2021 Oregon Revised Statutes
Chapter 251 - Voters’ Pamphlet
Section 251.205 - Appointment of committee to draft explanatory statement of measure proposed by initiative or referendum.


(a) With respect to any state measure initiated or referred by petition, the chief petitioners; or
(b) With respect to a measure referred by the Legislative Assembly, the President of the Senate, who shall appoint a Senator, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall appoint a Representative.
(2) For each state measure to be submitted to the people at a special election held on the date of a primary election or any general election, a committee of five citizens shall be selected to prepare the explanatory statement under ORS 251.215.
(3) Not later than the 120th day before the election, the proponents of the measure shall appoint two members to the committee and notify the Secretary of State in writing of the selections. If the proponents do not appoint two members, the Secretary of State shall appoint two members of the committee from among supporters, if any, of the measure not later than the 118th day before the election.
(4) Not later than the 118th day before the election, the Secretary of State shall appoint two members of the committee from among the opponents, if any, of the measure.
(5) The four appointed members of the committee shall select the fifth member and notify the Secretary of State in writing of the selection. If the four members have not selected the fifth member by the 111th day before the election, the fifth member shall be appointed by the Secretary of State not later than the 109th day before the election.
(6) A vacancy shall be filled not later than two business days after the vacancy occurs by the person who made the original appointment. Unless the Secretary of State fills a vacancy, the person filling the vacancy shall notify the Secretary of State in writing of the selection.
(7) With respect to a measure referred by the Legislative Assembly, a Senator or Representative appointed under subsection (1) of this section may disclose whether the Senator or Representative supports or opposes the state measure. The Secretary of State shall print the disclosure in the voters’ pamphlet following the explanatory statement.
(8) The Legislative Policy and Research Committee shall provide any administrative staff assistance required by the explanatory statement committee to facilitate the work of the explanatory statement committee under this section or ORS 251.215.
(9) For purposes of this section, "measure" includes an initiative petition relating to a state measure that has been filed with the Secretary of State for the purpose of verifying signatures under ORS 250.105. The requirements of this section shall not apply to the petition if the secretary determines that the petition contains less than the required number of signatures of electors. [Formerly 254.210; 1987 c.707 §15; 1995 c.607 §§31,31a; 1999 c.844 §2; 2001 c.965 §9; 2011 c.646 §4; 2016 c.88 §12]

Structure 2021 Oregon Revised Statutes

2021 Oregon Revised Statutes

Volume : 06 - Local Government, Public Employees, Elections

Chapter 251 - Voters’ Pamphlet

Section 251.005 - Definitions.

Section 251.014 - Electronic filing system; rules.

Section 251.022 - Voters’ pamphlet for election to fill vacancy in office of United States Senator or Representative in Congress.

Section 251.026 - Statements and information included in voters’ pamphlets; rules.

Section 251.046 - Content of statements and arguments.

Section 251.049 - Names or titles of persons or names of organizations excluded from arguments and statements; exceptions; prohibitions.

Section 251.055 - Type of material to be excluded from pamphlet; liability for libel; procedure if material excluded; rules.

Section 251.065 - Filing portrait and statement by or for candidate; rules.

Section 251.067 - Inclusion of portrait and statement of candidate for county, city or metropolitan service district office; inclusion of county measure or metropolitan service district measure; inclusion of community college measure relating to bond...

Section 251.075 - Portrait requirements; rules.

Section 251.087 - Secretary of State review of candidate portrait and statement; procedure if portrait or statement must be revised; rules.

Section 251.095 - Candidate space in voters’ pamphlet; fee or petition; use of space; verification of signatures; rules.

Section 251.115 - Statement of statewide and less than statewide political party or assembly; fee or petition; size of statement; verification of signatures; electronic filing; rules.

Section 251.125 - Disclaimer; identification of portrait or statement.

Section 251.135 - Withdrawal of material; refund of filing fee.

Section 251.165 - Preparing material for inclusion in state voters’ pamphlet.

Section 251.167 - Secretary of State creation of list of five most commonly spoken languages; public access and distribution; rules.

Section 251.170 - Requirements for translation of voters’ pamphlets; rules.

Section 251.173 - Translation Advisory Council; membership; compensation; duties.

Section 251.175 - Distribution of pamphlet; rules for nonstatewide special elections.

Section 251.185 - Measures, estimates, statements and arguments included in voters’ pamphlet; county and metropolitan service district measures; community college measures relating to bonding.

Section 251.205 - Appointment of committee to draft explanatory statement of measure proposed by initiative or referendum.

Section 251.215 - Preparation and filing of explanatory statement of measure.

Section 251.225 - Preparation and filing of explanatory statement by Legislative Counsel Committee; when explanatory statement of committee used.

Section 251.235 - Supreme Court review of explanatory statement; service requirements.

Section 251.245 - Committee to prepare and file argument in support of measure referred by Legislative Assembly.

Section 251.255 - Filing arguments for or against measure; fee or petition; size of argument space; verification of signatures; electronic filing; rules.

Section 251.260 - Secretary of State review of arguments for error in identification of measure number or designation of support or opposition to measure; changes allowed.

Section 251.285 - Inclusion of community college district measure relating to bonding, county measure or metropolitan service district measure in voters’ pamphlet.

Section 251.295 - Radio and television broadcasts to supplement pamphlet.

Section 251.305 - County voters’ pamphlet.

Section 251.315 - Information required to be included in voters’ pamphlet; deadline for distribution; rules.

Section 251.325 - Schedule and procedures for producing and distributing pamphlet; fees; rules.

Section 251.335 - Filing portrait and statement by or for candidate; disclaimer.

Section 251.355 - Filing arguments for or against measure.

Section 251.365 - Cost of pamphlet preparation; allocation of revenue.

Section 251.395 - Content of statements and arguments; notice of material that may be excluded.

Section 251.405 - Names or titles of persons or names of organizations excluded from arguments and statements; exceptions; prohibitions.

Section 251.415 - Type of material to be excluded from pamphlet; liability for libel; procedure if material excluded.