Initiative, Referendum and Recall
Requirements for Petitions
Information below pertains to Multnomah County. City information is available from city elections clerk. State information is available from the Oregon Secretary of State's office.
Number of valid signatures required for a petition is based on votes cast for Governor, November 2010. A prospective petition for Multnomah County, Metro or Special District located in Multnomah County must be filed prior to collecting signatures. Please call 503-988-3720 or leave a comment for more information.
- Multnomah County Initiative Petition Procedures
Step-by-step petition procedures for filing a Multnomah County initiative. - Multnomah County Referendum Petition Procedures
Step-by-step petition procedures for filing a Multnomah County referendum.
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Multnomah County Petition Signature Requirements |
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|
Votes for Governor |
Initiative |
Referendum (4%) |
Recall (15%) |
|
Multnomah County |
280,850 |
|
11,234 |
|
|
Charter amendment |
|
22,468 (8%) |
|
|
|
Ordinance |
|
16,851 (6%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chair |
280,850 |
|
|
42,128 |
|
Commissioner Dist. 1 |
88,364 |
|
|
13,255 |
|
Commissioner Dist. 2 |
73,702 |
|
|
11,056 |
|
Commissioner Dist. 3 |
61,857 |
|
|
9,279 |
|
Commissioner Dist. 4 |
56,525 |
|
|
8,479 |
|
Sheriff |
280,850 |
|
|
42,128 |
Manuals
State Manuals - All of the manuals published by the Elections Division are available online. Includes County, City, District and Recall manuals.
- County Initiative and Referendum Manual
- District Elections Manual
- City Elections Manual
- Recall Manual
Reference
- Multnomah County Charter
- Multnomah County Code
- ORS 255 - Special District Elections & Administrative Rules for Initiative, Referendum and Recall
- Metro Charter & Code
- Links to City charter/code: Fairview, Gresham, Lake Oswego, Maywood Park, Portland, Troutdale and Wood Village.
Petition Log
There are currently no petitions filed with Multnomah County Elections.
- Multnomah Co. - no petition filings
- Link to petition filings City of Portland and State of Oregon
Ballots Cast for Governor
The required number on initiative and referendum signatures is based on a percentage of ballots cast for Governor. That percentage is either listed in the jurisdictions governing charter/code or in state statatue. Recall signature requirements are 15% of ballots cast for Governor. Below are the total number of ballots cast for Governor in November 2010. For jurisdictions not listed, please call Multnomah County Elections.
- Metro - 555,603
- Multnomah County - 280,850
- TriMet - 560,010


