Oregonians deserve a fair and accurate ballot title that gives voters a clear choice to protect equal rights under law in 2024
SALEM, OR — Today All Oregon Votes filed the Oregon Voting Rights Amendment (IP-26), a pro-democracy ballot measure to end closed primaries. The initiative ensures Oregon’s registered voters no longer face restricted voting rights. A previous proposal, IP-16, received an unclear ballot title from the Attorney General that did not include any mention of the most central part of elections, the voter.
“All Oregon Votes is determined to put Oregon voters first, ensuring that every Oregonian, not just party insiders, has an equal say in who leads our state forward,” said Michael Calcagno, AOV Committee Chair. “41 other states have moved past the antiquated closed primary and Oregon shouldn’t be the last to uphold democratic values.”
As of April 6, 2023 the State Elections Division reports(1) Oregon has 1.3 million voters independent of either major political party. Oregon’s total electorate is three million voters, thus 42 percent have second-class voting rights and are silenced in closed primary elections.
IP-26 will achieve a similar outcome as the previous proposal for Free and Equal Elections (IP-16), yet includes several important distinctions inclusive of stakeholder feedback:
- IP-26 explicitly calls upon the state legislature to repeal closed primaries.
- IP-26 applies to all local, state and congressional public offices.
- IP-26 provides flexibility for future electoral reform.
- IP-26 takes effect after the 2026 general election to ensure state lawmakers, Oregon’s admirable county clerks and the state elections division can adopt rules to securely administer the new elections framework with confidence and provide clarity to voters.
View the full text of the initiative petition: https://alloregonvotes.squarespace.com/s/FINAL_Oregon-Voting-Rights-Amendment-2024-IP-NN.pdf
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