SALEM, Ore.—Opponents of two gay rights laws passed by the 2007 Oregon Legislature turned in what might be barely enough signatures Sept. 26 to put the two laws up for a vote in the November 2008 election.

Anti-gay activists submitted what they said were about 63,000 signatures for each of the two referrals. They needed 55,179 valid signatures.

State elections officials said it will take several weeks to verify whether there are enough valid signatures to prevent the gay rights laws from taking effect Jan. 1 as scheduled and placing them before voters in 2008 instead.

Gay rights supporters called it an anemic showing by opponents who under state law had three months to gather signatures.

“It shows that Oregonians simply weren’t interested in this effort,” said John Hummel, executive director of Basic Rights Oregon, the state’s largest gay rights advocacy group.