Oregon voters to decide on 5 ballot measures in 2024 November election

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Ahead of the 2024 November general election, the Oregon Secretary of State's Office released a list of measures that will appear on the ballot.

After the office verified signatures for the 2024 petition cycle, Oregonians have the chance to vote on five ballot measures ranging from corporate taxes, impeachment, and collective bargaining in the cannabis industry.

Measure 115

Measure 115 was referred to the ballot by a group of bipartisan lawmakers in the state House of Representatives and the Senate.

The measure would amend the state constitution to allow the House of Representatives to impeach statewide elected officials in the executive branch – including the governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, and the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries.

Under the measure, the House of Representatives could impeach those officials for malfeasance, corrupt conduct in office, willful neglect of constitutional duty, felonies and other high crimes.

The measure requires a two-thirds vote from the House to send an impeachment resolution to the Senate.

From there, the Senate would be required to hold an impeachment trial presided by the Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. The Senate would need a two-thirds vote to convict the official on trial.

Currently, the only way to remove those officials is through a recall election.

Measure 116

Measure 116, which was also referred to the ballot by the state legislature, would amend the state constitution to establish the Independent Public Service Commission to determine salaries for certain officials.

The commission would determine salaries for the governor, state treasurer, attorney general, BOLI commissioner, judges, state lawmakers, and district attorneys.

Under current law, those salaries are set by a statute and can only be changed through legislation.

Salaries determined by the commission would not be subject to review by the legislature, governor, or other state officials, according to the measure text.

Commission membership would exclude state employees, lobbyists, immediate family members of the officials.

Measure 117

Measure 117 was also referred to the ballot by the state legislature and would give voters the option to rank candidates in order of preference -- also known as ranked choice voting.

Under this system, the candidate who receives the fewest votes is defeated and the votes for the defeated candidate would go to a voter’s next highest pick. This continues until a candidate receives a majority of votes.

The ranked choice system would apply to elections for president, United States senators and representatives, the governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, and BOLI commissioner.

Additionally, the measure would require the Secretary of State’s office to establish a program to inform voters on ranked choice voting and would allow local governments to implement the voting style.

If voters approve the measure, ranked choice voting could begin in the 2028 election.

Measure 118

Measure 118 would increase the highest corporate minimum taxes in order to give Oregonians an annual rebate.

The measure would increase corporate minimum tax for Oregon sales exceeding $25 million and would eliminate the minimum tax cap of $100,000 for $1 million in sales.

Measure 119

Measure 119 would require cannabis retailers and processors to remain neutral in their communications to employees from labor organizations about bargaining rights.

Current law gives employees the right to collectively bargain, however, this measure requires cannabis businesses to have an agreement with a labor organization that at minimum requires the business to remain neutral.

If cannabis businesses violate the rule, the measure would allow the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission to impose fines or licensing and certification penalties.