What is the general process of getting an initiative on an election ballot?
Once an idea for an Oregon Constitutional or statutory amendment has been formulated and is in writing, then the petitioners must receive written permission from the Oregon Secretary of State to circulate it. Then the petitioners must receive a certain number of valid signatures from Oregon registered voters before it may be placed on an election ballot. Each election year the required number of signatures varies. For the November 7, 2000 election, an initiative to amend the Oregon Constitution requires 89,048 signatures, and an initiative to amend an Oregon statute requires 66,786 signatures. What is the difference between a Ballot Measure and an Initiative? A Ballot Measure is an initiative that has received the required number of signatures and passed all other procedural requirements. The initiative will then be assigned a Ballot Measure number and be placed on an election ballot. Who is an initiative chief petitioner? A chief petitioner is the person who sponsors the initiative. T
