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Dispatches from public radio's correspondent at the Oregon Legislature. This is a venue for political and policy coverage of the state government in Salem and its impact on the people of Oregon.

No Big Surprises On Oregon's Signature Deadline Day

Garry Knight
/
Flickr

The deadline to turn in signatures to qualify initiative petitions in Oregon produced no big surprises Thursday. But Oregonians could still have a range of controversial topics to decide this fall.

Most of the high-profile campaigns turned their petition sheets in early. Those include an effort to legalize recreational marijuana and another that would require labeling of food products with genetically engineered ingredients. Also in the hunt is an initiative that would create a so-called top two primary system in Oregon.

Elections workers with the Oregon Secretary of State's office have about a month to determine whether any of these initiatives will have enough valid signatures to qualify.

One initiative has already qualified for the ballot: It would put a guarantee of equal rights for both genders into the Oregon Constitution.

Not making the ballot was an initiative to ban the public funding of abortions. Sponsors of  the initiative say they fell short of the number of signatures needed to qualify.