A sociodemographic and partisan analysis of voting in three anti-gay rights referenda in Oregon

Since 1988, three separate anti-gay rights referenda have been placed on th e ballot in the state of Oregon. While in 1988 Oregon voters passed the fir st measure (subsequently found unconstitutional), they rejected similar ref erenda in 1992 and 1991. This paper examines the electoral geography of the se three referenda both cartographically and quantitatively. It finds patte rns of support for the referenda were closely associated with voting patter ns for the Republican Party in gubernatorial and presidential elections, an d with sociodemographic indicators reflective of traditionalist areas.