enforcement.
|}
November
In November 2008, voters considered eight initiatives and four legislative referrals. The four referrals all passed, and the initiatives all failed.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+2008 General Election<br />Detailed information on measures and official results available from the Oregon Secretary of State.
!Meas.<br />Num.
!Passed?
!Yes<br />votes
!No<br />votes
!%<br />Yes
!Const.<br />Amd.?
!Type
|-
| 67
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 682,720
| 591,188
| 53.59%
| No
| REF
|style="text-align: left"| Raises $10 corporate minimum tax, business minimum tax, corporate profits tax. Provides funds currently budgeted for education, health care, public safety, other services.
|}
May
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+2010 Primary Election<br />Detailed information on measures and official results available from the Oregon Secretary of State.
!Meas.<br />Num.
!Passed?
!Yes<br />votes
!No<br />votes
!%<br />Yes
!Const.<br />Amd.?
!Type
|-
| 69
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
|546,649
| 216,157
|71.66%
| Yes
| Leg
|style="text-align: left"| Continues and modernizes authority for lowest cost borrowing for community colleges and public universities.
|}
November
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+2010 General Election<br />Detailed information on measures and official results available from the Oregon Secretary of State.
!Meas.<br />Num.
!Passed?
!Yes<br />votes
!No<br />votes
!%<br />Yes
!Const.<br />Amd.?
!Type
|-
| 71
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
|919,040
| 435,776
|67.84%
| Yes
| Leg
|style="text-align: left"| Requires legislature to meet annually; limits length of legislative sessions; provides exceptions.
|-
| 72
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
|774,582
| 536,204
|59.09%
| Yes
| Leg
|style="text-align: left"| Authorizes exception to $50,000 state borrowing limit for state's real and personal property projects.
|-
| 73
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
|802,388
| 608,317
|56.88%
| No
| Init
|style="text-align: left"| Requires increased minimum sentences for certain repeated sex crimes, incarceration for repeated driving under influence.
|-
| 74
| style="background:white;color:black" | No
| 627,016
|791,186
|44.21%
| No
| Init
|style="text-align: left"| Establishes medical marijuana supply system and assistance and research programs; allows limited selling of marijuana.
|-
| 75
| style="background:white;color:black" | No
| 448,162
|959,342
|31.84%
| No
| Init
|style="text-align: left"| Authorizes Multnomah County casino; casino to contribute monthly revenue percentage to state for specified purposes.
|-
| 76
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 972,825
|583,707
|69.22%
| Yes
| Init
|style="text-align: left"| Continues lottery funding for parks, beaches, wildlife habitat, watershed protection beyond 2014; modifies funding process.
|}
2012
November
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+2012 General Election<br />Detailed information on measures and official results available from the Oregon Secretary of State.
!Meas.<br />Num.
!Passed?
!Yes<br />votes
!No<br />votes
!%<br />Yes
!Const.<br />Amd.?
!Type
|-
| 78
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
|1,165,963
| 458,509
|71.77%
| Yes
| Leg
|style="text-align: left"| Changes constitutional language describing governmental system of separation of powers; makes grammatical and spelling changes.
|-
| 79
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
|976,587
| 679,710
|58.96%
| Yes
| Init
|style="text-align: left"| Prohibits real estate transfer taxes, fees, other assessments, except those operative on December 31, 2009.
|-
| 80
| style="background:white;color:black" | No
| 810,538
| 923,071
|46.75%
| No
| Init
|style="text-align: left"| Allows personal marijuana, hemp cultivation/use without license; commission to regulate commercial marijuana cultivation/sale.
|-
| 81
| style="background:white;color:black" | No
| 567,996
|1,072,614
|34.62%
| No
| Init
|style="text-align: left"| Prohibits commercial non-tribal fishing with gillnets in Oregon "inland waters," allows use of seine nets.
|-
| 82
| style="background:white;color:black" | No
| 485,240
| 1,226,331
|28.35%
| Yes
| Init
|style="text-align: left"| Authorizes establishment of privately owned casinos; mandates percentage of revenues payable to dedicated state fund.
|-
| 83
| style="background:white;color:black" | No
| 500,123
| 1,207,508
|29.29%
| No
| Init
|style="text-align: left"| Authorizes privately owned Wood Village casino; mandates percentage of revenues payable to dedicated state fund.
|-
| 84
| style="background:white;color:black" | No
| 776,143
| 912,541
|45.96%
| No
| Init
|style="text-align: left"| Phases out existing inheritance taxes on large estates, and all taxes on intra-family property transfers.
|-
| 85
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
|1,007,112
| 672,586
|59.96%
| Yes
| Init
|style="text-align: left"| Allocates corporate income/excise tax "kicker" refund to additionally fund K through 12 public education.
|-
|}
2014
November
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+2014 General Election<br />
!Meas.<br />Num.
!Passed?
!Yes<br />votes
!No<br />votes
!%<br />Yes
!Const.<br />Amd.?
!Type
|-
| 103
| style="background:white;color:black" | No
| 791,687
|1,062,752
| 42.69%
| Yes
| CICA
| Amends Constitution: Prohibits taxes/fees based on transactions for "groceries" (defined) enacted or amended after September 2017
|-
| 108
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 1,535,866
| 779,311
|66.34%
| No
| Leg
| style="text-align: left" | Tobacco and E-Cigarette Tax Increase for Health Programs Measure
|-
| 112
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 1,047,028
| 836,295
| 55.59%
| Yes
| Leg
| style="text-align: left" | Remove Slavery as Punishment for Crime from Constitution Amendment
|-
| 113
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 1,292,127
| 599,204
| 68.32%
| Yes
| Init
| style="text-align: left" | Exclusion from Re-election for Legislative Absenteeism Initiative
|-
| 114
| style="background:blue;color:white" | Yes
| 975,862
| 950,891
| 50.65%
| No
| Init
| style="text-align: left" | Changes to Firearm Ownership and Purchase Requirements Initiative
|}
2024
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ 2024 General Election<br />
!Meas.<br />Num.
!Passed?
!Yes<br />votes
!No<br />votes
!%<br />Yes
!Const.<br />Amd.?
!Type
|-
| 116
| style="background:white;color:black" | No
| 981,715
| 1,083,451
| 47.54%
| Yes
| Leg
| style="text-align: left" | Independent Public Service Compensation Commission Amendment
|}
See also
- List of California ballot propositions
- List of Washington initiatives
- Lists of Oregon-related topics
- Government of Oregon
References
External links
- Election History from Oregon Blue Book
- List of Initiatives, Referenda, and Recalls, also from Oregon Blue Book
- Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division
- Secretary of State's news release announcing what measures qualified for 2006 General Election ballot.
- Ballotpedia - Oregon Ballot Measures