Initiative petition process for the City of Portland

City Initiative Petitions

The City initiative petition process allows Portland voters to directly propose City ordinances and Charter amendments for voter adoption. Voters are guaranteed the right to initiative petitions by the Oregon Constitution and City Charter. In general, if enough registered Portland voters sign an initiative petition, the initiative becomes a measure for Portland voters to consider in a primary or general election.

City-Specific Regulations

In addition to state rules and regulations included in the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) and Secretary of State publications, initiative petitions in the City of Portland are also governed by City Code Chapter 2.04 Initiative and Referendum Procedures. 

Main distinguishing characteristics of City initiative petition requirements differing from state law are as follows:

• Chief Petitioners must be registered voters of the City of Portland.
• Petitioners must indicate the election date for which the initiative is intended. Note: this requirement means Chief Petitioners must write the date of the intended election on the Prospective Initiative Form (SEL 370) when filing.
• Each Chief Petitioner must submit a signed Statement of Understanding, which is a requirement under City Code Section 2.04.050 C.
• Requires signatures of nine percent (9%) of the voters registered in the previous primary election.
  • This number is calculated every two years and made available by the Elections Division.
  • Required signature numbers for the next 2026 elections are included in the tables below. 

• The first day to file must be two years and four months (2 years and 4 months) before the intended election date. City Code Section 2.04.050 B.1.a. (effective January 1, 2025)

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Important Information for Initiative Petitions Intended for the May 19, 2026 City General Election

* Two years and four months before the intended election
** At least nine percent of the number of registered voters in the City as of the primary election immediately before the petition is filed
*** Four months before the intended election

Important Information for Initiative Petitions Intended for the November 3, 2026 City General Election

Petition Filing Process

Below, you can view a step-by-step process on filing a City of Portland initiative petition. For a visual overview and process highlights, see the Initiative Petition Process Overview Sheet. 

Initiative Petition Process Overview Sheet  

Step 1: ​​​​​​File Prospective Petition

Step 2: Constitutionality Review

No later than five business days after receiving the prospective petition, the City Elections Division will review the text of the proposed legislation to determine whether it complies with procedural constitutional requirements. 

After this review, the City Elections Officer will notify the Chief Petitioner(s) of the constitutionality determination by certified mail, return receipt requested, no later than six business days after the prospective initiative petition is filed. 

Constitutionality Determination Legal Challenge

Any registered voter of the City of Portland who disagrees with the constitutionality determination can challenge it in Circuit Court. The petition for review must name the Auditor as the respondent for the constitutional determination challenge.  

The deadlines to file a constitutionality determination challenge are as follows:

• City Elections Division determines prospective petition does NOT comply with procedural constitutional requirements: A challenge must be filed within seven business days of the date of determination.
   
• City Elections Division determines prospective petition DOES comply with procedural constitutional requirements: A challenge must be filed within seven business days of the date the prospective petition was filed with the City Elections Division.

Step 3: Prepare Ballot Title

After the City Elections Division determines that a prospective petition meets the procedural constitutional requirements, and no later than six business day after the prospective petition is filed, the Division forwards a copy of the prospective petition to the City Attorney to prepare a ballot title. 

• The City Attorney then has five business days to prepare a ballot title and return it to the City Elections Division.
   
• Oregon law (see ORS 250.035), requires that the ballot title contain all of the following elements:
   
  • Caption:  Not to exceed 10 words; must reasonably identify the subject of the prospective initiative petition
     
  • Question:  Not to exceed 20 words; must plainly phrase the chief purpose of the prospective initiative so that an affirmative response corresponds to a yes vote on the ballot
     
  • Summary: Not to exceed 175 words; shall be concise and impartial and summarize the measure and its major effect

Step 4: Ballot Title Published Notice & Legal Challenges 

After receipt of the ballot title from the City Attorney:

•  The City Elections Division will immediately provide the Chief Petitioner(s) with a copy of the ballot title.
• The Elections Division also publish a notice of receipt of ballot title in the next available edition of the Oregonian Newspaper and also post a notice on the City's website.

Ballot Title Challenge 

Any elector who is dissatisfied with the ballot title may petition the Circuit Court for review. 

• Deadline: The deadline to file a petition for review is no later than the seventh business day after the City Elections Division receives the ballot title from the City Attorney.
• Notification: If a registered voter files a petition to review a ballot title with the Circuit Court, the Elections Office must be notified in writing that the petition has been filed no later than one business day after filing with the Circuit Court.  If the notice to the City Elections Officer is not timely filed, the petition to the Circuit Court will be dismissed.
• Petition for Review Requirements: Must name the City Attorney as the respondent for the ballot title challenge and state the reasons the ballot title is insufficient, unconcise, or unfair

After a petition to review a ballot title or constitutional determination is filed, the Circuit Court conducts its review of the challenge(s). 

• The Circuit Court's review is the first and final review.
• The Circuit Court then issues its decision and certifies a ballot title to the City Elections Officer that meets the requirements of ORS 250.035.

Step 5: Submit Cover & Signature Sheets for Approval

After receiving the final ballot title, the Chief Petitioner(s) may begin the cover and signature sheet approval process. 

Helpful information to know in advance

• The City Elections Division will not approve cover and signature sheets until the ballot title challenge period has passed. If a ballot title challenge is filed during the challenge period, the City Elections Division will not approve cover and signature sheets until the Circuit Court has issued its decision.
• The City Elections Division also cannot approve cover and signature sheets for circulation until the Statement of Organization for a Petition Committee (SEL 222) has been filed with the Secretary of State.
• Before submitting the petition cover and signature sheets, the Chief Petitioner(s) should review the Secretary of State's County, City and District Initiative and Referendum Manual for cover and signature sheet requirements.
• Chief Petitioners should keep a copy of the proposed cover and signature sheet versions submitted to the City Elections Division so they can duplicate the forms once approved for circulation.

Submitting proposed forms for approval

Proposed cover and signature sheets may be submitted for approval by a Chief Petitioner or authorized agent by email at elections@portlandoregon.gov or by dropping them off at theOffice of the City Auditor located in City Hall. 

• The Chief Petitioner(s) must use the SEL 369 Form to submit a proposed cover sheet to the City Elections Division for review and approval.
• The Chief Petitioner(s) use the SEL 371 Form to submit a proposed signature sheet to the City Elections Division for review and approval.
• Chief Petitioners may also use the E-sheet Form (SEL 348) to submit signatures. For requirements when using E-sheets, please consult the County, City, and District Initiative and Referendum Manual written by the Oregon Secretary of State. 

The proposed cover and signature sheets must receive approval in writing from the City Elections Division before any signatures may be collected on the signature sheets. If the forms are unable to be approved, the City Elections Division will send a written notice to the Chief Petitioner(s) detailing any corrections which must be made to the text, cover or signature sheets before they can be approved for circulation.

Step 6: Collect Signatures

Once the Chief Petitioners receive written approval of the cover and signature sheets from the City Elections Division, the Chief Petitioners may collect signatures needed to place the initiative on the ballot. 

• Review legal requirements and guidelines for circulating an initiative petitions. Details including requirements for circulators, how to remedy errors, and associated penalties are included in the Secretary of State's County, City, District Initiative and Referendum Manual.
• If the Chief Petitioners intend to mail, email or post an E-Sheet (SEL 348) on a website for prospective signers, the text of the legislation must be included with each mailing or electronic communication. 

Step 7: Submit Signatures 

Signature Sheet Submittal Requirements

• Before submitting the petition, all Chief Petitioners must first sign the Petition Submission Form (SEL 339) and state on the form the number of signatures the petition purports to have.
  • Chief Petitioners or their authorized agents must submit their petitions with 100 percent (100%) of the required number of signatures no less than four months before the election date specified on the petition. City Code Section 2.04.090 D 1. Failure to meet this deadline will render the petition void.
  • Sheets must be numbered sequentially beginning with the number one and continue until all sheets have been numbered.
  • To determine how many signatures will be needed for the May and November 2026 election cycles,see signature requirements and filing deadlines above
     
• Chief Petitioners must make an appointment with the City Elections Division to submit their petition's signatures.
  • Chief Petitioners or authorized agents must mail or personally hand deliver signature sheets to the City Elections Division for verification.
  • If submitted by mail, sheets will only be accepted if a signed copy of the form Petition Submission Form (SEL 339) is included in each box or envelope.
  • Signature sheets will not be accepted from circulators, circulator companies, or any other entity. 

Withdrawing a Prospective Initiative Petition

Chief Petitioners may withdraw their prospective initiative petition prior to submitting petition signature sheets for verification by filing a Withdrawal of Initiative Petition Form (SEL 375). 

• Withdrawn initiative petitions are void and may not be reactivated.
• The initiative petition process may be restarted by filing a new prospective petition. 

Step 8: Signature Verification

After receiving the signature sheets from the Chief Petitioners, the City Elections Division begins verifying the signatures to determine if the initiative contains enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. The City Elections Officer is required to complete the signature verification process within 30 days after receipt of petition. City Code Section 2.04.090 G.

• The City Elections Division coordinates with county elections officials to verify signatures of valid registered Portland voters using voter registration record information.
• The City Elections Officer will notify the Chief Petitioner(s) in writing if the signature requirement has been met.
• If the City Elections Officer finds that the signature requirement has not been met, the Chief Petitioner(s) will be notified in writing that the petition does not meet the signature requirement and how many additional signatures will be required.
• Chief Petitioners may collect more signatures only if sheets are submitted prior to the deadline with enough time to preform additional verification. Each new submission of additional signatures must be filed with an accompanying signedPetition Submission Form (SEL 339).

Step 9: City Council Review

In accordance with City Code Section 2.04.100, the City Elections Officer files qualified initiative petitions with the City Council for consideration. The Council may adopt, reject or submit a competing measure and must do so within 30 days. 

• If Council adopts the initiative petition: It will become law without appearing on the ballot.
  • Exception: As required by law, the City Charter can only be amended by a vote of the people and must be referred to the voters.
• If Council rejects or does not act on the initiative petition: It will be placed on the ballot for referral to the voters.
• If Council chooses to submit a competing measure: The initiative measure and the competing Council measure will both be referred to the voters on the same election ballot.

Step 10: Certification to Ballot

If Council does not adopt the measure, the City Elections Officer certifies the measure to the County Elections Official for placement on the intended election ballot. 

• The County Elections Official will assign a measure number to the petition.
• The measure will include the following information on the ballot:
  • Question:  Not to exceed 20 words; must plainly phrase the chief purpose of the prospective initiative so that an affirmative response corresponds to a yes vote on the ballot
  • Caption:  Not to exceed 10 words; must reasonably identify the subject of the prospective initiative petition

Step 11: Election

If the measure is approved by voters, it then becomes law.