Campaigns behind two Oregon ballot initiatives related to cannabis unions and higher corporate taxes and rebates submit signatures for Nov. ballot

The signature deadline for Oregon ballot initiatives was July 5. Two campaigns sponsoring initiated state statutes filed signatures by the deadline.

United Food and Commercial Workers 555 filed 168,854 unverified signatures for an initiative to require cannabis businesses to submit to the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission a signed labor peace agreement guaranteeing their neutrality when a labor organization engages their employees about collective bargaining rights with its licensure or renewal application. Failure to comply or submit the agreement would result in penalties, including fines or the denial, suspension, or revocation of the retailer’s/processor’s license or certificate.

Oregon People’s Rebate filed 168,854 unverified signatures for an initiative that would remove the cap on corporate taxes, impose an additional tax of 3% for sales above $25 million, and require the Department of Revenue to equally distribute increased revenue to all individuals residing more than 200 days annually in Oregon.

In Oregon, the number of signatures required to qualify an initiated state statute for the ballot is equal to 6% of the votes cast for governor in the most recent gubernatorial election, which equals 117,173 valid signatures.

For the 2024 ballot, 55 initiatives were filed with the secretary of state. Between 2010 and 2022, the average number of initiatives filed for each election cycle was 63, and the average number certified for the ballot was between four and five.

Oregon voters will be deciding on three legislatively referred measures. Oregon will be the fifth state to decide on a ranked-choice voting ballot measure after the state legislature voted to refer a law authorizing its use to the ballot. The state legislature also voted to send an amendment to voters that would authorize the impeachment process for state executives. Oregon has the only state legislature that cannot impeach state executive officials. Voters will also decide on a constitutional amendment to establish an Independent Public Service Compensation Commission to determine certain public officials’ salaries.

In Oregon, a total of 279 ballot measures appeared on statewide ballots between 1985 and 2022. One hundred thirty-five (135) ballot measures were approved, and 144 ballot measures were defeated.