Oregon legislation · 2025 Legislative Measures
Oregon HB3872: Relating to conduct of elections; providing that this Act shall be referred to the people for their approval or rejection.
Status: Failed, June 27, 2025
Digest: Makes voting in person the normal method for voting. Requires voters to show picture ID when voting or requesting a ballot. Refers the Act to the people at the next general election. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.8). Makes in-person voting on the date of an election the standard method for conducting an election. Allows an elector to request a ballot that may be voted by mail if the elector is unable to vote in person on the date of the election. Retains vote by mail as the primary method for conducting elections for military and overseas electors and for electors who have a mailing address outside of Oregon. Requires electors to present valid government-issued identification when appearing in-person to vote or when requesting a ballot be sent by mail. Requires all ballots to be returned by the date of an election. Removes a requirement that the state pay postage for ballots returned by mail. Refers the Act to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.
What the bill says
A bill FOR AN ACT Relating to conduct of elections; creating new provisions; amending ORS 192.842, 247.018, 247.307, 247.948, 247.965, 251.175, 251.315, 253.005, 253.065, 253.070, 253.585, 253.690, 254.321, 254.365, 254.408, 254.465, 254.470, 254.474, 254.480, 254.482, 254.485, 260.665, 260.695 and 350.245; repealing ORS 254.458 and 254.473; and providing that this Act shall be referred to the people for their approval or rejection.
From the introduced text, February 26, 2025:
A BILL FOR AN ACT Relating to conduct of elections; creating new provisions; amending ORS 192.842, 247.018, 247.307, 247.948, 247.965, 251.175, 251.315, 253.005, 253.065, 253.070, 253.585, 253.690, 254.321, 254.365, 254.408, 254.465, 254.470, 254.474, 254.480, 254.482, 254.485, 260.665, 260.695 and 350.245; repealing ORS 254.458 and 254.473; and providing that this Act shall be referred to the people for their approval or rejection. Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon: ELECTIONS CONDUCTED IN PERSON ON DATE OF ELECTION SECTION 1. ORS 254.465 is amended to read: 254.465. (1) County clerks shall conduct all elections in this state [by mail] in person, on the date of the election and at a voting booth maintained under ORS 254.474. (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, any elector may request that the county clerk provide the elector with a ballot that may be returned by mail if the and (b) Requests a ballot that may be returned by mail no later than 21 days before the date of the election. [(2)] (3) The Secretary of State shall adopt rules to: (a) Provide for uniformity in the conduct of in-person voting for state elections [by mail], including a requirement that an elector must present valid government-issued identification that contains a photographic image of the elector prior to voting; and (b) Govern the …