PORTLAND, Ore. – In just 10 days, volunteers with Oregon Says I Do collected 37,211 signatures for the initiative that would make it legal for same-sex couples to marry in Oregon.
Oregon Says I Do is the petition committee dedicated to qualifying the Freedom to Marry and Religious Protection Initiative for the November 2014 ballot. Oregon United for Marriage is building a broad coalition of individuals and organizations to win the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in Oregon.
The campaign’s original goal was 10,000 signatures in 10 days—and supporters met that goal in the first 72 hours. More than 1,700 volunteers collected the signatures, in cities and towns across Oregon. Many volunteers returned signatures sheets to the campaign, and requested more so they could continue collecting in their communities. The campaign must turn in 116,284 valid signatures by July 3, 2014.
“We’re off to a fantastic start, and this success shows how much enthusiasm and momentum we have for the freedom to marry in Oregon,” said Jeana Frazzini, chief petitioner for the initiative. “But these campaigns are tough, and we still have an enormous amount of work to do.”
Volunteers who want to join the signature gathering effort can sign up to get a petition packet and a quick training at www.OregonSaysIDo.org. There’s also an option for Oregon registered voters to download, print, sign and return a single-signature “e-petition.”
Oregon United for Marriage launched the campaign to win the freedom to marry on February 14, 2013. After filing twice as many sponsorship signatures as required to the Secretary of State, Oregon United for Marriage has continued work to build a broad coalition of individuals and organizations to win the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in Oregon. June 21, the Oregon State Supreme Court approved the certified ballot title. Oregon Says I Do began gathering signatures July 26.
