A special election date for Referendum Petition 2026-302; and declaring an emergency

Oregon SB1599 moves the vote on a transportation measure to May 19, 2026, as part of a special election. This bill sets the rules for how the election will be conducted and declares an emergency to ensure it takes effect immediately.

Supporters of SB1599 argue that moving the election date allows for a more focused discussion on important transportation issues. They believe that the May primary will encourage higher voter turnout and engagement with the ballot measure.

Critics of SB1599 contend that declaring an emergency for this bill is unnecessary and undermines the legislative process. They argue that moving the election date could confuse voters and disrupt the regular election cycle.