1994 Oregon Ballot Measure 19 Explained

Measure 19
No Free Speech Protection for Obscenity, Child Pornography.
Yes:	549,754
No:	652,139
Total:	1,201,893
Map:	1994 Oregon Ballot Measure 19 results map by county.svg
Mapdivision:	county
Mapcaption:	Results by county YesNo
Notes:	Source: Oregon Blue Book^[1]

Ballot Measure 19 was a citizen's initiative in the U.S. state of Oregon in 1994. The measure sought to amend the Oregon Constitution, limiting free speech protection for obscenity and child pornography. The measure was rejected by the voters 54.3 percent to 45.7 percent.^[1]

The measure was sponsored by the Oregon Citizens Alliance, the sponsor of Oregon Ballot Measure 9 (also a constitutional amendment), which among other things sought to prevent all governments in Oregon from using their resources to promote, encourage or facilitate homosexuality.

The text of the measure read as follows:

Opposing the measure were a coalition of groups that made up the "No Censorship - No On 19" Committee, led by the American Civil Liberties Union. Other groups included bookstores, video stores and student groups.

The OCA also sponsored Measure 13 in the same year.^[2]

See also

• Jacobellis v. Ohio, a 1964 U.S. Supreme Court decision
• I know it when I see it
• Miller v. California, a 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision
• List of Oregon ballot measures

Notes and References

1. Web site: Initiative, Referendum and Recall: 1988-1995 . Oregon Blue Book . . 4 November 2008 . Website . December 24, 2008.
2. News: Oregon's Prop. 13: how conservative values were used to defeat an anti-gay rights referendum. Campaigns & Elections. March 1995. Bob. Meadow. Dawn Laguens . Heidi Von Szeliski . Michael Terris .