ORS 250.043 Acceptance of initiative or referendum petition without original signatures

Notwithstanding ORS 250.105, 250.215, 250.315 and 255.175, an initiative or referendum petition for which original signatures are otherwise required may be accepted by the appropriate filing officer for signature verification with photographic copies of one or more signature sheets if:

The signature sheets containing the original signatures were stolen or destroyed by fire, a natural disaster or other act of God; and

The photographic copy of each original signature sheet contains the number of the original signature sheets prescribed by the Secretary of State under ORS 250.015.

As used in this section:

“Act of God” means an unanticipated grave natural disaster or other natural phenomenon of an exceptional, inevitable and irresistible character, the effects of which could not have been prevented or avoided by the exercise of due care or foresight.

“Filing officer” means the Secretary of State in the case of an initiative or referendum petition relating to a state measure, the county clerk in the case of an initiative or referendum petition relating to a county measure, the city elections officer in the case of an initiative or referendum petition relating to a city measure and the elections officer as defined in ORS 255.005 in the case of an initiative or referendum petition relating to a district measure.