ORS 260.345
Complaints or other information regarding violations

  • action by Secretary of State and Attorney General

(1)

Any elector may file with any filing officer a written complaint alleging that a violation of an election law or rule adopted by the Secretary of State under ORS chapters 246 to 260 has occurred and stating the reason for believing that the violation occurred and any evidence relating to it. A complaint and any evidence relating to it may be filed electronically. A complaint alleging a violation involving the Secretary of State, a candidate for the office of Secretary of State, or any political committee or person supporting the Secretary of State or a candidate for the office of Secretary of State may be filed with the Attorney General. The Secretary of State or Attorney General shall not accept an anonymous complaint.

(2)

The Secretary of State by rule shall prescribe the procedure for processing a complaint filed with any person other than the Secretary of State. If the complaint concerns the Secretary of State, any candidate for the office of the Secretary of State, or any political committee or person supporting the candidacy of the Secretary of State or of another person for the office of Secretary of State, the complaint and any additional information relating to the complaint shall be sent to the Attorney General.

(3)

Upon receipt of a complaint under subsection (1) or (2) of this section the Secretary of State or Attorney General immediately shall examine the complaint to determine whether a violation of an election law or rule has occurred and shall make any investigation the Secretary of State or Attorney General considers necessary. Except as provided in this subsection, within 48 hours of receiving a complaint under subsection (1) or (2) of this section, the Secretary of State or Attorney General shall notify the person who is the subject of the complaint that a complaint has been received. If the Secretary of State or Attorney General receives a complaint or complaints involving 25 or more individuals, political committees or petition committees in any 24-hour period, the Secretary of State or Attorney General need not notify the persons who are the subjects of those complaints within 48 hours of receiving the complaints but shall notify those persons not later than 10 business days after receiving the complaint or complaints.

(4)

If the Secretary of State believes after an investigation under subsection (3) of this section that a violation of an election law or rule has occurred, the secretary:

(a)

In the case of a violation that is subject to a penalty under ORS 260.993 (Criminal penalties), immediately shall report the findings to the Attorney General and request prosecution. If the violation involves the Attorney General, a candidate for that office or a political committee or person supporting or opposing the Attorney General or a candidate for that office, the Secretary of State shall appoint another prosecutor for that purpose;

(b)

In the case of a violation not subject to a penalty under ORS 260.537 (False publication intended to mislead electors) or 260.993 (Criminal penalties), may impose a civil penalty under ORS 260.995 (Civil penalties); or

(c)

In the case of a violation under ORS 260.537 (False publication intended to mislead electors), may institute civil proceedings in the manner described in ORS 260.537 (False publication intended to mislead electors).

(5)

Upon receipt of a complaint or report under subsection (1), (2) or (4) of this section involving an alleged violation subject to a penalty under ORS 260.993 (Criminal penalties) or an alleged violation of ORS 260.537 (False publication intended to mislead electors), the Attorney General or other prosecutor immediately shall examine the complaint or report to determine whether a violation of an election law has occurred. If the Attorney General or prosecutor determines that a violation has occurred, the Attorney General or prosecutor immediately shall begin prosecution or civil proceedings in the name of the state. The Attorney General or other prosecutor shall have the same powers in any county of this state as the district attorney for the county.

(6)

Upon receipt of a complaint under subsection (1) or (2) of this section involving an alleged violation of an election law or rule not subject to a penalty under ORS 260.537 (False publication intended to mislead electors) or 260.993 (Criminal penalties), the Attorney General shall examine the complaint to determine whether a violation of an election law or rule has occurred and shall make any investigation the Attorney General considers necessary. If the Attorney General believes after an investigation that a violation of an election law or rule has occurred, the Attorney General may impose a civil penalty under ORS 260.995 (Civil penalties).

(7)

In the case of an alleged violation subject to a civil penalty under ORS 260.995 (Civil penalties) or an alleged violation of ORS 260.537 (False publication intended to mislead electors), a complaint shall be filed by an elector under this section no later than 90 days following the election at which a violation of an election law or rule is alleged to have occurred, or 90 days following the date the violation of an election law or rule is alleged to have occurred, whichever is later.

(8)

A filing officer having reason to believe that a violation of an election law or rule has occurred shall proceed promptly as though the officer had received a complaint. Except as provided in ORS 260.234 (Notice of civil penalty), a filing officer shall proceed under this subsection no later than two years following the election at which a violation of an election law or rule is alleged to have occurred, or two years following the date the violation of an election law or rule is alleged to have occurred, whichever is later. If a filing officer has not proceeded within two years because of fraud, deceit, misleading representation or the filing officer could not have reasonably discovered the alleged violation, the filing officer shall proceed no later than five years following the election at which a violation of an election law or rule is alleged to have occurred, or five years following the date the violation of an election law or rule is alleged to have occurred, whichever is later. [Formerly 260.105; 1973 c.744 §24; 1979 c.190 §365; 1987 c.718 §2; 1987 c.727 §9; 1989 c.171 §35; 1989 c.301 §1; 1989 c.571 §2; 1991 c.719 §32; 1993 c.493 §81; 2009 c.818 §23; 2011 c.607 §14; 2021 c.291 §3]

Source: Section 260.345 — Complaints or other information regarding violations; action by Secretary of State and Attorney General, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors260.­html.

Notes of Decisions

Although ORS 260.200 et seq. deal specifically with contribution and expenditure reporting requirements, ORS 260.345 also covers violations of those requirements. Gold v. Secretary of State, 106 Or App 573, 809 P2d 1334 (1991)

260.005
Definitions
260.007
Exclusions from definitions of “contribution” and “expenditure.”
260.011
Prohibition on using cryptocurrency to make contribution
260.035
Treasurer and statement of organization for political committees and candidates
260.037
Liability of candidate or treasurer for default or violation of treasurer obligations
260.038
Treasurer of more than one candidate or committee
260.039
Content of statement of organization of candidate or principal campaign committee
260.041
Principal campaign committee
260.042
Content of statement of organization of political committee
260.043
Exemptions for candidate who expects neither contributions nor expenditures to exceed $750 or $3,500
260.044
Statement of independent expenditures
260.046
Discontinuance of statement of organization
260.049
Reports to be filed by certain corporations
260.052
Political committee identification number
260.054
Political committee campaign account
260.055
Accounts of contributions and expenditures
260.056
Written loan agreements
260.057
Electronic campaign finance filing system
260.064
In-kind contribution from candidate, political committee or petition committee
260.076
Statements of contributions received during session of Legislative Assembly
260.078
Reporting contributions and expenditures not previously reported
260.083
Contents of statements
260.085
Listing of occupation of contributor
260.095
Reporting expenditures that are both in-kind contributions and expenditures
260.112
Filing of certificate by candidate or treasurer of political committee or petition committee who expects neither contributions nor expenditures to exceed $3,500
260.118
Treasurer and statement of organization of petition committee
260.156
Rules for reporting expenditures and contributions
260.163
County or city campaign finance provisions
260.200
Secretary of State rules for accounts, forms, material to be retained and material not subject to disclosure
260.205
Inspection of statements
260.215
Periodic examination and investigation of statements
260.218
Subpoena authority
260.225
Court proceedings to compel filing of correct statements
260.232
Civil penalty for failure to file statement or to include required information
260.234
Notice of civil penalty
260.241
Removal from general election ballot for failure to file statement
260.245
Withholding certificate of election or certificate of nomination for failure to file statement
260.255
Preservation of filed statements by filing officers
260.262
Accounts of chief petitioners
260.266
Statement of persons who paid for communication in support of or in opposition to clearly identified candidate
260.275
Definitions for ORS 260.275 to 260.285
260.281
Donor identification lists
260.285
Civil penalty for failure to file donor identification list or to include required information
260.315
Distribution of copies of law
260.345
Complaints or other information regarding violations
260.351
Court proceedings for election law violations, generally
260.355
Deprivation of nomination or office for deliberate and material election violation
260.365
Election or appointment after deprivation of nomination or office for violation
260.368
Investigations of violations of prohibition on payment based on number of signatures obtained on petition
260.402
Contributions in false name
260.407
Use of contributed amounts for certain purposes
260.409
Expenditures for professional services rendered by candidate
260.413
Prohibition on committee providing consideration in connection with nondisclosure agreement relating to workplace harassment
260.422
Acceptance of employment where compensation to be contributed
260.432
Solicitation of public employees
260.532
False publication relating to candidate or measure
260.537
False publication intended to mislead electors
260.550
Use of term “incumbent.”
260.555
Prohibitions relating to circulation, filing or certification of initiative, referendum or recall petition
260.556
Secretary of State prohibited from counting petition signatures obtained by certain persons
260.558
Payment for signing or not signing initiative, referendum or recall petition
260.561
Liability of certain chief petitioners for violations committed by persons obtaining signatures on petition
260.563
Liability of contractor obtaining signatures on petition for violations committed by subcontractor
260.567
Alteration of information on petition signature sheet
260.569
Payment based on signatures obtained on nominating petition or voter registration card
260.575
Use of threats and intimidation for purpose of extorting money
260.635
Bets and wagers on election results
260.645
Illegal acts relating to voting machines or vote tally systems
260.665
Undue influence to affect registration, voting, candidacy, signing petitions
260.675
Prohibited distribution of ballots
260.685
Elections official compliance with directives of Secretary of State
260.695
Prohibitions relating to voting
260.705
Premature release of vote tally
260.715
Prohibited conduct
260.993
Criminal penalties
260.995
Civil penalties
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