Title 23, Elections

(1) When a prospective petition for a county measure to be referred is filed with the county clerk, the clerk shall authorize the circulation of the petition containing the title of the measure as enacted by the county governing body or, if there is no title, the title supplied b…

(1) When the county governing body refers a measure to the people, a ballot title for the measure may be prepared by the body. The measure and the ballot title prepared under this subsection shall be filed at the same time with the county clerk. (2) If the title is not prepared u…

(1) Any elector dissatisfied with a ballot title filed with the county clerk by the district attorney or the county governing body, may petition the circuit court of the judicial district in which the county is located seeking a different title and stating the reasons the title f…

(1) This section applies to a county that has not adopted a charter under section 10, Article VI, Oregon Constitution. (2) A referendum petition must be filed not later than the 90th day after the adoption of a nonemergency county measure. (3) A petition to refer a county measure…

(1) An initiative or referendum petition relating to a county measure shall be filed with the county clerk for signature verification. The filed petition shall contain only original signatures. (2) An initiative or referendum petition relating to a county measure shall not be acc…

If an initiative or referendum petition contains the required number of verified signatures, the election on the county measure shall be held on the next available election date in ORS 203.085 that is not sooner than the 90th day after the measure was filed with the county clerk.…

The county clerk shall retain the signature sheets of a filed initiative or referendum petition with a copy of the county measure. If the measure is approved by the electors, a copy of the measure shall be preserved as a permanent public record, and the signature sheets shall be …

ORS 250.265 to 250.346 apply to the exercise of initiative or referendum powers regarding a city measure under section 1, Article IV, Oregon Constitution, unless the city charter or ordinance provides otherwise. [1979 c.190 §162]

(1) Before circulating a petition to initiate or refer a city measure, the petitioner shall file with the city elections officer a prospective petition. The officer immediately shall date and time stamp the prospective petition, and specify the form on which the petition shall be…

(1) Not later than the fifth business day after receiving a prospective petition for an initiative measure, the city elections officer shall determine in writing whether the initiative measure meets the requirements of section 1 (2)(d) and (5), Article IV of the Oregon Constituti…

(1) When a prospective petition for a city measure to be referred is filed with the city elections officer, the officer shall authorize the circulation of the petition containing the title of the measure as enacted by the city governing body or, if there is no title, the title su…

(1) When the city governing body refers a measure to the people, a ballot title for the measure may be prepared by the body. The ballot title shall be filed with the city elections officer. (2) If the title is not prepared under subsection (1) of this section, when the measure is…

(1) Any elector dissatisfied with a ballot title filed with the city elections officer by the city attorney or the city governing body, may petition the circuit court of the judicial district in which the city is located seeking a different title and stating the reasons the title…

(1) A petition to refer a city measure must be signed by not less than 10 percent of the electors registered in the city at the time the prospective petition is filed. The petition must be filed with the city elections officer not later than the 30th day after adoption of the cit…

(1) An initiative or referendum petition relating to a city measure shall be filed with the city elections officer for signature verification. The filed petition shall contain only original signatures. (2) An initiative or referendum petition relating to a city measure shall not …

(1) If an initiative petition contains the required number of verified signatures, the city elections officer shall file the initiated measure with the city governing body at its next meeting. (2) The governing body, not later than the 30th day after the measure is filed with it,…

The city elections officer shall retain the signature sheets of a filed initiative or referendum petition with a copy of the city measure. If the measure is approved by the electors, a copy of the measure shall be preserved as a permanent public record, and the signature sheets s…

If a referendum petition contains the required number of verified signatures, the election on the city measure shall be held on the next available election date in ORS 221.230 that is not sooner than the 90th day after the referendum petition was filed with the city elections off…

As used in this chapter: (1) “Candidate” means an individual whose name is or is expected to be printed on the official ballot. (2) “City office” means the office of mayor, city auditor, city councillor or municipal judge of a city having a population of 50,000 or more according …

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of State and a county may enter into an intergovernmental agreement as provided in ORS 190.003 to 190.130 under which the Secretary of State and the county clerk of the county may jointly produce a voters’ pamphlet for any…

The Secretary of State by rule shall prescribe the size, format and method of distribution of any state voters’ pamphlet, subject to the limits described in this chapter. [1999 c.318 §7]

(1) The Secretary of State by rule shall adopt an electronic filing system to allow estimates, portraits, statements or arguments to be filed electronically using the Internet. (2) The Secretary of State may adopt rules to administer this section. [2011 c.646 §9] Note: 251.014 wa…

The Secretary of State shall pay fees received under this chapter into the General Fund. [1979 c.190 §173]

(1) If a special election or special primary election is held under ORS 188.120 for the purpose of filling a vacancy in election or office of United States Senator or Representative in Congress, or for nominating a candidate of each major political party to fill the vacancy, the …

(1) The Secretary of State shall prepare and have printed in the voters’ pamphlet for the state primary election, the general election and any special election described in ORS 251.022 a statement containing, if applicable: (a) Requirements for a citizen to qualify as an elector.…

(1) Statements and arguments submitted for inclusion in a voters’ pamphlet by a candidate, political party or assembly of electors, or a person supporting or opposing a measure shall consist only of words or numbers. (2) The Secretary of State shall specify on any instructions fo…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the Secretary of State may not print the name or title of a person or the name of an organization in an argument supporting or opposing any measure or a statement of any candidate, political party or assembly of electors f…

(1) The Secretary of State shall reject any statement, argument, translation or other matter offered for filing and publishing in a voters’ pamphlet that: (a) Contains any obscene, profane or defamatory language; (b) Incites or advocates hatred, abuse or violence toward any perso…

(1)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, not sooner than the 120th day and not later than the 68th day before the primary election, a candidate or agent on behalf of the candidate for nomination or election at the primary election to the office of President …

(1) A candidate or agent on behalf of the candidate for nomination or election to any county or city office, or to an elected office of a metropolitan service district organized under ORS chapter 268, may file a portrait or statement for inclusion in the state voters’ pamphlet un…

The Secretary of State shall include in each voters’ pamphlet, in which material of a candidate for nomination or election to an office of a metropolitan service district organized under ORS chapter 268 is printed as provided in ORS 251.065, 251.067 and 251.285, a map of the serv…

(1) A candidate may not submit for inclusion in the voters’ pamphlet a portrait that was taken more than four years before the date the portrait is filed with the Secretary of State. (2) A portrait submitted for inclusion in the voters’ pamphlet shall: (a) Be a conventional photo…

The candidate’s statement shall begin with a summary of the following: Occupation, educational and occupational background, and prior governmental experience. [Formerly 255.027]

(1) If a candidate files a portrait and statement under ORS 251.065 for inclusion in the voters’ pamphlet, the Secretary of State shall review the portrait and statement to ensure that the portrait complies with the requirements of ORS 251.075 and that the statement complies with…

(1) For space in the voters’ pamphlet: (a) Each candidate for nomination or election to the office of President or Vice President of the United States shall, at the time materials are filed under ORS 251.065, pay a fee of $3,500 to the Secretary of State or may submit a petition …

(1) Not sooner than the 120th day and not later than the 70th day before the general election, the party officers as designated in the organizational documents of any statewide political party or assembly of electors having nominated candidates may file with the Secretary of Stat…

(1) In a section of the voters’ pamphlet that provides general information, the Secretary of State shall include a disclaimer in boldfaced type in substantially the following form: ______________________________________________________________________________ Information provided…

(1) Material filed for inclusion in the voters’ pamphlet may be withdrawn on or before the deadline for filing material under ORS 251.065. (2) A person who paid a fee for filing material for inclusion in a voters’ pamphlet may receive a refund from the Secretary of State if the r…

Notwithstanding ORS 192.311 to 192.478 relating to public records, materials filed by a political party, assembly of electors or candidate for inclusion in a voters’ pamphlet and arguments supporting or opposing a measure filed by any person for inclusion in a voters’ pamphlet ar…

Material submitted for inclusion in any voters’ pamphlet shall not be admitted as evidence in any suit or action against the Secretary of State to restrain or enjoin the publication of the voters’ pamphlet. [Formerly 255.018]

(1) The Secretary of State shall prepare: (a) A list of the names of candidates for nomination or election at the primary election to the offices of President or Vice President of the United States, United States Senator, Representative in Congress, any state office other than ju…

(1) The Secretary of State shall create and make publicly available a list of: (a) The five most commonly spoken languages in the state, other than English; and (b) The 10 most commonly spoken languages in each county, other than English. (2) The lists created under subsection (1…

(1) The translation of a state voters’ pamphlet or county voters’ pamphlet required under ORS 251.167 shall be made in the manner described in this section. (2) For each state voters’ pamphlet and county voters’ pamphlet mailed to residents of a county, the Secretary of State sha…

(1)(a) The Translation Advisory Council is established. The council shall consist of five at-large members and at least one translator member for each of the 10 most commonly spoken languages in this state, other than English, and for each language in each county that the Secreta…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, not later than the 20th day before a primary election, general election or special election for which a voters’ pamphlet has been prepared, the Secretary of State shall cause the voters’ pamphlet to be mailed to each post-…

(1) The Secretary of State shall have printed in the voters’ pamphlet for a general election or any special election a copy of the title and text of each state measure to be submitted to the people at the election for which the pamphlet was prepared. The pamphlet must include the…

The text of a proposed amendment to the Oregon Constitution shall be printed in the voters’ pamphlet to indicate by the use of brackets and italic type the words that would be deleted from, and by boldfaced type the words that would be added to, the existing provision. [Formerly …

(1) As used in this section, “proponents” means: (a) With respect to any state measure initiated or referred by petition, the chief petitioners; or (b) With respect to a measure referred by the Legislative Assembly, the President of the Senate, who shall appoint a Senator, and th…

(1) Not later than the 99th day before a special election held on the date of a primary election or any general election at which any state measure is to be submitted to the people, the committee appointed under ORS 251.205 shall prepare and electronically file with the Secretary…

(1) The Legislative Counsel Committee shall prepare an impartial, simple and understandable statement of not more than 500 words explaining each state measure. The statement shall be filed electronically with the Secretary of State not later than the last day for filing a stateme…