List of Oregon ballot measures

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Contents 1 Early measures 1.1 1908 1.2 1922 1.3 1972 1.4 1980 1.5 1986 1.6 1988 1.7 1989 2 1990s 2.1 1990 2.2 1992 2.3 1993 2.4 1994 2.5 1996 2.6 1997 2.7 1998 2.8 1999 3 2000s 3.1 2000 3.2 2002 3.3 2003 3.4 2004 3.5 2006 3.5.1 Unsuccessful measures 3.5.2 Successful measures 3.6 2007 4 See also 5 Notes and References 6 External links

The following is a partial list of Oregon ballot measures. (The list is complete from 1996 to the present.)

In Oregon, the initiative and referendum process dates back to 1902, when the efforts of the Direct Legislation League prompted Oregon to amend its Constitution for the first time since 1859. The process of initiative and referendum became nationally known as the Oregon System.^[1][2]

There are three types of ballot measures that may appear on statewide ballots: 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 8% of recent voters to qualify for the ballot; statutory reforms require 6%.

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 4% of recent voters to qualify for the ballot.

referral

The Legislative Assembly may refer any bill it passes to the public for approval, and 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 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,^[3] and Chapter 250 of the Oregon Revised Statutes relates to initiative and referendum as well.^[4]

The Oregon Blue Book, produced by the Oregon government, maintains a list similar to this one,^[5] which is a more complete list than this (though this list, in some cases, contains more detail about the measures.)

In the lists below, (C) indicates that a measure proposed to amend the Constitution of Oregon.

[edit] Early measures

[edit] 1908

• 13 — established power to recall public officials by ballot initiative, passed 58,381-31,002.

[edit] 1922

• 6 — amended a statute requiring children between eight and sixteen to attend public school, to eliminate an exemption for private school students; the measure passed 115,506 to 103,685, but was invalidated by the Supreme Court of the United States in Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925).

[edit] 1972

• 7 — Repealed Governors Retirement Act that was created through House Bill 1728 in 1971 that provided lifetime pensions for Oregon Governors who served at least two years. The measure passed with little objection.

[edit] 1980

• Measure banning construction of new nuclear power plants passed by a strong margin.

[edit] 1986

• Measure aiming to close Trojan Nuclear Power Plant defeated.

[edit] 1988

• 7 — 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.

[edit] 1989

May 16 Special Election

Meas num	passed?	Yes	No	%	Const Amd	type[6]	Ballot Title - and notes
1	NO	183,818	263,283	41.1	YES	LEG	Establishes New Tax Base Limits on Schools

June 27 Special Election

Meas num	passed?	Yes	No	%	Const Amd	type[6]	Ballot Title - and notes
1	YES	340506	141649	70.6	YES	LEG	Removes Constitutional Limitation on Use of Property Forfeited To State
2	YES	446151	48558	90.2	YES	LEG	Prohibits Selling/Exporting Timber from State Lands Unless Oregon Processed

[edit] 1990s

[edit] 1990

May 15 Primary Election

Meas num	passed?	Yes	No	%	Const Amd	type[6]	Ballot Title - and notes
1	NO	294099	324458	47.5	YES	LEG	Permits Using Local Vehicle Taxes for Transit if Voters Approve
2	YES	352922	248123	58.7	YES	LEG	Allows Pollution Control Bond Use for Related Activities
3	NO	294664	299831	49.6	YES	LEG	Requires Annual Legislative Sessions of Limited Duration
4	NO	4234	4745	47.2	NO	LEG	Amends Laws on Organization of International Port of Coos Bay
5A	YES	462090	140747	76.7	NO	LEG	Advisory Vote: Changing the School Finance System
5B	NO	177964	408842	30.3	NO	LEG	Advisory Vote: Income Tax Increase Reducing Homeowner School Property Taxes
5C	NO	128642	449725	22.2	NO	LEG	Advisory Vote: Income Tax Increase Eliminating Homeowner School Property Taxes
5D	NO	202367	385820	34.4	NO	LEG	Advisory Vote: Sales Tax Reducing School Property Taxes
5E	NO	222611	374466	37.3	NO	LEG	Advisory Vote: Sales Tax Eliminating School Property Taxes

November 6 General Election

Meas num	passed?	Yes	No	%	Const Amd	type[6]	Ballot Title - and notes
1	YES	510947	491170	51	YES	LEG	Grants Metropolitan Service District Electors Right to Home Rule
2	YES	680463	354288	65.8	YES	LEG	Allows Merged School Districts to Combine Tax Bases
3	NO	406372	617586	39.7	N/A	REF	Repeals Tax Exemption, Grants Additional Benefit Payments for PERS Retirees
4	NO	446795	660992	40.3	NO	INIT	Prohibits Trojan Operation Until Nuclear Waste, Cost, Earthquake Standards Met – one of several measures aiming to close Trojan
5	YES	574833	522022	52.4	YES	INIT	Limit on Property Taxes for Schools, Government Operations landmark tax law, limited property taxes and moved school funding from local to state control. Follow up measures 47 (1996) and 50 (1997) addressed property taxes as well.
6	NO	467418	636804	42.3	NO	INIT	Product Packaging Must Meet Recycling Standards or Receive Hardship Waiver
7	YES	624744	452853	58	NO	INIT	Six-County Work in Lieu of Welfare Benefits Pilot Program
8	NO	355963	747599	32.3	YES	INIT	Prohibit Abortion With Three Exceptions
9	YES	598460	512872	53.9	NO	INIT	Requires the Use of Safety Belts
10	NO	530851	577806	47.9	NO	INIT	Doctor Must Give Parent Notice Before Minor's Abortion
11	NO	351977	741863	32.2	YES	INIT	School Choice System, Tax Credit for Education Outside Public Schools

[edit] 1992

May 19 Primary Election

Meas num	passed?	Yes	No	%	Const Amd	type[6]	Ballot Title - and notes
1	NO	244,173	451,715	35.1	YES	LEG	Future Fuel Taxes May Go to Police

November 3 General Election

Meas num	passed?	Yes	No	%	Const Amd	type[6]	Ballot Title - and notes
1	NO	653,062	786,017	45.4	YES	LEG	Bonds May be Issued for State Parks
2	NO	399,259	1,039,322	27.8	YES	LEG	Future Fuel Taxes May Go to Parks
3	YES	1,003,706	439,694	69.5	YES	INIT	Limits Terms for Legislature, Statewide Offices, Congressional Offices - established term limits for state and federal elected positions. Federal provisions overturned in 1995, state provisions overturned in 2002.
4	NO	567,467	896,778	38.8	NO	INIT	Bans Operation of Triple Truck-Trailer Combinations on Oregon Highways
5	NO	585,051	874,636	40.1	NO	INIT	Closes Trojan Until Nuclear Waste, Cost, Earthquake, Health Conditions Met - Measures 5 and 6, aiming to close Trojan Nuclear Power Plant, defeated; PGE spent $5 million opposing, a record high expenditure not exceeded until 2007.
6	NO	619,329	830,850	42.7	NO	INIT	Bans Trojan Power Operation Unless Earthquake, Waste Storage Conditions Met - see above
7	NO	362,621	1,077,206	25.2	YES	INIT	Raises Tax Limit on Certain Property; Residential Renters' Tax Relief
8	NO	576,633	828,096	41	NO	INIT	Restricts Lower Columbia Fish Harvests to Most Selective Means Available
9	NO	638,527	828,290	43.5	YES	INIT	Government Cannot Facilitate, Must Discourage Homosexuality, Other "Behaviors"

[edit] 1993

June 29 Special Election

Meas num	passed?	Yes	No	%	Const Amd	type[6]	Ballot Title - and notes
1	NO	180,070	482,714	27.2	NO	LEG	Allows Voter Approval of Urban Renewal Bond Repayment Outside Limit

November 9 Special Election

Meas num	passed?	Yes	No	%	Const Amd	type[6]	Ballot Title - and notes
1	NO	240,991	721,930	25.0	NO	LEG	Should We Pass A 5% Sales Tax for Public Schools with these Restrictions?

[edit] 1994

May 17 primary election

Meas num	passed?	Yes	No	%	Const Amd	type[6]	Ballot Title - and notes
2	NO	158028	446665	26.1	NO	LEG	Allows New Motor Vehicle Fuel Revenues for Dedicated Purposes

November 8 general election

Meas num	passed?	Yes	No	%	Const Amd	type[6]	Ballot Title - and notes
3	YES	776197	382126	67.0	YES	LEG	Changes Deadline for Filling Vacancies at General Election
4	YES	1055111	145499	87.9	YES	LEG	Creates Vacancy if State Legislator Convicted of Felony
5	NO	543302	671025	44.7	YES	INIT	Bars New or Increased Taxes without Voter Approval
6	YES	628180	555019	53.1	YES	INIT	Candidates May Use Only Contributions from District Residents (struck down as unconstitutional in Federal court[7])
7	NO	512980	671021	43.3	YES	INIT	Guarantees Equal Protection: Lists Prohibited Grounds of Discrimination
8	YES	611760	610776	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.[8]
9	YES	851014	324224	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.[9] Most provisions struck down by Oregon Supreme Court in February 1997.[10]
10	YES	763507	415678	64.7	YES	INIT	Legislature Cannot Reduce Voter-Approved Sentence Without 2/3 Vote
11	YES	788695	412816	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	450553	731146	38.1	NO	INIT	Repeals Prevailing Rate Wage Requirement for Workers on Public Works
13	NO	592746	630628	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	500005	679936	42.4	YES	INIT	Amends Chemical Process Mining Laws: Adds Requirements, Prohibitions, Standards, Fees
15	NO	438018	760853	36.5	YES	INIT	State Must Maintain Funding for Schools, Community Colleges
16	YES	627980	596018	51.3	NO	INIT	Allows Terminally Ill Adults to Obtain Prescription for Lethal Drugs — legalized doctor-assisted suicide. (aka "Death with Dignity Act")
17	YES	859896	350541	71.0	YES	INIT	Requires State Prison Inmates to Work Full Time
18	YES	629527	586026	51.8	NO	INIT	Bans Hunting Bears with Bait, Hunting Bears, Cougars with Dogs
19	NO	549754	652139	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	284195	898416	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.^[11]

[edit] 1996

May 21 primary election

Meas num	passed?	Yes	No	%	Const Amd	type[6]	Ballot Title - and notes
23	YES	466580	177218	72.47	YES	LEG	Increases Minimum Value in Controversy Required to Obtain Jury Trial
24	NO	279399	360592	43.66	YES	LEG	Initiative Petition Signatures Must Be Collected From Each Congressional District
25	YES	349918	289930	54.69	YES	LEG	Requires 3/5 Majority in Legislature to Pass Revenue-Raising Bills

November 5 General Election

Meas num	passed?	Yes	No	%	Const Amd	type[6]	Ballot Title – and notes
26	YES	878677	440283	66.62	YES	LEG	Changes the Principles that Govern Laws for Punishment of Crime
27	NO	349050	938819	27.1	YES	LEG	Grants Legislature New Power Over Both New, Existing Administrative Rules
28	YES	708341	593136	54.43	YES	LEG	Repeals Certain Residency Requirements for State Veterans' Loans
29	NO	335057	958947	25.89	YES	LEG	Governor's Appointees Must Vacate Office If Successor Not Timely Confirmed
30	YES	731127	566168	56.36	YES	LEG	State Must Pay Local Governments Costs of State-Mandated Programs
31	NO	630980	706974	47.16	YES	LEG	Obscenity May Receive No Greater Protection Than Under Federal Constitution
32	NO	622764	704970	46.9	NO	REF	Authorizes Bonds for Portland Region Light Rail, Transportation Projects Elsewhere
33	NO	638824	652811	49.46	YES	INIT	Limits Legislative Change to Statutes Passed by Voters
34	NO	570803	762979	42.8	NO	INIT	Wildlife Management Exclusive to Commission; Repeals1994 Bear/Cougar Initiative
35	NO	441108	807987	35.31	NO	INIT	Restricts Bases for Providers to Receive Pay for Health Care
36	YES	769725	584303	56.85	NO	INIT	Increases Minimum Hourly Wage to $6.50 Over Three Years
37	NO	540645	818336	39.78	NO	INIT	Broadens Types of Beverage Containers Requiring Deposit and Refund Value
38	NO	479921	852661	36.01	NO	INIT	Prohibits Livestock in Certain Polluted Waters or on Adjacent Lands
39	NO	569037	726824	43.91	YES	INIT	Government, Private Entities Cannot Discriminate Among Health Care Provider Categories
40	YES	778574	544301	58.85	YES	INIT	Gives Crime Victims Rights, Expands Admissible Evidence, Limits Pretrial Release – passed, but nullified by the Oregon Supreme Court for affecting multiple portions of the constitution. Spawned multiple measures in 1999.
41	NO	446115	838088	34.74	YES	INIT	States How Public Employee Earnings Must Be Expressed
42	NO	460553	857878	34.93	YES	INIT	Requires Testing of Public School Students; Public Report
43	NO	547131	707586	43.61	NO	INIT	Amends Collective Bargaining Law for Public Safety Employees
44	YES	759048	598543	55.91	NO	INIT	Increases, Adds Cigarette and Tobacco Taxes; Changes Tax Revenue Distribution – increased cigarette tax by 30 cents per pack
45	NO	458238	866461	34.59	YES	INIT	Raises Public Employees' Normal Retirement Age; Reduces Benefits
46	NO	158555	1180148	11.84	YES	INIT	Counts Non-Voters As "No" Votes on Tax Measures
47	YES	704554	642613	52.3	YES	INIT	Reduces and Limits Property Taxes; Limits Local Revenues, Replacement Fees – limited property taxes, required double-majority for some local tax increases.
48	NO	624771	671095	48.21	YES	INIT	Instructs State, Federal Legislators to Vote for Congressional Term Limits

[edit] 1997

May 20 Special Election

Meas num	passed?	Yes	No	%	Const Amd	type [6]	Ballot Title – and notes
49	YES	699813	70940	90.8	YES	LEG	Restricts Inmate Lawsuits; Allows Interstate Shipment of Prison Made Products
50	YES	429943	341781	55.71	YES	LEG	Limits Assessed Value of Property for Tax Purposes; Limits Property Tax Rates – replaced Measure 47 (1996)

November 4 special election

Meas num	passed?	Yes	No	%	Const Amd	type [6]	Ballot Title – and notes
51	NO	445830	666275	40.09	NO	LEG	Repeals Law Allowing Terminally Ill Adults To Obtain Lethal Prescription – would have repealed Oregon Death with Dignity Act
52	YES	805742	293425	73.3	NO	LEG	Authorizes State Lottery Bond Program To Finance Public School Projects

[edit] 1998

May 19 Primary Election: Details about Ballot Measure 53^[12] and election results^[13] available from the Secretary of State's office.

Meas num	passed?	Yes	No	%	Const Amd	type[6]	Ballot Title
53	NO	303539	319871	48.69	YES	LEG	Eliminates Voter Turnout Requirement For Passing Certain Property Tax Measures – would have eliminated double majority requirement established by Measures 47 and 50.

November 3 General Election: Titles and summaries^[14] of Measures 54-67, and the election results,^[15] available from the Oregon Secretary of State's office.

Meas num	passed?	Yes	No	%	Const Amd	type[6]	Ballot Title - and notes
54	YES	569982	474727	54.56	YES	LEG	Authorizes State To Guarantee Bonded Indebtedness Of Certain Education Districts
55	NO	456464	579251	44.07	YES	LEG	Permits State To Guarantee Earnings On Prepaid Tuition Trust Fund
56	YES	874547	212737	80.43	NO	LEG	Expands Notice To Landowners Regarding Changes To Land Use Laws
57	NO	371967	736968	33.54	NO	REF	Makes Possession Of Limited Amount Of Marijuana Class C Misdemeanor
58	YES	621832	462084	57.37	NO	INIT	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	NO	539757	561952	48.99	YES	INIT	Prohibits Using Public Resources To Collect Money For Political Purposes
60	YES	757204	334021	69.39	NO	INIT	Requires Vote By Mail In Biennial Primary, General Elections
61	NO				NO		Would have changed sentencing rules. Vote Not Tallied By Court Order
62	YES	721448	347112	67.52	YES	INIT	Requires Campaign Finance Disclosures; Regulates Signature Gathering; Guarantees Contribution Methods
63	YES	566064	457762	55.29	YES	INIT	Measures Proposing Supermajority Voting Requirements Require Same Supermajority For Passage
64	NO	215491	897535	19.36	NO	INIT	Prohibits Many Present Timber Harvest Practices, Imposes More Restrictive Regulations
65	NO	483811	533948	47.54	YES	INIT	Creates Process For Requiring Legislature To Review Administrative Rules - sought to restrict Legislature's ability to regulate land use
66	YES	742038	362247	67.2	YES	INIT	Dedicates Some Lottery Funding To Parks, Beaches; Habitat, Watershed Protection
67	YES	611190	508263	54.6	NO	INIT	Allows Medical Use Of Marijuana Within Limits; Establishes Permit System - legalized medical marijuana

[edit] 1999

11/2/99 November Special Election: Detailed information about Measures 68-76^[16] and election results^[17] available from the Oregon Secretary of State's office.

Measures 69-75 were originally provisions of 1996 Measure 40, which was approved but then struck down due to its amendments to multiple parts of the Oregon Constitution.^[18]

Meas num	passed?	Yes	No	%	Const Amd	type[6]	Ballot Title
68	YES	406526	289407	58.41	YES	LEG	Allows Protecting Business, Certain Government Programs From Prison Work Programs
69	YES	406393	292419	58.15	YES	LEG	Grants Victims Constitutional Rights In Criminal Prosecutions, Juvenile Court Delinquency Proceedings
70	NO	289783	407429	41.56	YES	LEG	Gives Public, Through Prosecutor, Right To Demand Jury Trial In Criminal Cases
71	YES	404404	292696	58.01	YES	LEG	Limits Pretrial Release Of Accused Person To Protect Victims, Public
72	NO	316351	382685	45.26	YES	LEG	Allows Murder Conviction By 11 To 1 Jury Verdict
73	NO	320160	369843	46.4	YES	LEG	Limits Immunity From Criminal Prosecution Of Person Ordered To Testify About His Or Her Conduct
74	YES	368899	325078	53.16	YES	LEG	Requires Terms Of Imprisonment Announced In Court Be Fully Served, With Exceptions
75	YES	399671	292445	57.75	YES	LEG	Persons Convicted Of Certain Crimes Cannot Serve On Grand Juries, Criminal Trial Juries
76	YES	372613	314351	54.24	YES	LEG	Requires Light, Heavy Motor Vehicle Classes Proportionately Share Highway Costs

[edit] 2000s

[edit] 2000

Primary Election: Detailed information about Measures 77-82^[19] and election results^[20] available at the Secretary of State's web site.

meas. num.	passed	YES votes	NO votes	% YES	Const. Amd.?	description
77	NO	336,253	432,541		YES	Makes Certain Local Taxing Districts' Temporary Property Tax Authority Permanent
78	YES	528,129	327,440		YES	Lengthens Period For Verifying Signatures On Initiative And Referendum Petitions
79	NO	356,912	505,081		YES	Increases Signatures Required To Place Initiative Amending Constitution On Ballot
80	NO	310,640	559,941		YES	Authorizes Using Fuel Tax, Vehicle Fees For Increasing Highway Policing
81	NO	219,009	650,348		YES	Allows Legislature To Limit Recovery Of Damages In Civil Actions
82	NO	109,741	767,329		NO	Repeals Truck Weight--Mile Tax; Establishes And Increases Fuel Taxes

General Election: Detailed information about Measures 83-99 and 1-9^[21] and election results^[22] available at the Secretary of State's web site.

meas. num.	passed	YES votes	NO votes	% YES	Const. Amd.?	description
83	YES	1084870	365203		YES	Authorizes New Standards, Priorities For Veterans' Loans; Expands Qualified Recipients
84	YES	1211384	222723		YES	State Must Continue Paying Local Governments For State--Mandated Programs
85	NO	634307	767366		YES	Modifies Population, Minimum Area Requirements For Formation Of New Counties
86	YES	898793	550304		YES	mandated kicker checks in the state Constitution. (Previous kicker law was a statute.) explanation of measure
87	NO	694410	771901		YES	Allows Regulation Of Location Of Sexually Oriented Businesses Through Zoning
88	YES	739270	724097		NO	Increases Maximum Deductible In Oregon For Federal Income Taxes Paid
89	NO	622814	828117		NO	Dedicates Tobacco Settlement Proceeds To Specified Health, Housing, Transportation Programs
90	NO	158810	1208545		NO	Authorizes Rates Giving Utilities Return On Investments In Retired Property
91	NO	661342	814885		YES	Makes Federal Income Taxes Fully Deductible On Oregon Tax Returns
92	NO	656250	815338		YES	Prohibits Payroll Deductions For Political Purposes Without Specific Written Authorization
93	NO	581186	865091		YES	Voters Must Approve Most Taxes, Fees; Requires Certain Approval Percentage
94	NO	387068	1073275		NO	would have repealed 1994's Measure 11.
95	NO	514926	962250		YES	Student Learning Determines Teacher Pay; Qualifications, Not Seniority, Determine Retention
96	NO	527613	866588		YES	Prohibits Making Initiative Process Harder, Except Through Initiative; Applies Retroactively
97	NO	606939	867219		NO	Bans Body--Gripping Animal Traps, Some Poisons; Restricts Fur Commerce
98	NO	678024	776489		YES	Prohibits Using Public Resources For Political Purposes; Limits Payroll Deductions
99	YES	911217	539414		YES	Creates Commission Ensuring Quality Home Care Services For Elderly, Disabled
1	YES	940223	477461		YES	Legislature Must Fund School Quality Goals Adequately; Report; Establish Grants
2	NO	605575	779190		YES	sought to restrict Legislature's ability to regulate land use
3	YES	952792	465081		YES	prohibited forfeiture without conviction.
4	NO	650850	789543		NO	Dedicates Tobacco-Settlement Proceeds; Earnings Fund Low-Income Health Care
5	YES	921926	569996		NO	Expands Circumstances Requiring Background Checks Before Transfer Of Firearm
6	NO	586910	838011		NO	Provides Public Funding To Candidates Who Limit Spending, Private Contributions
7	YES	not published		53%[23]	YES	precursor to Oregon Ballot Measure 37 (2004); restricted land use regulation, but was struck down by the Oregon Supreme Court.[24]
8	NO	608090	789699		YES	would have capped state spending
9	NO	702572	788691		NO	would have prohibited "encouragement" of homosexuality by public schools.

[edit] 2002

Primary Election: Detailed information for 2002 Primary measures (10, 11, and 13)^[25] and official results^[26] available from the Oregon Secretary of State's office.

meas. num.	passed	YES votes	NO votes	% YES	Const. Amd.?	description
10	YES	608,640	177,004	77.47%	YES	Allows Public Universities to Receive Equity in Private Companies as Compensation for Publicly Created Technology
11	YES	589,869	190,226	75.62%	YES	Authorizes Less Expensive General Obligation Bond financing for OHSU Medical Research and other Capital Costs
12 — Removed from Ballot
13	NO	376,605	411,923	47.76%	YES	would have allowed transfer of money from a state education trust fund to the school fund, and would have done such a transfer immediately.

September Special Election: Measures 19 and 20^[27]

meas. num.	passed	YES votes	NO votes	% YES	Const. Amd.?	description
19	YES	496,815	306,440	61.85%	YES	similar to Measure 13, but transferred less money.
20	YES	522,613	289,119	64.38%	NO	Increases Cigarette Tax; Uses Revenue for Health Plan, Other Programs

General Election: Detailed information on Measures 14-18 and 21-27^[28], and official election results^[29] available at the Secretary of State's web site.

meas. num.	passed	YES votes	NO votes	% YES	Const. Amd.?	description
14	YES	867,901	352,027		YES	Removes Historical Racial References in Obsolete Sections of Constitution
15	YES	671,640	535,638		YES	Authorizes State to Issue General Obligation Bonds for Seismic Rehabilitation of Public Education Buildings
16	YES	669,451	530,587		YES	Authorizes State to Issue General Obligation Bonds for Seismic Rehabilitation of Emergency Services Buildings
17	NO	341,717	910,331		YES	would have lowered minimum age for serving in state legislature from 21 to 18.
18	NO	450,444	704,116		YES	Allows Certain Tax Districts to Establish Permanent Property Tax Rates and Divide into Tax Zones
21	NO	526,450	668,256		YES	Revises Procedure for Filling Judicial Vacancies, Electing Judges; Allows Vote for "None of the Above"
22	NO	595,936	610,063		YES	Requires Supreme Court Judges and Court of Appeals Judges to be Elected by District
23	NO	265,310	969,537		NO	would have established universal health care in Oregon.
24	YES	907,979	286,492		NO	Allows Licensed Denturists to Install Partial Dentures; Authorizes Cooperative Dentist--Denturist Business Ventures
25	YES	645,016	611,658		NO	raised minimum wage to $6.90, tied it to the consumer price index.
26	YES	921,606	301,415		YES	prohibited paying signature gatherers (for initiative petitions) per signature
27	NO	371,851	886,806		NO	would have required labeling of GMO foods.

[edit] 2003

January Special Election: Detailed information on Ballot Measure 28^[30] and election results^[31] at the Oregon Secretary of State's site.

meas. num.	passed	YES votes	NO votes	% YES	Const. Amd.?	type[6]	description
28	NO	575,846	676,312	45.9%	NO	LEG	would have created a temporary (3-year) 1% income tax increase to balance state budgets.

September Special Election: Detailed information on Ballot Measure 29^[32] and election results^[33] at the Oregon Secretary of State's site.

meas. num.	passed	YES votes	NO votes	% YES	Const. Amd.?	type[6]	description
29	YES	360,209	291,778	55.2%	YES	LEG	authorize state to incur general obligation debt for savings on pension liabilities.

[edit] 2004

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.^[34]

2004 FEBRUARY SPECIAL ELECTION
Detailed information on Measure 30^[35] and official results^[36] available from the Oregon Secretary of State.

meas. num.	passed	YES votes	NO votes	% YES	Const. Amd.?	description
30	NO	481,315	691,462	41%	NO	Create a temporary income tax surcharge to balance state budgets.

2004 GENERAL ELECTION
Detailed information about the measures^[37][38] and official results^[39] available from the Oregon Secretary of State.

meas. num.	passed	YES votes	NO votes	% YES	Const. Amd.?	description
31	YES	1122852	588502	66%	YES	Postpone certain elections in the event of a candidate's death.
32	YES	1048090	661576	61%	YES	Mobile home taxes and fees.
33	NO	764015	1021814	43%	NO	Expand Oregon Medical Marijuana Act to allow for the creation of nonprofit dispensaries.
34	NO	659467	1060496	38%	NO	Timber production/Resource conservation.
35	NO	869054	896857	49%	YES	Malpractice lawsuit limits.
36	YES	1028546	787556	57%	YES	Define marriage as between one man and one woman.
37	YES	1054589	685079	61%	NO	Require governments to pay owners when condemning or taking private property, including laws precluding many economically viable or otherwise owner-beneficial uses.
38	NO	670935	1037722	39%	NO	Abolish SAIF, the state-run workers' compensation provider.

[edit] 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.^[40]

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.^[41]

[edit] 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.^[41]

Measure 42 was promoted by conservative ballot measure activist Bill Sizemore. Sizemore broke with his custom by promoting a consumer-oriented bill, which would have outlawed the use of credit data in determining insurance premiums. Opponents of the measure spent over $3.7 million (nearly all of which came from out of state), defeating the measure. Their advertising focused heavily on Sizemore's credibility. Sizemore did not run an active campaign promoting the measure. He and his longtime political ally Loren Parks were the only people to submit arguments in favor for the Voters' Guide.^[42]

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.)

[edit] 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.

2006 GENERAL ELECTION
Detailed information on measures^[43] and official results^[44] available from the Oregon Secretary of State.

meas. num.	passed	YES votes	NO votes	% YES	Const. Amd.?	type[6]	description
39	YES	881820	431844	67%	NO	INIT	Restrict the use of Eminent Domain
40	NO	576153	749404	43%	YES	INIT	Restrict eligibility to the Oregon Supreme Court based on geographic origin
41	NO	483443	818452	37%	NO	INIT	Allow Federal Tax Credit on Oregon Taxes
42	NO	479935	876075	35%	NO	INIT	Ban the use of credit reports in determining insurance premiums
43	NO	616876	746606	45%	NO	INIT	Require parental notification for abortions for girls aged 15-17
44	YES	1049594	296649	78%	NO	INIT	Extend discount prescription drug program to all Oregon citizens
45	NO	555016	788895	41%	YES	INIT	Require term limits for Oregon Legislative Assembly
46	NO	520342	770251	40%	YES	INIT	Permit laws that limit campaign contributions
47[45]	YES	694918	615256	53%	NO	INIT	Revise campaign finance laws to limit or prohibit campaign contributions for state and local elections
48	NO	379971	923629	29%	YES	INIT	Create a state spending cap indexed to inflation and population growth

[edit] 2007

In 2007, voters considered 2 statewide ballot measures.

2007 GENERAL ELECTION
Detailed information on measures^[46] available from the Oregon Secretary of State.

meas. num.	passed	YES votes	NO votes	% YES	Const. Amd.?	type[6]	description
49	YES	718,023	437,351	62.15%	NO	LEG	Modifies 2004's Measure 37, altering land-use regulations
50	NO				YES	LEG	Increases the tobacco tax to fund various programs, including health coverage & Healthy Kids Program

[edit] See also

• List of California ballot propositions
• List of Washington initiatives
• List of lists about Oregon
• Government of Oregon
• Capital punishment in Oregon

[edit] Notes and References

[edit] 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.

v • d • e Topics in Oregon legislation Crime and sentencing Capital punishment · Measure 11 (1994) (mandatory minimum sentencing) · Measure 40 (1996) etc. (victims' rights) Abigail Scott Duniway was instrumental in establishing women's right to vote in Oregon. Elections and voting Direct Legislation League · Vote-by-mail · Term limits Gay rights Same-sex marriage · Oregon Citizens Alliance · Measure 9 (1992) (homosexuality and education) Environment Bottle bill · Nuclear power Land use planning Measure 37 (2004) Health care Death with Dignity Act · Medical Marijuana Act · Oregon Health Plan Minimum wage Measures 36 (1996), 25 (2002) Taxation Tax revolt · Bill Sizemore · Measure 5 (1990) (landmark tax law) · Measures 47 (1996) and 50 (1997) (adjusted Measure 5) · Kicker (tax rebate) Miscellaneous Adoption rights Background, further reading Oregon legislature · Direct democracy in Oregon · Oregon government · Oregon history · Oregon ballot measures

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