2008 Oregon elections

In the May primary election, all three statewide ballot measures, 51, 52, and 53, passed. Measures 51 and 52 amended the Oregon Constitution with regard to crime victims' rights; Measure 53 also amended the state Constitution to modify the limits on property forfeited in criminal cases. All three were legislative referrals.

Measures 51 and 52 passed by wide margins, but Measure 53 was extremely close and required a hand recount; it eventually passed with a final official count of 50.03% to 49.97%.[5]

Amends constitution: Enables crime victims to enforce existing constitutional rights in prosecutions, delinquency proceedings; authorizes implementing legislation.

Measure 51

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	744,195	74.92
No	249,143	25.08
Total votes	993,338	100.00

Amends constitution: Enables crime victims to enforce existing constitutional rights in prosecutions, delinquency proceedings; authorizes implementing legislation.

Measure 52

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	738,092	74.87
No	247,738	25.13
Total votes	985,830	100.00

Amends constitution: Modifies provisions governing civil forfeitures related to crimes; permits use of proceeds by law enforcement.

Measure 53

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	490,158	50.03
No	489,477	49.97
Total votes	979,635	100.00

In November 2008, voters considered eight initiatives, 58 through 65, and four legislative referrals, 54 through 57.[6] Measures 54, 55, 56, and 62 were amendments to the Oregon Constitution. The four referrals all passed, and the initiatives all failed.

Detailed information on these measures[7] and official results[8] are available from the Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division.

Amends constitution: Standardized voting eligibility for school board elections with other state and local elections. Repealed the unenforceable state constitutional provision that only people 21 years of age or older can vote in school board elections.

Measure 54

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	1,194,173	72.59
No	450,979	27.41
Total votes	1,645,152	100.00

Amends constitution: Changes operative date of redistricting plans; allows affected legislators to finish term in original district.

Measure 55

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	1,251,478	77.42
No	364,993	22.58
Total votes	1,616,471	100.00

Amends constitution: Provides that May and November property tax elections are decided by majority of voters voting. Repealed the "double majority" rule for these elections enacted by Measure 47 in 1996.

Measure 56

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	959,118	56.60
No	735,500	43.40
Total votes	1,694,618	100.00

Increases sentences for drug trafficking, theft against elderly and specified repeat property and identity theft crimes; requires addiction treatment for certain offenders.

Measure 57

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	1,058,955	61.39
No	665,942	38.61
Total votes	1,724,897	100.00

Prohibits teaching public school student in language other than English for more than two years.

Measure 58

Choice	Votes	%
No	977,696	56.36
Yes	756,903	43.64
Total votes	1,734,599	100.00

Creates an unlimited deduction for federal income taxes on individual taxpayers' Oregon income-tax returns.

Measure 59

Choice	Votes	%
No	1,084,422	63.78
Yes	615,894	36.22
Total votes	1,700,316	100.00

Teacher "classroom performance," not seniority, determines pay raises; "most qualified" teachers retained, regardless of seniority.

Measure 60

Choice	Votes	%
No	1,070,682	61.39
Yes	673,296	38.61
Total votes	1,743,978	100.00

Creates mandatory minimum prison sentences for certain theft, identity theft, forgery, drug, and burglary crimes.

Measure 61

Choice	Votes	%
No	887,165	51.10
Yes	848,901	48.90
Total votes	1,736,066	100.00

Amends constitution: Allocates 15% of lottery proceeds to public safety fund for crime prevention, investigation, prosecution.

Measure 62

Choice	Votes	%
No	1,035,756	60.56
Yes	674,428	39.44
Total votes	1,710,184	100.00

Exempts specified property owners from building permit requirements for improvements valued at/under 35,000 dollars.

Measure 63

Choice	Votes	%
No	928,721	54.21
Yes	784,376	45.79
Total votes	1,713,097	100.00

Penalizes person, entity for using funds collected with "public resource" (defined) for "political purpose" (defined).

Measure 64

Choice	Votes	%
No	854,327	50.56
Yes	835,563	49.44
Total votes	1,689,890	100.00

Changes general election nomination processes for major/minor party, independent candidates for most partisan offices. Would have created a blanket primary.

Measure 65

Choice	Votes	%
No	1,070,580	65.91
Yes	553,640	34.09
Total votes	1,624,220	100.00

Healthy Democracy organized a trial run of the Citizens' Initiative Review process they advocated in September on Ballot measure 58. They brought together a representative cross-section of voters as a citizens' jury to question and hear from advocates, and experts on language education. The panelists then deliberated and reflected together to come up with statements in support (9 panelists) and opposed to (14 panelists) the measure, which are available online and were read out by the panelists at a press conference. Health Democracy advocated for the state to organize such a review of each ballot measure, and include the statements in the voters' pamphlet. '"It was exhausting, but it was exciting to have a group of people with hugely diverse backgrounds and experience listening carefully to both sides and all respectful to one another," said Lorene Wallick'[9][10]