|
|
Oregon Elections
Ballot Measures
How Ballot Measures are created.
The Oregon Legislature meets every two years.
They convened in January 1999 and will be in
session until early summer.
Initiative Process:
The initiative process allows direct
government by the people. Citizens write a
proposed law or constitutional amendment and
present it to the people through an initiative
petition. A specified percentage of voters must
sign the petition endorsing the proposed law or
amendment. When enough signatures have been
obtained, the initiative then qualifies as a
ballot measure and is voted on at the general
election.
Referendum:
The referendum process allows voters to
indicate acceptance or rejection of a proposed
new statute or constitutional amendment that
originated in and has already been accepted by
the state legislature. A referendum is usually
voted on at the general election, but may be
placed on the ballot in a special election.
Types
of Elections
Types of elections in Oregon
Primary
Election
The primary election is held on
the third Tuesday in May of each even-numbered
year. This is a nominating election. There are
partisan and nonpartisan positions and,
possibly, measures on the ballot. All voters may
vote on the measures. However, the Oregon
Primary is a closed election in which only
voters affiliated with a majority party may vote
for candidates of that party. Registered voters
not affiliated with a major party may vote only
for nonpartisan candidates. The Democratic and
Republican parties have the choice of opening
their primary to nonaffiliated voters. If they
do so, nonpartisan voters may vote on those
party candidates. A simple majority vote
determines who will represent each party in the
general election. Nonpartisan candidates may win
outright in the primary based on a percentage of
the vote. If a specified percentage is not
achieved by one candidate, the two candidates
with the most votes will contend in the general
election.
General
Election
The general election is held on
the first Tuesday after the first Monday in
November of each even-numbered year. Any
registered voter may vote on all offices and
measures. Both partisan and nonpartisan
positions are determined by a majority vote.
Other
Election Dates/Special Elections
Other designated election dates
are in March and September of each year. Special
elections may be requested by the Legislature or
be a recall election.
Secretary of State Clerk
Jackson County Clerk
Josephine County Clerk
Elections Division Kathy
Beckett Georgette
Brown
141 State Capital Court
House, 10 S. Oakdale P.O. Box 69
Salem, OR 97310 Medford,
OR 97501 Grants Pass, OR
97526
Phone: (503) 378-4144 Phone:
(541) 776-7181 Phone: (541)
474-5243
Fax: (503) 373-7314
|
League of Women Voters of
Rogue Valley
P.O. Box 8555
Medford, OR 97501
541-245-6920
Last revised: September 19,
2005
©
Copyright League of Women
Voters, Rogue Valley, Oregon. All rights reserved.
|
