Oregon voters opposed ballot measures 117 and 118 in the recent November election, effectively preventing the creation of two new policies, both of which would have been controversial had they passed.
The New York Times election results website shows that Measure 118 was rejected by a staggering 77.5 percent of votes, proving to be very unpopular among Oregon voters. Measure 117 was rejected by a smaller margin of 58 percent disapproval.
Both measures proposed new policy ideas for the state. If Measure 118 passed, it would have created a universal income tax on businesses in Oregon. This means a 3 percent tax would have been taken from all Oregon businesses’ sales greater than $25 million in order to give each Oregonian an estimated $1600 per year.
Measure 117 would have allowed voters statewide to rank candidates on their ballots in order of preference, causing a massive shift in the current election process.
Before ranked choice voting appeared on ballots as Measure 117, a house bill passed during the 2023 legislative session referring it to the ballot. The Wolf interviewed State Senator Janeen Sollman, the chief sponsor of that bill.
“I am deeply disappointed that ballot Measure 117 was not successful,” she said. “I think that ranked-choice voting leads to more representative democracy and removes barriers for new voices running for office. In cities that have adopted RCV, women and candidates of color won 24 percent more races compared to non-RCV elections. It also encourages candidates to run on issues voters care most about and can lessen the negativity in elections. If a candidate knows they can get votes by being someone’s second or third choice, maybe they will think twice before putting out a negative ad against an opponent.”
Those opposed to the measure felt it would make voting too confusing. Concern has been raised about the proposed voting system and how complicated it might have made future elections.
Measure 118 had a lot of opposition from businesses during the election, which would have had to suffer the consequences of the added tax. Companies based in Oregon, such as Nike and Tillamook, put large amounts of money toward advertising against the ballot measure. Labor unions were also strongly against it, even despite past support for taxing businesses.
“Overall, I view Measure 118 as something I just don’t fundamentally agree with as the idea of ‘making bigger corporations pay’ has never been something I have understood. The base of the bill being just that immediately turned me away from it,” said Brady Carey, a senior who voted no on 118 in the election. “While I can understand why it would be polarizing towards individuals or families who could use some extra cash, I feel like there are better ways to support these types of individuals.”
While a universal income tax is a brand new concept for the state, ranked-choice voting is not. Portland, Oregon’s biggest city, used ranked choice voting in the 2022 election for their city government. Ranked choice voting will also be used by Multnomah County starting in 2026.
