Click here or scroll down to see the text of the Vote Before Tolls Initiative.
IP-31 is a STATEWIDE INITIATIVE to PUT A BALLOT MEASURE on the 2026 BALLOT
"A vote is required before any new toll."
Simple yet comprehensive ... the right to vote and gain a seat at the table ... the citizen's vote can't be easily overridden by ODOT, the Legislature, or the Governor.
IP-31 Petitions will not be available for for download and signing until August.
PLEASE RETURN ALL SIGNED 2024 IP-4 SIGNATURE SHEETS.
We are databasing all signers so we can re-activate them during the next phase of the tolling fight.
DOWNLOAD a Petition
Sadly, we can’t e-sign in Oregon. The link above will allow you to download a single-signer petition to print and sign. You can share the PDF and/or print multiple copies if you like.
Request 10-Signature Sheets
Elections Division in Salem is not expected to provide 10-up sheets until August. You may request them using the button above and we will mail them to you when they arrive.
If you wish to gather larger numbers of signatures from friends, neighbors, family, or at an event, please contact us, and we will postal mail you pre-printed 10-signature sheets. The Secretary of State is very picky about how the 10–signature sheets are printed, so we’re happy to source them to you.
We need 180k signatures by June of 2024. Please send your signature sheets to us as soon as they are complete – the address is on the petition … PO Box 218, West Linn OR 97068-0218.
Initiative Text
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
PARAGRAPH 1. The Constitution of the State of Oregon is amended by creating a new section 16 to be added to and made a part of Article IX, such section to read:
SECTION 16.(1) A public body may not assess a toll on a highway in this state unless:
(a) The toll was in operation before January 1, 2018; or
(b) (A) A toll is proposed by a public body;
(B) The toll proposed by the public body is referred for approval or rejection to the electors of each county in this state that has a county border within a 15-mile radius of any section of highway proposed to be tolled; and
(C) The toll proposed by the public body is approved by a majority of the total votes cast in the referral described in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph.
(2) As used in this section:
(a) “Highway” means every public way, road, street, thoroughfare and place, including bridges, viaducts and other structures within the boundaries of this state, open, used or intended for use of the general public for vehicles or vehicular traffic as a matter of right.
(b) “Public body” means a public body as defined by the laws of this state.
(c) “Section of highway proposed to be tolled” means the portion of highway beginning at the highway exit before the first toll collection facility and ending at the highway exit after the last toll collection facility, as observed by the direction of vehicle travel on the highway.
(d) “Toll” means any fee or charge for the use of a highway.
(e) “Toll collection facility” means any physical location at which a toll is charged to vehicles for using the highway, including a toll booth, toll plaza or electronic toll collection system.
(f) (A) “Vehicle” means any device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway.
(B) “Vehicle” includes vehicles that are propelled or powered by any means.
Key Features of the Initiative
- IP-31 moves the final decision on whether to create a new toll to the citizens by formalizing a new Right To Vote on these new taxes before they are implemented. IP-31 does not stop tolls – but with IP-31 you get the right to vote yes or no on each toll!
- All tolls on any road or bridge are included
- Includes cars, trucks, and bicycles (yes, ODOT’s new taxing strategy can include bicycle tolls)
- A regional vote is required before any new toll, INCLUDING the I-205, I-5, Hwy 217 & 26 tolls ODOT is currently working on. IP-31 is retroactive to 1/1/2018
- A “region” is defined as any county within 15 miles of any sector of road being tolled. This means Clackamas, Washington and Multnomah will be voting on ALL tolls in the greater tri-county Portland metro area (I-5, I-205, I-84, Hwys 30, 99, 217, 26, and the I-5 & I-205 Columbia River Bridges)
- With IP-31 in place, ODOT and other tolling agencies will have to be more informative and proactively transparent with regard to tolling goals, rates, use of funds, sun-setting, overheads, etc. if they expect the voters to approve a new toll.