Oregon Initiative Petition 28 Falls Short in Initial Signature Review

A controversial Oregon ballot initiative that would effectively prohibit hunting, fishing, and many common agricultural and wildlife management practices has failed its first signature verification test—but the proposal has not yet been eliminated from consideration.

Initiative Petition 28 (IP 28), also known as the PEACE Act, submitted 142,784 signatures to qualify for Oregon's November ballot. To advance, the campaign must ultimately have 117,173 valid signatures verified by the Oregon Secretary of State's Elections Division.

According to state election officials, the petition's initial random sample of signatures fell just short of the validity rate required to qualify. Of the first 1,000 signatures reviewed, 804 were deemed valid—slightly below the approximately 82% validity threshold needed to move forward through the initial verification process.

While this is an important development, the initiative has not been disqualified. Under Oregon's ballot qualification process, petitions that fail the initial sample receive a second, larger signature review. If that second verification also falls below the required threshold, the measure will not qualify for the November ballot.

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers has consistently opposed IP 28 because of its sweeping impacts on Oregon's outdoor heritage. The measure would criminalize lawful hunting and fishing while also affecting science-based wildlife management, conservation, farming, ranching, and other longstanding practices relied upon across the state.

BHA will continue monitoring the signature verification process and provide updates as the Secretary of State completes its review.