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CIRCULATORS COLLECT SIGNATURES Number of signatures required to place a referendum petition on the ballot: A referendum petition requires 10 percent of the number of votes cast for mayor at the most recent mayoral election preceding the date when circulation of the petition begins. Based on the November 4, 8,041 2008, election, the number of signatures required is who must be registered voters in Eugene. Many signatures are rejected during the verification process because they are illegible, duplications, or the electors do not reside within the boundaries of the city of Eugene. Therefore, petitioners are advised to collect at least 10 percent more signatures than are required (an additional 804 or total of 8,845) in order to increase the likelihood of enough valid signatures to meet the requirement. Time limit for collection of signatures: As specified in the Eugene Charter Section 32, an ordinance takes effect 30 days after it has been approved by the council and signed by the mayor, unless it is passed with an emergency clause. All signatures must be collected and filed with the City Recorder prior to the ordinance taking effect, or no th later than 5 p.m. on the 30 day following passage of the ordinance. If the petitioners fail to complete the process within the 30 days, the petition is void. However, the petitioners may later file an initiative petition. CHIEF PETITIONERS FILE PETITION SIGNATURE SHEETS FOR VERIFICATION When a petition is filed with the City Recorder’s Office, the petition signature sheets will be forwarded to Lane County Elections. The elections division, acting on behalf of the City, shall verify the legality of the signatures within 15 calendar days of the filing date (Eugene Code 2.979(1)). PETITIONERS FILE FINANCIAL REPORTS Oregon law requires that chief petitioners file reports of all financial transactions. A transaction is due within seven days of its occurrence beginning on the date the treasurer is appointed and the chief petitioner committee is filed with the Elections Division and ending on the deadline for submitting signatures for verification. Beginning on the day after the deadline for submitting signatures, a transaction is due not later than the 30th day after its occurrence. A transaction is due no later than 12 midnight on the deadline for filing the transaction. If the referendum qualifies to the ballot and will subsequently be voted on at an election, and the chief petitioner committee intends to be active at the election, a political committee must be formed by completing and filing a Statement of Organization (form SEL 221) and Campaign Account Information (form SEL 223). For more information, please see the 2008 Campaign Finance Manual published by the Oregon Elections Division. ELECTION Placement on an election: As specified in Eugene Code Section 2.981, a referendum that is certified to have sufficient signatures will appear on the next available election date under state law that is not sooner than 90 days after the certification, with the following exceptions. (1) No later than 61 days prior to the next available election date after verification of signatures on the referendum petition, the City Council may vote to repeal the ordinance referred by petition (Eugene Code 2.980). (2) The council may choose to place the referendum on an earlier or later special election. The Referendum Petition Process Page 3 of 4 12/10/2008