The ballot measures Oregonians are voting on in 2024 will have a significant impact on not only the lives of Oregon voters, but also how they vote in the future. But what do they actually say? And what would happen if they were enacted? Let’s take a closer look at the statewide measures on the 2024 ballot and what some Oregonians think about them.

Measure 115

Measure 115 would establish an impeachment process for elected state officials, similar to that in the federal system. Currently, the only way to remove an elected official is through a special recall election. The measure would allow a two-thirds vote in the Oregon statehouse to impeach an official, followed by a two-thirds state senate vote to convict and remove the official. 

Oregon is the only state in the nation where the legislature has no power to impeach the governor. The amendment has received widespread bipartisan support.

Measure 116

Measure 116 would establish the “Independent Public Service Compensation Commission” to set the salaries for statewide officials and Oregon legislative representatives, in addition to district attorneys and certain officials. Currently, compensation is decided by the Oregon legislature. Under this measure, once the commission determines the salary, the legislature would have no authority to alter it.

The topic of paying Oregon’s elected officials more came into the limelight after Oregon’s former secretary of state, Shemia Fagan, was forced to resign after it was revealed she had taken a lucrative consulting job with a cannabis company her office was responsible for auditing. Fagan cited her inability to be financially stable on her $77,000 annual state salary as reason for her taking the consulting position. 

Measure 117

Measure 117 would implement ranked-choice voting in Oregon. If passed, voters would rank their choices for office, with the no. 1 ranking representing their preferred option. If a candidate receives 50% of the vote, they win. If no candidate reaches that threshold, the one with the fewest first-place votes is eliminated. If your top choice is eliminated, your vote would go to your second choice, this process would repeat until a candidate receives a majority of the vote.

Proponents of ranked-choice voting argue it reduces polarization and encourages greater voter participation. 

University of Oregon junior Will Cobb said he supports ranked choice voting. “I like it. Having the option to weigh the pros and cons of a couple different candidates instead of just choosing one sounds really good. So yeah I will be voting for it.” 

Measure 118

Perhaps the most polarizing measure on the ballot, Measure 118 would institute a 3% tax on corporations with sales over $25 million. The revenue from the tax would be distributed to Oregon citizens regardless of age or income, with the average rebate estimated at about $1,600. Alaska is the only other state with a similar model, which taxes the oil extraction industry and distributes a yearly rebate averaging $1,200.

Opinions on Measure 118 are sharply divided. Establishment Democrats, Republicans, corporations, and most unions oppose the measure, while more left-leaning groups such as the Pacific Green Party of Oregon support it. 

Opponents to the measure claim that it would jeopardize the security of the state budget and could cause companies to raise prices. 

Joey Barbey, a former small business owner and UO junior from the coastal town of Coquille, Oregon said he thinks Measure 118 would be good for Oregonians. 

 “Measure 118 only seems beneficial to me,” said Barbey. “$1,600 can really help some people, especially college students paying their own way like me.”