Referendum petition process for the City of Portland

City Referendum Petitions

The City referendum process allows Portland voters to take action regarding recent ordinances passed by City Council by referring all or portions of an ordinance to the ballot. Voters may then approve or reject the action at an election. If enough valid signatures are collected from registered Portland voters on a referendum petition, it becomes a ballot measure included on a primary or general election in even-numbered years.

City-Specific Regulations

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

Main distinguishing characteristics of City referendum petitions from state law are as follows:

• Chief Petitioner(s) must write on the Prospective Petition Form (SEL 370) which election date the measure is intended to be placed.
• Chief Petitioner(s) must be registered voters of the City of Portland.
• Referendum petitions may only be placed on primary or general election ballots unless Council acts to call a special election.
• Signatures must be submitted at least four months before the intended election to be included on the ballot for that election.
• The signature requirement for referendums filed on non-emergency ordinances, other than franchise ordinances, is six percent (6%) of the voters registered in the previous primary election.
  • This number is calculated every two years and made available by the City Elections Division. Required signature numbers for upcoming elections are included in the tables below.
• The signature requirement for a referendum filed on a franchise ordinance is 2,000 signatures. 

Important Information for Referendum Petitions for the May 19, 2026 Primary Election

* If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday (e.g. Martin Luther King Day), then it moves to the next business day

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

Referendum Petition Filing Process

Below, you can view a step-by-step process on filing a City of Portland referendum petition. 

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

Step 2: Signature Process

A. Simultaneous processes allowed

• Due to the time sensitive nature of referendum petitions, the ballot title process and the collection of signatures may occur simultaneously.
• Once the cover sheet and signature sheet are approved in writing by City Elections, signature collection may begin (See Collect Signatures). 

B. Submit Cover Sheet and Signature Sheet for Approval

• City Elections cannot approve cover and signature sheets for circulation until a Statement of Organization has been filed with the State Elections Division.
• Keep a copy of your filed signature and cover sheets submitted to City Elections. City Elections does not return cover or signature sheets filed for approval.
• Cover sheet must include title of ordinance as enacted by Council
• If the title is provided by the Chief Petitioner(s), the number of the ordinance being referred and date adopted by council must be included.
• The cover and signatures sheets must be approved in writing by City Elections before Chief Petitioner(s) may collect signatures.
• Proposed Cover Sheet (SEL 369)
  • The Chief Petitioner(s) must use the Local Petition Cover Sheet Form (SEL 369) to submit a proposed cover sheet to City Elections for approval.
  • The full title of the ordinance to be referred must be used in lieu of a final ballot title. The title should be the ordinance title as approved by City Council.
• Proposed Signature Sheet (SEL 371)
  • The Chief Petitioner(s) use the Signature Sheet Form (SEL 371)  to submit a proposed signature sheet to City Elections for review and approval.
  • Signature sheet must include the ordinance or resolution being referred and date adopted by Council.
• OPTIONAL: E-sheet form (SEL 348)
  • Chief Petitioner(s) may also use the E-sheet Form (SEL 348) to collect signatures online. This form must be submitted to the City Elections for approval before use. For requirements, consult the State’s County, City, and District Initiative and Referendum Manual.  

C. Collect Signatures

Once the Chief Petitioner(s) receive written approval of the cover and signature sheets from City Elections, Chief Petitioner(s) may collect signatures needed to place the petition on the ballot.  

• Review legal requirements and guidelines for circulating referendum petitions. Details for circulators, how to remedy errors, and penalties are in the Secretary of State's County, City, District Initiative and Referendum Manual.
• If the Chief Petitioner(s) intends to mail, email, or post an E-Sheet Form (SEL 348) on a website for prospective signers, the text of the ordinance to be referred must be included with each mailing or electronic communication.
• If the pay status of the circulator changes, the Chief Petitioner(s) shall notify City elections within 10 calendar days of when they became aware of the change in pay status.
• A new cover and signature sheet will need to be submitted for approval if the address of the Chief Petitioner(s) changes or the circulator pay status changes.
• Once new cover and signature sheets are approved, all previous versions must be removed from circulation within 30 days. 

D. Submit Signatures

Submission Requirements

• Before submitting the petition, Chief Petitioner(s) must first sign the Petition Submission Form (SEL 339) and state on the form the total number of signatures collected.
  • Chief Petitioner(s) or their Authorized Agent(s) must submit the petition with 100 percent (100%) of the required number of signatures within 30 days of City Council passage of the ordinance being referred; and
  • Signatures must be submitted no less than four months before the election date specified on the petition.  City Code Section 2.04.090 E.1.  
  • Signature sheets must be numbered sequentially beginning with the number one with all sheets being numbered.
• Only Chief Petitioner(s) or Authorized Agent(s) may submit signatures for verification. Original signature sheets must be hand delivered or mailed to City Elections for verification.
  • Submitting signatures in person: Chief Petitioner(s) or Authorized Agent(s) must make an appointment with the City Elections to submit signatures in person.
  • Submitting signatures by mail: If submitted by mail, sheets will only be accepted if a signed copy of a Petition Submission Form (SEL 339) is included in each box.

E. How to Withdraw a Prospective Referendum Petition

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

• Withdrawn referendum petitions are void and may not be reactivated. 

F. Signature Verification

After receiving signature sheets from Chief Petitioner(s), City Elections begins verifying signatures to determine if the petition contains enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. City Elections completes the signature verification process within 30 days after receipt of the petition. City Code Section 2.04.090 G.

• City Elections coordinates with county elections officials to verify signatures of valid registered Portland voters.
• The City Elections Officer will notify the Chief Petitioner(s) in writing of the determination of whether the signature requirement has been met.
• Additional signatures may be collected and submitted to City Elections for verification if there is sufficient time within the 30-day signature collection period.
• Each time a new batch of signatures is submitted, a new Petition Submission Form (SEL 339) must be included.

Step 3: Ballot Title Process

A. Ballot Title Preparation

After City Elections determines the perspective petition meets all requirements, it is then forwarded to the City Attorney for preparation of a ballot title.

• The City Attorney has five business days to prepare and submit a ballot title to City Elections.
• Oregon law requires that the ballot title contains the following elements (see ORS 250.035):
   
  • Caption:  Not to exceed 10 words; must reasonably identify the subject of the prospective referendum petition
     
  • Question:  Not to exceed 20 words; must plainly phrase the chief purpose of the prospective referendum 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

B. Ballot Title Public Notice and Legal Challenge Period 

After receipt of the ballot title from the City Attorney:

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

C. Ballot Title Challenge

Any elector (registered City of Portland voter) 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 ballot title is received by City Elections from the City Attorney.
• Petition for Review Requirements: Reasons why the ballot title is insufficient, not concise, or unfair must be included. The City Attorney must be named as the respondent for the ballot title challenge. 

After a petition to review the ballot title is filed, the Circuit Court conducts its review of the challenge(s) according to state law. The order by the Circuit Court is the first and final review. 

Step 4: City Council Review

In accordance with City Code Section 2.04.100, City Elections files qualified referendum petitions with the City Council for consideration. Council may act within 30 days to repeal the ordinance in the petition or refer a competing measure to the ballot. 

• If Council repeals the ordinance text being referred: The referendum petition becomes void and will not appear on the ballot.
• If Council does not act to repeal the ordinance text at issue: The referendum measure will be placed on the ballot for referral to the voters.

If Council acts to refer a competing measure: The competing measure will appear on the ballot with the referendum measure. 

Step 5: Certification to Ballot and Election

If Council does not repeal the ordinance or ordinance subject to the referendum, the City Elections Officer certifies the referendum petition to County Elections for placement on the intended election.

• The County will assign a measure number.
• The measure will include the following information on the ballot:
  • Question:  Not to exceed 20 words; must plainly phrase the chief purpose of the referendum 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 referendum.

If the measure is approved by voters, it is enacted.