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County Initiative Petition Process:
Filing Prospective Initiative Petition (Oregon Constitution, Article IV, §1, Article VI, §10 and ORS 250.165)
A prospective initiative petition consists of the text of the proposed county charter or ordinance, or an amendment to an existing county charter or ordinance, as well as the required forms that must be completed before filing the prospective initiative petition with the county elections official. All forms required to file a prospective initiative petition and the instructions for completing those forms are contained in the back of this manual and are available online.
County charter or ordinance requirements may supersede certain state statutes, except for the statutory form and ballot title requirements and other mandatory state laws. Review the requirements with the county elections official before filing the prospective petition.
Deadline to File a County Prospective Initiative Petition
A prospective initiative petition may be filed at any time.
Chief Petitioners
The chief petitioners file the prospective initiative petition with the county elections official. The prospective initiative petition must include the following:
- text of proposed measure to be initiated
- Chief petitioners are encouraged to seek legal assistance when drafting the text of any measure.
- Statement One or More/No Petition Circulators Will Be Paid (Initiative/ Referendum Only) (SEL 301)
- Prospective Petition for Local Measure (SEL 370) which designates not more than three chief petitioners
- If the petition designates fewer than three chief petitioners, additional chief petitioners, up to a total of three, may be added before final approval of the cover and signature sheets. A chief petitioner may not resign or be replaced by another individual after final approval of the cover and signature sheets. A letter signed by all current chief petitioners must accompany the SEL 370 when designating additional or different chief petitioners. At least one original chief petitioner must remain as a chief petitioner throughout the process. If all original chief petitioners resign, the initiative must be refiled.
- Residence addresses of the chief petitioners are printed on the cover sheet ORS 250.165(2).
- and
- Statement of Organization for Petition Committees (SEL 222), if required
- Campaign Account Information (SEL 223), if required
- These forms are not required with the initial filing of the prospective petition but must be filed with the State Elections Division within 3 business days of spending or receiving any money to support the initiative effort. However, approval to circulate will not be given until the Statement of Organization and Campaign Account Information form have been filed with Elections Division.
- See the Campaign Finance Manual.
Deadline to File a Statement of Organization
The Statement of Organization must be filed with the State Elections Division within 3 business days of spending or receiving any money to support the initiative effort.
Checklist for Filing a Sufficient Prospective Initiative Petition
Below is a checklist of all the components required to file a prospective initiative petition:
the text of proposed measure to be initiated
a completed Statement One or More/No Petition Circulators Will Be Paid (Initiative/Referendum Only) (SEL 301)
Prospective Petition For Local Measure (SEL 370)