2021 Oregon Revised Statutes
Chapter 250 - Initiative and Referendum
Section 250.085 - Procedure for elector dissatisfied with ballot title of state measure; Supreme Court review of title.


(2) Any elector dissatisfied with the latest ballot title for an initiated or referred measure certified by the Attorney General and who timely submitted written comments on the draft ballot title may petition the Supreme Court seeking a different title. The petition shall state the reasons that the title filed with the Secretary of State does not substantially comply with the requirements of ORS 250.035.
(3) The petition shall name the Attorney General as the respondent and must be filed:
(a) Not later than the 10th business day after the Attorney General certifies a ballot title or a corrected ballot title to the Secretary of State, whichever is later; or
(b) If the title is provided by the Legislative Assembly under ORS 250.075, not later than the 10th business day after the Legislative Assembly files the ballot title with the Secretary of State.
(4) An elector filing a petition under this section shall notify the Secretary of State in writing that the petition has been filed. The notice must be received in the office of the Secretary of State not later than 5 p.m. on the next business day following the day the petition is filed.
(5) The Supreme Court shall review the title for substantial compliance with the requirements of ORS 250.035.
(6) When reviewing a title certified by the Attorney General, the Supreme Court shall not consider arguments concerning the ballot title not presented in writing to the Secretary of State unless the court determines that the argument concerns language added to or removed from the draft title after expiration of the comment period provided in ORS 250.067.
(7) The review by the Supreme Court shall be conducted expeditiously to ensure the orderly and timely circulation of the petition or conduct of the election at which the measure is to be submitted to the electors.
(8) If the Supreme Court determines that the latest ballot title certified by the Attorney General or prepared by the Legislative Assembly substantially complies with the requirements of ORS 250.035, the court shall certify the title to the Secretary of State. If the Supreme Court determines that the latest ballot title certified by the Attorney General or prepared by the Legislative Assembly does not substantially comply with the requirements of ORS 250.035, the court shall modify the ballot title and certify the ballot title to the Secretary of State or refer the ballot title to the Attorney General for modification.
(9) Not later than five business days after the Supreme Court refers a ballot title to the Attorney General under this section, the Attorney General shall file a modified ballot title with the Supreme Court and serve copies of the modified ballot title on all parties to the ballot title review proceeding. If no party to the ballot title review proceeding files an objection to the modified ballot title within five business days after the date the modified ballot title is filed, the Supreme Court shall certify the modified ballot title to the Secretary of State and enter an appellate judgment the next judicial day. If any of the parties to the ballot title review proceeding timely files a petition objecting to the modified ballot title, the Supreme Court shall review the modified ballot title to determine whether the modified ballot title substantially complies with the requirements of ORS 250.035.
(10) Upon the filing of a petition under subsection (9) of this section objecting to a modified ballot title:
(a) If the Supreme Court determines that the modified ballot title substantially complies with the requirements of ORS 250.035, the court shall certify the modified ballot title to the Secretary of State; or
(b) If the Supreme Court determines that the modified ballot title does not substantially comply with the requirements of ORS 250.035, the court shall modify the ballot title and certify the ballot title to the Secretary of State or refer the modified ballot title to the Attorney General for additional modification and further proceedings under subsection (9) of this section. [Formerly 254.077; 1983 c.514 §9; 1985 c.447 §6; 1987 c.519 §2; 1989 c.503 §6; 1993 c.493 §96; 1995 c.534 §2; 2001 c.802 §2; 2007 c.159 §2]

Structure 2021 Oregon Revised Statutes

2021 Oregon Revised Statutes

Volume : 06 - Local Government, Public Employees, Elections

Chapter 250 - Initiative and Referendum

Section 250.005 - Definitions.

Section 250.015 - Form of petition; numbering of signature sheets; rules.

Section 250.025 - Qualifications for signers of petition; removal of signatures.

Section 250.029 - Withdrawal of initiative or referendum petition; form.

Section 250.031 - Rules for conduct of election under Article XI, section 11, of Oregon Constitution.

Section 250.035 - Form of ballot titles for state and local measures.

Section 250.036 - Form of ballot title for measure subject to Article XI, section 11 (8), of Oregon Constitution; exception.

Section 250.037 - Form of ballot title for measure requesting approval of certain bonds.

Section 250.038 - Form of ballot title for measure authorizing imposition or renewal of local option taxes or establishing permanent rate limitation.

Section 250.041 - Applicability of ORS 250.005 to 250.038 to counties and cities.

Section 250.043 - Acceptance of initiative or referendum petition without original signatures.

Section 250.044 - When actions challenging constitutionality of state measure must be filed in Marion County Circuit Court.

Section 250.045 - Prospective petition; signature requirement; cover and signature sheet requirements; rules.

Section 250.048 - Registration and training for paid petition circulators; requirements; effect of failure to register; criminal records check; registration of organizations that pay petition circulators; rules.

Section 250.052 - Official templates of cover and signature sheets; electronic template; rules.

Section 250.065 - Preparation of ballot titles for certain state measures.

Section 250.067 - Notice of draft ballot title; written comments; certification of title; correction of clerical errors; rules.

Section 250.075 - Preparation of ballot titles by Legislative Assembly.

Section 250.085 - Procedure for elector dissatisfied with ballot title of state measure; Supreme Court review of title.

Section 250.105 - Petition filing requirements; monthly filing; signature verification; rules.

Section 250.115 - Numbering of state measures.

Section 250.125 - Estimate of financial impact of state measures; financial estimate committee; application to Native American or American Indian tribal governments; notice in voters’ pamphlet if no funding source identified.

Section 250.127 - Preparation and filing of estimates and statements of financial impact of state measure.

Section 250.131 - Court review of procedures under which estimates and statements of financial impact of state measure were prepared.

Section 250.137 - Citizens’ Initiative Review Commission; members; term of office; rules.

Section 250.139 - Citizen panels; composition; compensation; selection and review of certain state measures; moderators; rules.

Section 250.141 - Citizen panel statements; preparation; inclusion in voters’ pamphlet; rules.

Section 250.143 - Evaluation of citizen panel procedures; findings and recommendations; appointment of certain commission members.

Section 250.147 - Contributions to Citizens’ Initiative Review Commission; prohibitions; disclosure.

Section 250.149 - Determination of sufficient funds for commission and citizen panels.

Section 250.155 - Application of ORS 250.165 to 250.235.

Section 250.165 - Prospective petition; cover and signature sheet requirements; circulation; filing deadline.

Section 250.168 - Determination of compliance with constitutional provisions; notice; appeal.

Section 250.175 - Preparation of ballot titles for certain county measures; correction of clerical errors; notice.

Section 250.185 - Preparation of ballot titles by county governing body.

Section 250.195 - Procedure for elector dissatisfied with ballot title of county measure.

Section 250.205 - Filing and signature requirements for nonhome rule counties.

Section 250.215 - Filing officer for county measure; filing requirements; signature verification.

Section 250.265 - Prospective petition; cover and signature sheet requirements; circulation; filing deadline.

Section 250.270 - Determination of compliance with constitutional provisions; notice; appeal.

Section 250.275 - Preparation of ballot titles for certain city measures; correction of clerical errors; notice.

Section 250.285 - Preparation of ballot titles by city governing body.

Section 250.296 - Procedure for elector dissatisfied with ballot title of city measure.

Section 250.305 - Signature requirements.

Section 250.315 - Filing officer; filing requirements; signature verification.

Section 250.325 - Procedure following filing of initiative petition.