222:, and would exempt elections held in May and November of any year from the double majority requirement. It was later passed by voters on November 4, 2008. Proponents of the measure called the double majority rule undemocratic because, in their view, the rule gave non-voters unfair influence in the democratic process by allowing them to make measures fail that otherwise won support among the majority of those who actually voted. They also argued that because of Oregon's exclusive
49:
Measure 47, sometimes referred to as a "cut and cap" law, reduced property taxes to the lesser of the 1994–95 tax or the 1995–96 tax minus 10 percent and limited future increases in assessed property values, except for new construction or additions, to 3 percent per year. It also instituted
269:
uncertainty about the possible effects of
Measure 47. Opponents argued that Measure 50, rather than being a re-write of 47, was an attempt to water down the limitations imposed by Measure 47. Indeed, the estimated financial impact of Measure 50 was a $ 361 million reduction, rather than Measure 47's
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voting system, which makes it more convenient to vote, there is no reason for people not to vote. Opponents considered unfair the idea that a small percentage of people could impose new taxes on others. They argued that the double majority rule was necessary to keep this from happening, and claimed
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Confusion existed about the possible effects of
Measure 47. Petitioners claimed that Measure 47 would cap the assessment of properties—the value of the property as determined by the county—to prevent taxes from being raised more than three percent annually. Others claimed that
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The measure also led to attempts to clean up the voter registration rolls. Registered voters who had died or moved away were being counted as "No" votes with the double majority requirement. (By law, Oregon ballot measures are worded so that "No" means "no change" and "Yes" means "adopt the
199:, between 1997 and 2007 of the 1,358 total tax measures on ballots in the state, 616 passed and 742 failed, and 169 of those failures resulted from the double majority rule. In response, local governments generally prefer placing such measures on general-election ballots.
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in Oregon, there was some confusion as to how the measure would be interpreted by the courts. One interpretation had the ballot measure reducing property tax revenues by $ 458 million in the fiscal year 1997–1998, while another interpretation, provided by the
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held in even-numbered years. For a levy initiative or referral to pass in other elections, not only do more voters have to vote "yes" than "no", but at least 50 percent of registered voters must vote in the election. The double majority is a type of
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in
November, are held in every even-numbered year. In addition, four regularly scheduled elections can be held at the local level every year. Beyond this, the legislature may call a special election at any time.
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to scale back the requirement, and by June 2007 both houses of the legislature had approved House Joint
Resolution 15, putting a measure before the voters on the November 2008 ballot. This measure appeared as
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area. Proponents were concerned about levy elections when there was little awareness of issues and turnout was expected to be low. Under Oregon law, two regularly scheduled statewide elections, the
262:, had it providing a reduction of only $ 270 million. Much of this disagreement had to do with what limitations Measure 47 would place on increases in the assessment of a property's value.
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in 1997. Once passed by the voters, the measure replaced
Measure 47. The problems with Measure 47 that Measure 50 aimed to address included a lack of precision about the assessment of
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Measure 47 did not prevent such an action. Sizemore placed an argument in the Oregon voters' guide in an attempt to clarify the measure's provisions. Nonetheless,
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Measure 50 limited the adjustments in property tax assessments. Proponents argued that
Measure 50 was necessary to avoid a lengthy legal battle as well as
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in which members of
Congress, state legislators, and some state governors are chosen on Election Day in the years midway between presidential elections.
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100:
to voters to clarify that
Measure 47 was intended to limit increases in real-estate assessments to 3 percent per year. The measure passed.
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Since the passage of
Measure 47, the double majority requirement has caused the defeat of many proposed local tax levies. According to the
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140:. Furthermore, they opposed the double majority rule, arguing it gave non-voters more political power than those willing to vote.
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In 2007, activists representing schools, the public employee union, and business interests lobbied the
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to voters the next year to clarify that the cap applied to the assessed value of the property as well.
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was a revised version of the law, which also passed, after being referred to the voters by the 1997
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Opponents feared that reducing taxes would cause cuts to schools beyond those they blamed on
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sought to reverse the double majority provision but won only 49 percent of the vote.
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517:"Voters' Pamphlet Measures November 2008, page 23 = Measure 56: Arguments in Opposition"
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493:"Voters' Pamphlet Measures November 2008, page 16 = Measure 56: Arguments in Favor"
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that passed in 1996, affecting the assessment of property taxes and instituting a
188:, the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. General elections also include
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311:"Official Results, State Measure No. 47, November 5, 1996, General Election"
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Department of
Justice, State of Oregon - Attorney General Opinion Summaries
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359:"Voters' Pamphlet November 5, 1996 - Measure No. 47: Arguments in Favor"
282:, established a different supermajority requirement in the Legislature
625:—includes the full text of the measure, and arguments for and against
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89:, with 704,554 votes in favor and 642,613 votes against.
243:, unintended consequences, and vulnerability to legal challenges.
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The law enacted by Measure 47 was amended in 1997, when the
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Ballot measures in Oregon modifying property tax assessment
250:, with 429,943 votes in favor, and 341,781 votes against.
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Oregon Voters' Pamphlet Measures, Measure 47 on page 213
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After the passage of Measure 47, as part of the ongoing
184:, held in even-numbered years once every four years on
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Measure 50 was approved by voters in the May 20, 1997
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Electoral system ballot measures in the United States
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that if it were repealed, taxes would rise too much.
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383:"Property Tax Measure Election Results 1997–2007"
596:"Voters' Pamphlet Special Election May 20, 1997"
561:Voters' Pamphlet Special Election May 20, 1997
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542:"Keep "Double Majority" Voting Rule in Place"
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814:Land Conservation and Development Act (1973)
85:and approved by voters in the November 1996
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465:"Senate Approves 'Double Majority' Change"
473:. Portland, Oregon: Oregonian Media Group
235:Measure 50 was sent to the voters by the
835:Death with Dignity Act (1994 Measure 16)
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180:In the U.S., general elections include
77:Measure 47 was placed on the ballot by
629:Oregon Voters' Pamphlet for Measure 50
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540:Buckstein, Steve (August 22, 2008).
1029:Local taxation in the United States
270:intended $ 458 million reduction.
160:Measure 47 enacted Oregon's "
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819:Measure 37 (2004) & 49 (2008)
1034:Initiatives in the United States
884:Measures 47 (1996) and 50 (1997)
407:Pitkin, James (March 29, 2007).
600:Oregon State Elections Division
521:Oregon State Elections Division
497:Oregon State Elections Division
363:Oregon State Elections Division
339:Oregon State Elections Division
335:"Voting and Voter Registration"
315:Oregon State Elections Division
280:Oregon Ballot Measure 25 (1996)
116:anti-tax group, as part of the
38:provision for tax legislation.
723:List of Oregon ballot measures
685:(mandatory minimum sentencing)
291:List of Oregon ballot measures
286:Oregon Ballot Measure 5 (1990)
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921:Alcoholic beverages in Oregon
751:(homosexuality and education)
108:The measure was sponsored by
665:Topics in Oregon legislation
1019:1997 Oregon ballot measures
1014:1996 Oregon ballot measures
966:Background, further reading
463:Walsh, Ed (June 20, 2007).
436:"Editorial: No Dead Voters"
215:Oregon Legislative Assembly
94:Oregon Legislative Assembly
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978:Direct democracy in Oregon
708:Direct Legislation League
388:. League of Oregon Cities
62:limits, first imposed by
911:Compulsory Education Act
744:Oregon Citizens Alliance
260:Oregon Attorney General
197:League of Oregon Cities
114:Oregon Taxpayers United
993:Oregon ballot measures
689:Measure 40 (1996) etc.
182:presidential elections
936:Drug policy of Oregon
81:by anti-tax activist
886:(adjusted Measure 5)
700:Elections and voting
671:Crime and sentencing
440:Medford Mail-Tribune
156:Double majority rule
60:state constitutional
409:"The taxman cometh"
79:initiative petition
58:). It strengthened
1024:Taxation in Oregon
973:Oregon legislature
945:Influential people
931:Cannabis in Oregon
880:(landmark tax law)
840:Oregon Health Plan
678:Capital punishment
237:Oregon Legislature
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983:Oregon government
895:Measure 97 (2016)
890:Kicker tax rebate
809:Beach Bill (1967)
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683:Measure 11 (1994)
255:anti-tax movement
190:midterm elections
175:absolute majority
166:general elections
118:Oregon tax revolt
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759:Environment
718:Term limits
203:measure.")
72:real estate
1008:Categories
873:Tax revolt
786:Coal power
776:Wind power
732:Gay rights
605:2008-12-19
547:2008-12-19
526:2008-12-19
502:2008-12-19
446:2008-05-17
368:2008-05-17
344:2008-05-17
320:2008-05-16
297:References
231:Measure 50
220:Measure 56
208:Measure 53
150:Measure 50
104:Measure 47
98:Measure 50
56:Measure 56
40:Measure 50
28:U.S. state
24:initiative
859:25 (2002)
855:36 (1996)
853:Measures
420:March 29,
206:In 1998,
138:Measure 5
96:referred
64:Measure 5
866:Taxation
796:Land use
274:See also
122:Portland
112:and his
477:May 17,
392:May 18,
26:in the
22:was an
442:. 2000
267:budget
32:Oregon
386:(PDF)
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