Lane County Ballot Measures Set for May 19, 2026 Primary Election

Eleven local measures qualified for Lane County's May 19, 2026 primary ballot after the March 19 filing deadline passed, headlined by a citizen-backed Watersheds Bill of Rights that collected 14,485 petition signatures to earn its spot and a redistricting proposal exposing a 3-2 rift on the Board of Commissioners.

On August 8, 2025, those signatures were delivered to the Lane County Clerk's office for review, and a statistical sample of 10% was evaluated before the petition was deemed sufficient. The measure, numbered 20-373, would "establish rights for watersheds and clean water" with both county and private enforcement.

Eight of the 11 local measures are property-tax questions. Three rural fire districts, two libraries, and the Oregon State University Extension program are seeking to replace or renew expiring tax levies, while the Willamalane Park and Recreation District is asking Springfield-area voters to approve its first general operating levy since 1997. The Siuslaw School District is seeking a bond to build a new high school.

Among the named funding measures: Measure 20-367 would enact a five-year operational levy for the Lowell Rural Fire Protection District to cover emergency staffing and equipment. Measure 20-369 asks voters to renew the Santa Clara Rural Fire Protection District's local option tax for general operations. The Crow-Applegate-Lorane School District's Measure 20-370 would renew a five-year levy to sustain staffing and educational programming. Junction City School District's Measure 20-368 proposes a $40 million bond to enhance school safety and expand facilities, with a $6 million state match contingent on passage. Measure 20-380 would fund 4-H youth programs and OSU Extension services across Lane County.

The most politically charged measure on the ballot is 20-362, which would change how Lane County redraws its commissioner districts. Currently each of the five commissioners selects one person for the redistricting commission, then ten others are chosen without their input. Voting yes would shift to random selection from a pool of candidates in each district. Three commissioners support the change, arguing it would prevent multiple commissioners from coming from Eugene and remove the board from the map-drawing process entirely. Two commissioners oppose it. Commissioner Laurie Trieger said she feared the measure was a political maneuver to redraw maps ahead of the 2026 election, noting that its two named supporters, Commissioners David Loveall and Ryan Ceniga, are both on the May ballot themselves.

Three additional charter measures, numbered 20-359, 20-360 and 20-361, may read as vague in the voter pamphlet. Measure 20-359 would repeal Section 32 of the Lane County Charter, which imposes annual spending limits based on calculations from 1984; the voter pamphlet states the repeal "would not change tax rate impacts for voters." Measure 20-360 would strike Section 33, which restricts development of East Alton Baker Park despite the county having sold all 237 acres of the park to the City of Eugene in 1993. Opponents warn that approving 20-360 would require drawing a new district map three years into the current 10-year cycle at a cost upward of $50,000.

The same ballot will also carry a statewide gas tax referendum. The Fern Ridge Library District is seeking a renewal of its five-year local option levy for general library operations, and Willamalane Park and Recreation District filed a notice to "preserve park safety, recreation, and ongoing maintenance with five-year levy."

Ballots will begin arriving in mailboxes April 29. Election Day is May 19, the last day for voters to return a ballot; mailed ballots must carry a postmark by election day, and ballots deposited in an official drop box must arrive by 8 p.m. Drop box locations are listed at oregonvotes.gov. The complete Lane County Voters' Guide, including which measures appear on each voter's specific ballot, is available at lanecounty.org/elections.