Information on Initiative, Referendum and Recall Petitions

Initiative & Referendum Process

Multnomah County 
Petition process is based on Multnomah Co. Charter and Code and differs from the process in the State's manual. Please contact Multnomah County Elections if you have any questions at elections@multco.us Multnomah County petitions are filed with Multnomah County Elections.

• Multnomah County Initiative procedures and Referendum procedures
• Petition signature requirements - Numbers based on total votes for Governor in Multnomah County: 366,043 (Nov 2022)
  • Charter amendments initiative: 29,284 (8%)
  • Ordinance initiative: 21,963 (6%)
  • Referendum: 14,642 (4%)
     
• Initiative and Referendum Manual (PDF)
• Document

  Home Rule Charter 2022 (608.32 KB)

• Multnomah County Code - 

  Document

  Chapter 5: Elections (431.25 KB)

Metro

• Metro petition process
  Petition process is based on Metro Charter and Code and differs from the process in the State's initiative manual. Metro petitions are filed with Multnomah County Elections and ballot title is written by the Metro Attorney. For more information on the petition process see Title IX 9.02 of the Metro Code.
  • Metro Charter and Code
• Signature requirements - Numbers based on total votes for Governor in Metro District (portions of Multnomah, Clackamas & Washington county): 746,463 (Nov. 2022). Metro petitions are filed with Multnomah County Elections.
  • Charter amendment by initiative: 59,717 (8%)
  • Ordinance by initiative: 44,788 (6%)
  • Petition by Referendum: 29,859 (4%)

Special Districts - Community college, School, Water and Fire

• Special District Petition requirements -  based on state statutes for type of special district - (Community College, School, Water and Fire). Petitions for Special Districts are filed with the county where the District administrative Headquarters are located.
  • For special district initiative and referendum petition numbers, please contact Multnomah County Elections

Other Jurisdictions - state and cities

• State of Oregon - for State of Oregon petitions please contact the Elections Division Oregon Secretary of State's office
• City initiative and referendum petition numbers, please contact the city elections clerk. City petitions are filed with the City Elections/Recorder for each city.
• Link to petition filings City of Portland and State of Oregon

Initiative & Referendum Petition Log

Active Petition Information

MultCoInit-15

Historical Petition Information

MultCoInit-14

MultCoInit-13

• 11/4/2024 - 

  Document

  Prospective Petition MultCoInit-13 - Hold Government Accountable for Property Crime (161.47 KB)

• 11/18/2024 - 

  Document

  MultCoInit-13 Ballot Title and Explanatory Statement.pdf (254.23 KB)

   

  • Notice of Initiative MultCoInit-13

• 12/2/2024 - 

  Document

  MultcoInit-13 Ballot Title Certification.pdf (201.25 KB)
• 3/4/2025 - 
  • Document

    Withdrawal Petition - MultCoInit-13 (35.89 KB)

MultCoInit-12

• 11/4/2024 - 
• Document

  Prospective Petition MultCoInit-12 - Hold Government Accountable for Property Crime (163.8 KB)

• 11/18/2024 - 

  Document

  MultCoInit-12 Ballot Title and Explanatory Statement.pdf (260.53 KB)

   

  • Notice of Initiative MultCoInit-12

• ​​​​​​​12/2/2024 - 

  Document

  MultcoInit-12 Ballot Title Certification.pdf (201.28 KB)
• 3/4/2925 - 
  • Document

    Withdrawal Petition - MultCoInit-12 (42.38 KB)

MultCoInit-11

• 11/4/24 - 

  Document

  Prospective Petition MultCoInit-11 - Hold Government Accountable for Property Crime (172.21 KB)

  • 11/8/24 - 

    Document

    Determination that MultCoInit-11 does not meet Constitutional Requirements (129.99 KB)
• 3/4/2025 - 
  • Document

    Withdrawal Petition - MultCoInit-11 (37.72 KB)

MultCoInit-10

• 10/1/24 - 

  Document

  Prospective Petition - Hold Government Accountable for Property Crime (167.69 KB)

  • 10/8/24 - 

    Document

    Determination that MultCoInit-10 does not meet Constitutional Requirements (179.25 KB)

• 10/17/24 - 

  Document

  Petition of Circuit Court for Determination of MultCoInit 10 Constitutional Compliance (1.03 MB)
• 3/4/2025
  • Document

    Withdrawal Petition - MultCoInit-10 (38.86 KB)

MultCoInit-09

• 3/3/2022 - 

  Document

  Prospective Petition - Eviction Representation for All (258.72 KB)

   

• 3/17/2022 - 

  Document

  Ballot Title and Explanatory Statement - MultCoInit-09 (75.88 KB)
  • Notice of Initiative MultCoInit-09

• 3/28/2022 - 

  Document

  MultCoInit-09 Ballot Title Challenge (538.53 KB)

• 5/24/2022 - 

  Document

  Order granting in part Petition for Different Measure Title and Explanatory statement (3.08 MB)

• 5/26/2022 - 

  Document

  MultCoInit-09 Petition - approval letter with attachments.pdf (152.16 KB)

    

  • Document

    statement_of_organization.pdf (97.24 KB)

• 11/23/2022 - 

  Document

  MultCoInit-09 Petition submitted (34.33 KB)

• 12/22/2022 - 

  Document

  Certification of Initiative Petition MultCoInit-09 (38.62 KB)

MetroInit-03

• 4/12/2022 - 

  Document

  MetroInit-03 Prospective petition (91.27 KB)

  • 4/14/2022 -  

    Document

    Metro Attorney Determination that MetroInit-03 does not meet Constitutional Requirements (130.33 KB)

  • 5/23/2022 -  

    Document

    Multnomah County Circuit Court Decision (2.79 MB)

MetroInit-02

• 3/25/2022 - 

  Document

  Prospective Petition - Everyone Deserves Safe Shelter (80.2 KB)

  • 4/8/2022 - 

    Document

    Metro Attorney Determination that MetroInit-02 does not meet Constitutional Requirements (120.56 KB)
  • Document

    Withdrawal Petition - MetroInit-02 (26.83 KB)

MultCoInit-08

• 7/22/2020 - 

  Document

  Certification of Initiative Petition MulCoInit-08 (70.59 KB)

• 7/6/2020 - 

  Document

  MultCoInit-08 petition submitted (52.91 KB)

• 6/22/2020 - 

  Document

  Approval letter for circulation MultCoInit-08 with SEL 369 (83.66 KB)
  • Document

    SEL369_v2.pdf (280.28 KB)

• 6/3/2020 - 

  Document

  Approval letter for circulation MultCoInit-08 (83.56 KB)
  • Document

    SEL369_bw.pdf (2.58 MB)
  • Document

    SEL348_bw.pdf (3.05 MB)
  • Document

    SEL371_bw.pdf (1.48 MB)

• 6/1/2020 - 

  Document

  Order Granting in part Petition for Different Measure Title and Explanatory Statement (441.32 KB)
• Notice of Ballot Title & Explanatory Statement

  • 3/13/2020 - 

    Document

    Petition for a Different Ballot Title and Explanatory Statement (757.38 KB)

  • 3/4/2020 - 

    Document

    MultCoInit-08 Ballot Title and Explanatory Statement (92.67 KB)

• 2/26/2020 - 

  Document

  Prospective Petition - 2nd submission - Universal Preschool Now (405.6 KB)

  • 3/17/2020 - 

    Document

    Amended SEL 370 Prospective Petition (37.99 KB)

• 2/18/2020 - 

  Document

  Prospective petition - Universal Preschool Now (411.78 KB)

• 2/26/2020 - 

  Document

  Withdrawal Petition - Universal Preschool Now (23.33 KB)

MultCoInit-07

• 01/08/2018 - 

  Document

  Prospective Petition MultCoInit-07 (44.9 KB)
• 01/09/2018 - Notice of Ballot Title and Explanatory Statement - MultCoInit-07

• 01/24/2018 - 

  Document

  Approval letter for Circulation - MultCoInit-07 (68.5 KB)

MultCoinit-06

• 11/30/2017 -  

  Document

  Prospective Petition MultCoInit-06 (80.05 KB)

   (80.05 KB)​

• 12/12/2017 - Notice of Ballot Title and Explanatory Statement - MultCoInit-06

• 12/12/2017 -  

  Document

  Amended SEL 370 - MultCoInit-06 (73.5 KB)

   (73.5 KB)

• 3/5/2018 - 

  Document

  Withdrawal form - MultCoInit-06 (56.46 KB)

MultCoInit-05

• Document

  Prospective Petition MultCoInit-05 (143.09 KB)
• Document

  Withdrawal form - MultnCoInit-05 (37.19 KB)

MultCoInit-04

• 4/3/2017 - 

  Document

  Prospective Petition MultCoInit-04 (331.81 KB)

   

• 4/13/2017 - 

  Document

  MultCoInit-04 Ballot Title and Explanatory Statement (106.77 KB)

    - Ballot title and explanatory statement received from County Attorney's Office.

  • Notice of Multnomah Co Initiative Ballot Title & Explanatory Statement - MultCoInit-04

  • 0​4/25/2017 - ​

    Document

    Challenge #1 to ballot title & explanatory statement - MultCoInit-04 (512.81 KB)

  • 05/04/2017 - 

    Document

    Response to ballot title challenge - MultCoInit-04 (321.77 KB)

• 6/08/2017 - 

  Document

  SEL 307 and amended SEL 370 - MultCoInit-04 (65.19 KB)

• 6/13/2017 - 

  Document

  Amended SEL 370 MultCoInit-04 2017-06-13 (38.42 KB)

• 6/15/2017 - 

  Document

  Order denying petitioners challenge to the ballot title & explanatory statement for initiative MultCoInit-04 (209.13 KB)

• 6/20/2017 - 

  Document

  Approval letter for Circulation - MultCoInit-04 (69.67 KB)

MultCoInit-03

• 6/7/2016 - 

  Document

  Prospective Petition MultCoInit-03 (302.68 KB)
  • Document

    Amended Prospective Petition MultCoInit-03 (433.1 KB)
• 6/17/2016 - Notice of Ballot Title & Explanatory Statement for MultCoInit-03

  • 6/29/2016 - 

    Document

    Challenge #1 to ballot title & explanatory statement - MultCoInit-03 (346.75 KB)

  • 6/29/2016 - 

    Document

    Challenge #2 to ballot title & explanatory statement - MultCoInit-03 (789.7 KB)

• 8/1/2016 - 

  Document

  Initiative Ballot Title Decision by Judge Nelson (804.23 KB)

• 3/1/2017 - 

  Document

  Withdrawal form SEL 375 - MultCoInit-03 (53.04 KB)

MultCoInit-02

• 5/10/2016 - 

  Document

  Prospective Petition MultCoInit-02 (448.24 KB)

• 5/20/2016 - 

  Document

  Ballot Title & Explanatory Statement - MultCoInit-02 (21.64 KB)

• 6/03/2016 - 

  Document

  Approval letter for Circulation with forms - MultCoInit-02 (196.18 KB)
• MultCoInit-01

  • 04/23/2015 - 

    Document

    Prospective Initiative Petition Filing (145.77 KB)

  • 05/06/2015 - 

    Document

    Ballot Title & Explanatory Statement for Initiative Petition MultCoInit-01 (101.59 KB)

  • 06/02/2015 - 

    Document

    Approval Letter for Circulation MultCoInit-01 (71.67 KB)
    • Document

      Circulation Forms MultCoInit-01 (163.04 KB)
    • Document

      Amended Circulation Forms - MultCoInit-01 (170.81 KB)
    • Document

      MultCoInit-01 Withdrawal (27.69 KB)

MultCoRef-01 (Multnomah County Referendum)

• 12/23/2013 - 

  Document

  Prospective Referendum Petition Filing (1.72 MB)

   filed.

• 12/31/2013 - 

  Document

  Determination Letter 12-31-2013 (30.5 KB)

   sent to petitioner.

• 01/07/2014 - 

  Document

  Stipulated order - MultCoRef-01 (32.99 KB)

   signed.

• 01/08/2014 - 

  Document

  Circulation Approval Letter MultCoRef-01 (38.18 KB)

   sent to petitioner for prospective referendum MultCoRef-01

• 03/03/2014 - 

  Document

  Referendum decision MultCoRef-01 by Judge Bloch (982.09 KB)
• 7/29/2015 - Appeal dismissed by Court of Appeals
• Metro Init-01 (Metro Initiative)
  • Prospective Petition - The Local College Affordability Measure - received 1/29/2016
    • Document

      Prospective Initiative Petition - Metro - The Local College Affordability Measure (599.05 KB)
      • Document

        Determination letter sent to Metro Attorney 02-05-2016 (99.52 KB)
  • Ballot Title & Explanatory Statement - submitted by Metro Attorney 2/12/2016
    • Document

      Ballot Title & Explanatory Statement for Initiative Petition MetroInit-01 (25.33 KB)
      •  Notice of Ballot Title & Explanatory Statement
        • Document

          Ballot Challenge #1 - Ballot Title (1.71 MB)

           /  

          Document

          Ballot Challenge #1 - Explanatory Statement (1.77 MB)

          - filed with Multnomah County Circuit Court on 2/24/2016 related to ballot language.

        • Document

          Ballot Challenge #2 (271.16 KB)

           - filed with Multnomah County Circuit Court on 2/24/2016 related to single subject determination.

    • Document

      Circulation approval letter for Metro Init-01 (22.48 KB)
      • Document

        Related documents for Metro Init-01 (412.99 KB)

Recall Petition Process

A public officer in an elective office may be recalled, whether elected or appointed. This is done by filing a prospective recall petition with the appropriate Elections official. City recall petitions are filed with the City Elections official. County, Metro and other Special District recall petitions located in Multnomah County are filed with Multnomah County Elections.

The prospective petition may be filed if the public office holder has served at least six months of the current term of office.  The signature requirement is 15% of the total number of votes cast in the public officer’s electoral district for all candidates for Governor at the last election at which a candidate for Governor was elected to a full term. The Chief Petitioner has 90 days from filing the prospective to collect and turn in those signatures.

Review the Campaign Finance Manual for recall reporting requirements.

• Recall Manual (PDF)
• Online Prospective Recall Petition Form (SEL 350)

Multnomah County Recall Petition Signature Requirements (15% votes cast for Governor - Nov. 2022)

• Chair, Sheriff and Auditor - 54,907
• Commissioner Dist. 1 - 15,936
• Commissioner Dist. 2 - 15,746
• Commissioner Dist. 3 - 12,764
• Commissioner Dist. 4 - 10,462

Petition Signature Requirements for other Districts

• For special district recall petition numbers, please contact Multnomah County Elections.
• For city recall petition numbers, please contact the city elections clerk.
• For state office petition numbers, please contact the Oregon Secretary of State's office.

Recall Petition Log

Active Petition Information

• No active petitions

Historical Petition Information

• MultcoRecall 2024-01

  • 4/30/2024 - Prospective recall petition filed - 

    Document

    MultcoRecall 2024-01 (336.27 KB)
• MultcoRecall 2021-01

  • 9/30/2021 - Prospective recall petition filed - 

    Document

    MultCoRecall_2021-01 (304.65 KB)

  • 10/1/2021 - Approval letter for petition circulation - 

    Document

    Petition_approval_MultCoRecall2021-01.pdf (73.33 KB)

Manuals and References

Manuals

State Manuals - All of the manuals published by the Elections Division are available online.

• County, City and District Initiative and Referendum Manual
• Recall Manual

Forms

Election forms - available from Oregon Secretary of State's office

References

• Multnomah County Charter
• Document

  Chapter 5: Elections (431.25 KB)
• ORS 255 - Special District Elections & Administrative Rules for Initiative, Referendum and Recall
• Oregon Constitution
• Metro Charter & Code
• Links to City charter/code: Fairview, Gresham, Lake Oswego, Maywood Park, Portland, Troutdale and Wood Village.